Processing assembly for grading and sorting products

Abstract

Product processing assembly for sorting and / or grading products, in particular horticultural or agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, flower bulbs, and food products, from a bulk flow, the product processing assembly comprising: - an endless conveyor (30) configured to convey the one or more products with a plurality of product carriers (40), - the plurality of product carriers (40), each product carrier connected to the endless conveyor and configured for carrying one or more products, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to move each product carrier along a transport path (31), and - at least one ejector device (50), each ejector device being configured to eject at least one product from the product carrier by which the product is carried into at least one discharge path (4), wherein each ejector device is configured to eject the at least one product from the product carrier during the motion of the at least one product carrier along the transport path.

Description

[0001] Title: Processing assembly for grading and sorting products

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to sorting and grading products, in particular horticultural or agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables and flower bulbs. In the prior art, systems for carrying out such operations are known.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In the present invention it was recognized that existing systems for sorting and grading products, in particular horticultural or agricultural products, have certain limitations and drawbacks. It was recognized in the present invention that existing systems are either mechanically limited to a maximum of 4 classes or require multiplication of mechanics which in turn result into a big footprint area or manual labor for basic operations.

[0006] An example of such a sorting device is disclosed in WO2021037417A1 (herein: D1). The sorting device 1 for agricultural products of D1 comprises a conveying unit 2, an image acquisition unit 6, a control unit 8,10 and a separation unit 4. Agricultural products are transported to the separation unit by the conveying unit and drop from the conveyor belt at the end of the conveyor belt. A plurality of ejection members in the separation unit change the direction of the dropping agricultural products when they need to be separated from the bulk flow into a sorted flow of agricultural products. In the present invention it was recognized that this device has a number of drawbacks.

[0007] One drawback is that the device occupies a significant area, i.e. has a relatively large footprint. Multiple sorting devices need to be placed in series to create multiple sorted flows of agricultural products. This might not always be a problem for farmers or companies with ample space available but may pose a problem for a farmer or company having a relatively small facility. These smaller farmers or companies also need to sort their agricultural products into sorted flows without having the space for multiple sorting devices in series. Therefore, they are often still forced to rely on manual labor for these basic operations.

[0008] Another drawback of the device of D1 is that each sorting step requires an image acquisition unit, because the relative position of the agricultural products may change after each sorting step. Multiple image acquisition units make the device relatively complex and expensive. It was further recognized in the present invention that vertically dropping agricultural products may result in relatively severe collisions between the products and a collection box or the subsequent conveyor belt. Many types of horticultural and / or agricultural products are relatively soft and fragile and can become bruised or damaged by relatively severe collisions. Bruised or damaged agricultural products are worth less and bruises or damages may speed up the decay process.

[0009] Another example of a sorting device is disclosed in EP2893329A1 (herein: D2). The sorting device of D2 follows a similar approach to the sorting device of D1. Agricultural products are also transported by a conveyor belt and sorted by a plurality of controllable ejection members. It was recognized in the present invention that the sorting device of D2 has similar disadvantages as the sorting device of D1.

[0010] EP2907592A1 (herein: D3) discloses a sorting device designed to separate products from a bulk flow. The sorting device comprises a delivery device 3, a detection system 11 and an ejection system 31. Products can be delivered vertically or horizontally to the detection system and ejection system. The detection system determines the horizontal and / or vertical velocity of the products to estimate the time or arrival of a product at the ejection system. The ejection system comprises an array of ejector nozzles 33. The ejector nozzles produce an air pulse to change the direction of a product in a bulk flow.

[0011] A drawback of the sorting device of D3 is that it requires a large usable area or results in a relatively large risk of causing bruises or damage to the agricultural products. It requires a relatively large usable in the horizontal configuration. Mainly because multiple sorting devices need to be placed in series to include multiple sorting steps. The sorting device has a relatively large risk on causing bruises or damages when it is used in a vertical configuration. The height from which the products are dropped increases when multiple sorting steps are included. The sorting device of D3 is therefore unsuitable for sorting a bulk flow into multiple separated flows. Other drawbacks of the ejector nozzles are the production of dust, the generation of noise and that they consume a large amount of energy.

[0012] WO2022261710A1 (herein: D4) discloses fruit sorting equipment comprising interlinked carriages 50 connected to an endless conveyor 10. Each carriage comprises two longitudinally spaced pairs of axially rotatable rollers 72,73 and 74,75 that support the fruit above the carrier. The rotatable rollers are driven by a driving means 90,91 at different speeds and / or different rotational directions allowing for re-orientation of fruit. One drawback of the device of D4 is that each carrier only supports one product and that each carrier requires four rotatable rollers. This results in a complex system with a large number of rotatable parts. Each of these rotatable parts need to be controlled, either individually or in groups, which requires a large amount of computational power. The throughput compared to the complexity and costs for this system seems to be relatively poor. Another drawback of the rotatable rollers in each carriage are the potentially high maintenance costs and downtime when one or more rotatable rollers malfunction.

[0013] Another example of such a product rotation device is disclosed in WO2021037417A1 (herein: D1). Document D1 comprises turning means 18 for re-orienting potatoes. Turning means comprises a succession of rollers 20 forming a plane inclined towards the portion in the field of a camera 12. The succession of rollers rotating in the opposite direction of the downwardly moving potatoes along the inclined direction of the turning means. The opposite rotation of the rollers allows turning over the potatoes on themselves in order to expose the different parts thereof to the camera 12 for analysis.

[0014] A drawback of the turning means of D1 are the rotational requirements of the succession of rollers. Rotating parts require energy to rotate, are relatively complex and have potentially high maintenance costs and downtime when one or more rotatable rollers malfunction.

[0015] US2021 / 086235A (D5) discloses a device for sorting fruits and vegetables. The device is D5 is technically complex, relatively heavy and has a limited throughput.

[0016] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0017] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved product processing assembly which takes away at least one of the drawbacks and limitations discussed above and in general to provide a more cost-effective product processing assembly. The products are in particular horticultural or agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables and flower bulbs, and rounded products such as rounded food products.

[0018] It is another object of the present invention to provide a product processing assembly which is relatively compact, and in particular has a relatively small footprint.

[0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide a product processing assembly which avoids relatively severe collisions between the products and the product processing assembly. The horticultural and / or agricultural products often are soft and fragile and can become bruised or damaged by relatively severe collisions.

[0020] It is another object of the present invention to provide a product processing assembly for sorting and grading products which is technically simple.

[0021] In a second, independent aspect it is an object of the present invention to provide a more cost-effective product rotating device.

[0022] In the second aspect, it is another object of the present invention to provide a product rotating device which has a relatively high throughput, without bruising or damaging the products.

[0023] In the second aspect, it is another object of the present invention to provide a product rotating device with low maintenance costs and a low downtime.

[0024] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0025] At least one of the abovementioned objects is achieved with a product processing assembly for sorting and / or grading products, in particular horticultural or agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, flower bulbs, from an incoming flow of products, the product processing assembly comprising:

[0026] - an endless conveyor configured to convey the one or more products with a plurality of product carriers,

[0027] - the plurality of product carriers, each product carrier connected to the endless conveyor and configured for carrying one or more products, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to move each product carrier along a transport path, and

[0028] - at least one ejector device, each ejector device being configured to eject at least one product from the product carrier by which the product is carried into at least one discharge path, wherein each ejector device is configured to eject the at least one product from the product carrier during the motion of the at least one product carrier along the transport path, wherein each ejector device comprises multiple movable ejection members which are configured to eject the product out of the product carrier, either individually or acting in a group of ejection members, wherein each ejection member of each ejector device is movable between: o a first, retracted position in which the product in the product carrier is not ejected from the product carrier when the product carrier passes the ejector device, o a second, ejection position in which the product in the product carrier is ejected from the product carrier by at least one ejection member when the product carrier passes the ejector device.

[0029] The endless conveyor with a plurality of product carriers is based on the Paternoster principle, wherein products are moved along a transport path of an endless conveyor using product carriers. Each ejector device forms a discharge station. The cooperation between the product carriers and an ejector device provides a controlled sorting process which can be scaled easily to increase the throughput or amount of discharge paths.

[0030] Conventional implementations of the Paternoster principle generally assume vertical displacement of the product carriers. However, the present invention is not confined to a vertical endless conveyor. A horizontal or inclined endless conveyor can also be applied.

[0031] Several implementations of the Paternoster principle in different operational fields have been disclosed in relevant literature. These implementations are mostly used in package sorting devices, but not yet in agricultural and / or horticultural product sorting devices for sorting and / or grading products such as fruits, vegetables, flower bulbs, and food products from a bulk flow. An example of such a packaging sorting device is W02020185081 A1 (herein: D5). D5 discloses an order picking system which comprises a paternoster conveyor with at least one carrier to carry the packages. The discharge conveyors comprise multiple ejection members to intercept a package in the carrier during a downward movement of the carrier. The interception prevents the package from moving downwards on the carrier and maintains it on the vertical level of the discharge path.

[0032] Other package sorting devices with comparable operational principles are disclosed in EP2729387B1 (herein: D6), WO9534491A1 (herein: D7) and WO2012085234A1 (herein: D8).

[0033] One of the drawbacks of the presented Paternoster literature is the throughput. Using the disclosed product carrier of documents D5-D8 only allows a single product per product carrier. This may be sufficient for processing packages, but is not sufficient for e.g. horticultural and / or agricultural products. Another drawback of the systems of these documents is the design to remove the products from the product carriers. The devices are designed for square packages and do not seem to be sufficiently supportive for products with a round shape which may rollover and thereby become damaged and / or bruised.

[0034] By allowing the multiple moveable ejection members to eject the product out of the product carrier individually or in a group of ejection members, the ejection works for any position of the products with respect to each other in the product carrier. The freedom to select one or more ejection members to eject the products allows products to be effectively ejected, regardless of their position, size and orientation with respect to the product carrier and to each other.

[0035] In some embodiments, each ejection member may be a finger.

[0036] In some embodiments, each product carrier may comprise multiple bars and multiple openings arranged in an alternating pattern, each opening in particular being located between two adjoining bars, and wherein each ejection member is configured to extend through one of the openings into the product carrier in the second, ejection position in order to eject a product from the product carrier.

[0037] The combination of alternating bars and openings allows supporting of the products while simultaneously allowing the ejection members to enter the product carrier without touching the product carrier.

[0038] In some embodiments, each ejection member may be configured to extend through an opening on a rear side and / or bottom side of the product carrier when in the second ejection position, and to eject a product via a front side of the product carrier, wherein in particular each product carrier comprises a threshold which is elevated relative to a bottom portion of the product carrier, and wherein the ejection members are configured to push the product over the threshold when ejecting the product.

[0039] In some embodiments, the multiple ejection members of each ejector device may be provided on an interior side of the product processing assembly, and wherein the ejection members move outwardly over a horizontal distance when moving from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position.

[0040] In some embodiments, multiple ejector devices and multiple discharge paths may be positioned vertically above one another. By having the multiple ejection members positioned on the interior side of the product processing assembly, it is possible to eject the products in a product carrier outwardly away from the product processing assembly. This allows positioning of the discharge paths at a free end or free side of the product processing assembly to simplify the placement of these discharge paths and to provide the freedom to install different types of discharge paths.

[0041] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly may comprise a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to control each ejection member of each ejector device, in particular individually or in groups.

[0042] In some embodiments, each ejection member may be pivotable about an ejection member pivot axis, wherein in particular all ejection members of an ejector device are pivotable about a common ejection member pivot axis, and wherein the common ejection member pivot axis is in particular horizontal.

[0043] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly comprises at least two ejector devices, each ejector device being configured to eject at least one product from the product carrier by which the product is carried.

[0044] In some embodiments, each ejection member may be biased by a biasing device to move from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position under the influence of the biasing device.

[0045] Using a biasing device to bias the motion of the ejection member to the second, ejection position simplifies the design of the ejection member actuator. It also reduces the amount of energy required for the rotational movement of the ejection members from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position.

[0046] In some embodiments, the biasing device may be a spring.

[0047] The biasing device may also be a pneumatical cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or any other elastic device which is able to counteract the pushing force of the product carrier against the ejection member.

[0048] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly comprises multiple ejection member actuators, each ejection member actuator being associated with an ejection member and configured to control the movement of the ejection member to the second, ejection position. This is an effective way of individually controlling the ejection members.

[0049] In some embodiments, wherein each ejection member actuator comprises a movable pin which is movable between: a first, holding location in which the movable pin holds the ejection member in the first, retracted position against the bias force of the biasing device until the ejection member should move to the second, ejection position, and a second, release location in which the movable pin releases the ejection member, wherein subsequently the biasing force of the biasing device moves the ejection member to the second, ejection position.

[0050] It was found that this is a relatively simple and effective way of controlling the movement of the ejection members.

[0051] In some embodiments, each product carrier comprises a pushback member which when seen in side view travels along an intersection path which intersects the ejection members of each ejector device when in the second, ejection position of, wherein said pushback member is configured to push an ejection member from the second, ejection position back to the first, retracted position against the biasing force of the biasing device. This is a simple way to push back multiple ejection members by the moving product carrier.

[0052] In some embodiments, each ejection member is movable by the pushback member to a third, hold-release position in which the ejection member is retracted further than in the first, retracted position, wherein in the hold-release position the ejection member is disengaged from the movable pin or exerts a smaller force on the movable pin than in the first, retracted position, as a result of which the ejection member actuator can move the movable pin from the first, holding location to the second, release location with less energy than when the ejection member is in the first, retracted position, and wherein the product processing assembly is configured to move each movable pin from the first, holding location to the second, release location or vice versa when the ejection member is in the third, hold-release position.

[0053] This further reduces the complexity of the ejection member actuator. When the ejection member needs to move to the ejection position, the biasing device provides the biasing force to move the ejection member from the third, hold-release position to the second, ejection position via the first, retracted position. When the ejection member needs to be retracted, the product carrier, which already is moving along the transport path, moves the ejection member from the second, ejection position to the third, hold-release position, in which position the movable pin can be moved to the holding location to hold the ejection member in the first, retracted position.

[0054] A simple actuator only needs to maintain the ejection member in the first, retracted position when products do not need to be ejected from the product carrier. A simple actuator will also reduce the maintenance costs and potential downtime.

[0055] In some embodiments, each ejection member may be movable by the biasing device from the third, hold-release position to the first, retracted position or to the second, ejection position.

[0056] In some embodiments, each ejection member may be movable by a product carrier from the first, retracted position to the third, hold-release position.

[0057] Moving the ejection member to the third, hold-release position before it needs to be moved to the second, ejection position reduces the complexity of the actuator. This requires a smaller actuator which takes less space and uses less energy as it does not have to compensate for any friction between the actuator and the ejection member.

[0058] In some embodiments, each ejection member actuator is a single-direction actuator which, when activated, moves the movable pin from the first, holding location to the second, release location but not vice versa, and wherein each ejection member actuator comprises a pin biasing member which exerts a bias force on the movable pin to move the movable pin from the second, release location to the first, holding location when the ejection member actuator is not activated.

[0059] In some embodiments, each ejection member comprises a push cam configured to push the movable pin rearward when an ejection member is moved from the second, ejection position to the first, retracted position or to the third hold-release position, wherein the push cam comprises an apex which passes the movable pin, allowing the movable pin to move back to the holding location to hold the ejection member in the first, retracted position.

[0060] In some embodiments, the pushback member may be a transverse rod extending transverse to the transport path and along a length of the product carrier, and wherein in particular the bars are connected to the transverse rod. In some embodiments, each discharge path may have a width which is similar to the length of the product carrier.

[0061] This allows full usage of the product carrier as product can be positioned and ejection using the entire length of the product carrier.

[0062] In some embodiments, the bars may be connected to the transverse rod.

[0063] In some embodiments, each ejector device may comprise an ejection member actuator for each ejection member. This allows individual control for each ejection member, providing freedom to eject products with different sizes and different positions in the product carriers.

[0064] In some embodiments, each ejection member actuator may be an ejection member release actuator which:

[0065] - holds the ejection member in the first, retracted position against the bias force of the biasing device until the ejection member should move from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position, and

[0066] - releases the ejection member when a product should be ejected, wherein subsequently the biasing force of the biasing device moves the ejection member from the third, hold-release position to the second, ejection position.

[0067] In some embodiments, the control unit may control each ejection member actuator.

[0068] In some embodiments, a plurality of ejector devices may be arranged along a section of the transport path having a downward transport direction.

[0069] In some embodiments, multiple ejector devices are located vertically above one another.

[0070] Ejection of the products while the product carriers have a downward transport direction will reduce the surface area of a barn or shed required for the product processing assembly. It presents a vertical or substantially vertical implementation of the Pater Noster principle. This allows scaling of the amount of discharge paths without using additional space of the valuable surface area of a barn or shed.

[0071] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly comprises an image recognition device configured to record images of the incoming flow, the image recognition device being positioned upstream of the at least one ejector device wherein the image recognition device is connected to the control unit, the control unit comprising an image recognition module to determine at least one feature of the products based upon which the ejection members are controlled to eject a product or not.

[0072] The image recognition device and the image recognition module provide the possibility to monitor the quality of the products, determine the size and / or shape of the products, and the position of each product in a product carrier. This information is important for the sorting steps that follow after the image recognition device. Product information is essential for the system to decide to which discharge path a product must be discharged. The position of a product and the product information are essential to determine which ejection members need to be moved to the second, ejection position to eject the product.

[0073] In some embodiments, the product sorting system may comprise a product rotating assembly, wherein the product rotating assembly is configured to rotate products which are supplied to the product processing assembly via the supply path to ensure that multiple sides and in particular all sides of the product are exposed to the image recognition device before the product is ejected from the at least one product carrier.

[0074] The re-orientation of the products ensures that the image recognition device and module are able to monitor each side of the products, to provide a complete package of information about each product to the control unit. By allowing the contacting members to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings, products can be re-oriented in a controlled way. Contact between the products and the contacting members reduce motion of the products with respect to the product carrier. This results in friction between the products and the product carrier, causing the product to rotate inside the product carrier.

[0075] By having multiple contacting members in the form of contacting projections which do not move together with the endless conveyor, complexity, maintenance costs and downtime of the product rotating device may be reduced. Moving and / or rotating parts require often more maintenance than fixed parts.

[0076] In some embodiments, the product rotating assembly comprises: an auxiliary conveyor, wherein the auxiliary conveyor is located below the first conveyor section, at least one pair of rollers configured to extend into the product carrier through at least one opening in order to contact the product in the product carrier, wherein the at least one pair of rollers is connected to the product rotating assembly, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rollers, or wherein the product rotating assembly comprises multiple contacting members which are located below a first conveyor section, wherein each contacting projection is configured to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings in order to contact the product in the product carrier.

[0077] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly is oriented substantially vertically and wherein the product rotating assembly is oriented substantially horizontally.

[0078] In some embodiments, when seen in side view an angle enclosed between by the product processing assembly and the product rotating assembly is between and including 60- 120 degrees, in particular between and including 70-110 degrees, more in particular between and including 80-100 degrees.

[0079] In some embodiments, the endless conveyor comprises: a sorting section which forms part of the product processing assembly and a rotation section which forms part of the product rotating assembly, wherein a transport direction of the sorting section is directed substantially vertically and a transport direction of the rotation section is directed substantially horizontally.

[0080] In some embodiments, the image recognition module may be configured to create a 3D-image of each product which is rotated by the product rotating assembly and recorded by the image recognition device.

[0081] Having a 3D-image of each product provides the freedom to determine the properties which are required for the processing steps that potentially follow after the product rotating device. It allows a control unit to make certain decisions based on e.g., size, shape, color and / or anomalies.

[0082] In some embodiments, the control unit may comprise a location module configured to determine the position of each product in each product carrier, and wherein the control unit controls the ejection member actuators based on the determined locations of the products. In some embodiments, the product processing assembly may comprise: a recognition point located on the product carrier, a recognition device for recognizing a position of the product carrier on the conveyor, wherein the position of the product carrier is used by the control unit to correctly time the control of the ejection member actuator with the position and movement of the product carrier.

[0083] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly may comprise a drive assembly to drive the endless conveyor.

[0084] In some embodiments, each product carrier may be elongated and may have a main longitudinal direction which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path.

[0085] In some embodiments, each ejection member pivot axis may be located at an upper end of each associated ejection member, the ejection member extending downwardly from the ejection member pivot axis.

[0086] In some embodiments, in the second, ejection position the ejection members may have an inclined orientation, wherein the upper end is located at an upper, inner position and a lower end is located at a lower, outer position, and wherein in the first, retracted position the ejection members are oriented more vertically than in the second, ejection position.

[0087] The inclined orientation of the ejection member in the second, ejection position forces the product over the edge of the product carrier onto the discharge path. In this way, it is possible to collide with the product with a low impact to prevent bruising and / or damaging the product. The more vertical orientation of the ejection member in the first, retracted position ensures that a product carrier may pass the ejection member without colliding with the ejection member to improve stability of the product carrier.

[0088] In some embodiments, each product carrier may be a basket. A basket is ideal for displacing approximately round products along an endless conveyor with a very low risk of losing any products along the way.

[0089] In some embodiments, each bar of each product carrier may comprise:

[0090] - a bottom part forming part of a bottom side of the product carrier,

[0091] - a rear part forming part of a rear side of the product carrier, - a bend between the bottom part and the rear part. wherein the bottom part and rear part extend in a same vertical plane which is in particular parallel to the transport directions of the conveyor, wherein each opening between the bars may comprise:

[0092] - a bottom opening section between two adjoining bottom parts, and

[0093] - a rear opening section between two adjoining rear parts, wherein the bottom opening section and rear opening section are connected, allowing an ejection member and or rotation member to enter the product carrier via a combination of the bottom opening section and the rear opening section.

[0094] In some embodiments, each product carrier may be connected to the endless conveyor via a hinge which defines a carrier pivot axis which is preferably horizontal, wherein each product carrier is pivotable about the carrier pivot axis between at least a:

[0095] - a rotation orientation in which the contacting members enter the product carrier via the openings to rotate the products in the product carrier,

[0096] - ejection orientation in which products can be ejected from the product carrier by the ejection members, wherein in the ejection orientation a bottom portion of the product carrier is positioned higher relative to a threshold of the product carrier than in the rotation orientation.

[0097] The hinge of the product carrier provides the freedom to the product processing assembly to implement different parts of the endless conveyor oriented and positioned differently from each other. Depending on the position of the supply path and discharge paths, and available space in a barn or shed it is possible to change the orientation and position of different parts, like the product rotating assembly and ejector devices, with respect to each other. Both can be oriented vertically or horizontally, but these orientations may also differ because the product carrier is able to rotate about the carrier pivot axis.

[0098] In some embodiments, the endless conveyor may comprise: a forward bend and a receiving section located at the forward bend, wherein the supply path connects to the receiving section, a first conveyor section which faces upwards and has a first transport direction extending at an angle of less than 20 degrees to the horizontal, wherein the product rotating assembly and the image recognition device are located at the first conveyor section to rotate the products and record images of the products in the first conveyor section, an inner bend where the transport direction changes from the first to a second transport direction, a second conveyor section having the second, upward transport direction, an upper bend where the transport direction changes from the second to a third transport direction, a third conveyor section having the third transport direction which is downward, wherein the plurality of ejector devices are located along the third conveyor section, a lower bend where the transport direction changes from the third transport direction to a fourth transport direction, a fourth conveyor section extending between the lower bend and the forward bend and having the fourth transport direction which extends at less than 40 degrees to the horizontal.

[0099] In some embodiments, products may be dropped from the product carrier when the product carrier reaches the lower bend of the endless conveyor to ensure that the product carrier is empty when receives new products from the supply path.

[0100] In some embodiments, the ejection member comprises a main ejection part configured to contact the products in a first product carrier and an ejection member extension part which extends from a lower end of the main ejection part and extends at an angle relative to the main ejection part, wherein the ejection member extension part is configured to contact a second product carrier which precedes the first product carrier.

[0101] In some embodiments, the extension angle is between, and including 90-150 degrees, in particular between, and including, 100-140 degrees, more in particular between, and including, 110-130 degrees, most in particular 120 degrees.

[0102] In some embodiments, the ejection member extension is configured to engage a preceding product carrier in the transport path, in particular a pushback member thereof, such that an associated biasing device moves the ejection member to the second, ejection position after the preceding carrier has passed an ejection member extension part end while a following product carrier passes the ejection member and a bias force exerted by the biasing device in conjunction with the relative movement of the product carrier relative to the ejection member ejects a product out of the product carrier. The present invention further relates to a product sorting system comprising: the product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, at least one supply path to provide the incoming flow of products to the product processing assembly, at least one discharge path, each discharge path being configured to receive one or more products from the product processing assembly, wherein each ejector device is associated with a discharge path.

[0103] In some embodiments, the product sorting system comprises at least one ejector device and at least two discharge paths, each ejector device being configured to eject at least one product from the product carrier by which the product is carried into one of the discharge paths.

[0104] In some embodiments, the ejector device may comprise a blocking member which is configured to limit the maximal rotational movement of the ejection member.

[0105] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly may comprise a rail which supports the product carriers and a chain via which the product carriers are interconnected and moved. The product processing assembly further comprises a cam track configured to control the orientation of each product carrier. The cam track is configured to receive an orientation cam of each product carrier.

[0106] In some embodiments, the rail may be positioned in parallel with the third conveyor section, wherein the cam track is configured to: receive the orientation cam when the product carrier passes the upper bend, release the orientation cam when the product carrier passes the lower bend.

[0107] The lateral distance between the rail and the cam track controls the orientation of the product carrier. The lateral distance is uniform along the section(s) where the ejector devices are located so that the product carriers are maintained in an orientation in which the products can be discharged from the product carrier.

[0108] In some embodiments, the cam track may comprise a S-turn which is configured to rotate the product carrier to a release orientation, wherein in the release orientation a bottom portion of the product carrier is positioned higher relative to a threshold of the product carrier than in the ejection orientation. In some embodiments, the rail may be positioned in parallel with the first conveyor section to ensure that each product carrier remains stable when products are rotated in the product rotating assembly.

[0109] Method

[0110] The invention further relates to a method of sorting and / or grading products from an incoming flow of products, the method comprising,

[0111] - feeding a flow of products to the product processing assembly according to the invention,

[0112] - selecting one or more products to be ejected into the discharge path, and moving one or more ejection members of the ejector device from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position and ejecting the selected product(s) from the product carrier into the discharge path.

[0113] The method provides the same advantages as the device.

[0114] In an embodiment of the method, the products may be selected based on one or more features selected from a group comprising: size, weight, shape, color, presence of undesirable spots or protrusions.

[0115] PRODUCT ROTATION DEVICE

[0116] In an independent aspect, the present invention further relates to a product rotation device for rotating products in one or more product carriers, the product rotation device comprising: an endless conveyor, one or more product carriers connected to the endless conveyor and configured for carrying one or more products, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to move each product carrier along a transport path, and wherein each product carrier comprises multiple bars and multiple openings arranged in an alternating pattern, each opening being located between two adjoining bars, a product rotating assembly configured for rotating the products in each product carrier, wherein the product rotating assembly comprises multiple contacting members, wherein each contacting member is configured to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings in order to contact the product in the product carrier, wherein the contacting members are configured to rotate the products while, when viewed in top view, a centre (C) of each product remains within a contour of the product carrier.

[0117] By keeping the centres of products being carried by a product carrier within the contour of a product carrier during the rotation of the products, a relatively simple device can be obtained with a relatively small footprint.

[0118] WO2015 / 165905 (D6) discloses a device for unilateral analysis of products comprising a turning conveyor. The turning conveyor comprises carriers 16 for carrying products. The carrier comprises tilting levers 19, 21 in opposition to each other. The device of D6 has many moving parts and is relatively complex. The device of D6 needs to take the products out of the carrier when turning the product.

[0119] The contacting members may be: rollers, or contacting projections, in particular stationary contacting projections. These were found to be very effective.

[0120] In some embodiments, the product rotating assembly comprises multiple contacting members which are located below a first conveyor section, wherein each contacting member is configured to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings in order to contact the product in the product carrier.

[0121] By allowing the contacting members to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings, products can be re-oriented in a controlled way. Contact between the products and the contacting members reduce motion of the products with respect to the product carrier. This results in friction between the products and the product carrier, causing the product to rotate inside the product carrier.

[0122] In some embodiments, the product rotating assembly is positioned along the endless conveyor, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to convey each product carrier along the product rotating assembly for rotating the products in the product carrier.

[0123] In some embodiments, an upper side of each projection may have a varying shape in the direction of the transport path of the product carrier. By having an upper side with a varying shape, rotational speed of the products in the product carrier can vary along the length of the endless conveyor. The varying shape may also affect the rotational direction of the products in the product carrier. Thereby, it becomes possible to control the orientation of each product in the product carrier along the length of the endless conveyor.

[0124] In some embodiments, the product carrier may not collide with the contacting members.

[0125] Collisions between the product carrier and the contacting members may result in an unstable system. An unstable system provides a difficult environment for controlling the orientation of the products in the product carrier. In addition, it may result in products which roll over the edge of the product carrier, when swinging motion of the product carrier lowers one edge of the product carrier.

[0126] In some embodiments, the multiple contacting members may be positioned below the first conveyor section and do not move together with the endless conveyor.

[0127] By having multiple contacting members in the form of contacting projections which do not move together with the endless conveyor, maintenance costs and downtime of the product rotating device may be reduced. Moving and / or rotating parts require often more maintenance than fixed parts.

[0128] In some embodiments, multiple contacting members may be positioned in a row which extends transverse to the transport direction.

[0129] In some embodiments, each product carrier may comprises multiple openings and wherein the product rotating assembly may comprise at least a same number of contacting members so that at least one contacting member may be associated with each opening.

[0130] Multiple contacting projections in a row result in multiple small collisions with the product in the product carrier. The force exerted on a product is thereby divided over multiple contacting projections. This will reduce bruising and / or damaging of the products.

[0131] In some embodiments, the product rotation device may comprise an image recognition device configured to record images of each product in the product carrier, wherein the image recognition device is connected to a control unit. The image recognition device provides the possibility to monitor the quality of the products and the position of each product in a product carrier. This information may be important for any additional processing steps that potentially follow after the product rotating device.

[0132] In some embodiments, the product contacting assembly may be configured to ensure that multiple sides of the product are exposed to the image recognition device.

[0133] Every side of the product needs to be exposed to the image recognition device because otherwise minor deflects can potentially be overlooked. This may negatively affect the quality of the processing steps that potentially follow after the product rotating device.

[0134] In some embodiments, the control unit may comprise an image recognition module configured to create a 3D-image of each product which is rotated by the product rotating assembly and recorded by the image recognition device.

[0135] Having a 3D-image of each product provides the freedom to determine the properties which are required for the processing steps that potentially follow after the product rotating device. It allows a control unit to make certain decisions based on e.g., size, shape, color and / or anomalies.

[0136] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly may comprise a drive assembly to drive the endless conveyor. The drive assembly is essential for the product ejection device, because the product carriers need to move along the transport path of the endless conveyor in the first conveyor section for the collisions to occur.

[0137] In some embodiments, each product carrier may be elongated and may have a main longitudinal direction which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path.

[0138] An elongated product carrier provides space for multiple products next to each other, increasing the throughput of the product rotating device without affecting the performance of the image recognition device and module. In an embodiment the carrier can in particular carry at least three products which may be arranged in a row.

[0139] In some embodiments, the product processing assembly may comprise a rail configured to control the orientation of each product carrier, wherein the rail comprises a cam track configured to receive a orientation cam of each product carrier. In some embodiments, the rail may be positioned in parallel with the first conveyor section to ensure that each product carrier remains stable when products are rotated in the product rotating assembly.

[0140] In some embodiments, the product rotating assembly comprises: an auxiliary conveyor, wherein the auxiliary conveyor is located below the first conveyor section, at least one pair of rollers which are configured to extend into the product carrier through at least one opening in order to contact the product in the product carrier, wherein the at least one pair of rollers is connected to the product rotating assembly, and a drive mechanism for rotating the rollers.

[0141] In some embodiments, the product rotating assembly comprises a plurality of rotating link members connected to the auxiliary conveyor and configured to releasably link the auxiliary conveyor to at least one product carrier such that the auxiliary conveyor is carried with the at least one product carrier and the at least one pair of rollers moves with a product carrier along the transport path.

[0142] In some embodiments, the product rotating assembly is configured to rotate products over a discretionary angle, e.g. 90 degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees or 360 degrees, but also e.g. 30 degrees, 40, degrees, 50 degrees or 60 degrees. The operator can choose this angle at any value between zero and 360 degrees and even let the product make multiple rotations. In other words, the angle can be a multiple of 360 plus a partial rotation.

[0143] In some embodiments, the product rotation device is configured to rotate products around an axis which is not parallel to the transport path, in particular substantially perpendicular to the transport path.

[0144] In some embodiments, the product rotation device is configured to rotate products only through contact with a lower half of a product.

[0145] In some embodiments, each product carrier is configured to carry multiple products.

[0146] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism comprises a rack, wherein at least one roller comprises a pinion configured to form a rack-and-pinion with the rack of the drive mechanism to rotate each roller being moved over the rack by the auxiliary conveyor. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0147] Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of the product sorting system according to the invention.

[0148] Fig. 2 shows a side view of the product sorting system.

[0149] Fig. 3 shows a side view of the product rotation device.

[0150] Fig. 4a - 4b show a side view of the product processing assembly.

[0151] Fig. 5 shows an isometric view of the product ejection device and discharge paths.

[0152] Fig. 6a - 6c show the product carrier.

[0153] Fig. 7a - 7d show the ejector device.

[0154] Fig. 8a - 8e show different views of the process flow in the product sorting system.

[0155] Fig. 9a - 9k show a cross-sectional view of the operating principle of the product processing assembly.

[0156] Fig. 10a - 10e show different cross-sectional views of the ejector device.

[0157] Fig. 11a - 11c show different views of a product rotation device.

[0158] Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional, side view of the lower bend.

[0159] Fig. 13A - 13B show a schematic view of the ejector device.

[0160] Fig. 14A - 14H show cross-sectional views of an embodiment of the ejector devices and the associated operating principle of the product processing assembly.

[0161] Fig. 15A - 15C show close-up side views of a part of a product rotating assembly.

[0162] Fig. 16A - 16B show a back view and a front view of a drive mechanism of a product rotating assembly.

[0163] DETAILD DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0164] Turning to figure 1 , a product sorting system 10 for sorting and / or grading products 1 from an incoming flow 2 of products is shown. See figures 8A-8D for the products 1 and the incoming flow 2. The incoming flow may be a bulk flow. The products comprise in particular horticultural or agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, flower bulbs, and food products. The product sorting system 10 comprises at least one supply path 3 and at least one discharge path 4. The supply path 3 provides the bulk flow 2 of products 1 to the product processing assembly 20. Each discharge path 4 is configured to receive one or more products from the product processing assembly 20.

[0165] Turning to figure 2, a cross-sectional side view of the product sorting system 10 is shown. The product sorting system 10 comprises a product processing assembly 20. The product processing assembly 20 comprises an endless conveyor 30, a plurality of product carriers 40 and at least a first ejector device 50. Each product carrier 40 is connected to the endless conveyor 30 and is configured for carrying one or more products 1. The endless conveyor 30 is configured to move each product carrier 40 along a transport path 31. The product processing assembly further comprises a drive assembly 38 to drive the endless conveyor 30. The endless conveyor comprises a sorting section 350 which forms part of the product processing assembly 20 and a rotation section 351 which forms part of a product rotating assembly 80. A transport direction T3 of the sorting section 350 is directed substantially vertically and a transport direction T1 of the rotation section 351 is directed substantially horizontally.

[0166] The ejector device 50 is configured to eject at least one product 1 from the product carrier 40, by which the product is carried, into the at least one discharge path 4. Each ejector device 50 is configured to eject the at least one product 1 from the product carrier 40 during the motion of each product carrier along the transport path 31. The ejector devices are arranged along a section of the transport path 31 having a downward transport direction 34. Each ejector device 50 is associated with a discharge path 4.

[0167] The endless conveyor 30 comprises four different conveyor sections 102,105,107,108 with each conveyor section having a different transport direction T1 , T2, T3, T4. The endless conveyor 30 is bent between each conveyor section. The first conveyor section 102 is positioned between a forward bend 100 and an inner bend 103. The supply path 3 is positioned close to the endless conveyor 30 at a receiving section 101 which is located at the forward bent 100. The first conveyor section 102 faces upwards and has a first transport direction T 1 extending at an angle of less than 20 degrees to the horizontal. A product rotating assembly 80 and an image recognition device 62 are located at the first conveyor section. The transport direction changes at the inner bend 103 from the first to the second transport direction T2, wherein a second conveyor section 108 is having the second transport direction T2. The product rotating assembly 80 forms a station positioned along the endless conveyor.

[0168] The second conveyor section 108 extends from the inner bend 103 to an upper bend 104. The transport direction changes at the upper bend 104 from the second to the third transport direction T3. A third conveyor section 105 comprises the third transport direction T3 downward. The third conveyor section 105 extends from the upper bend 104 to an lower bend 106. The plurality of ejector devices 50 are located along the third conveyor section T3. The third transport direction T3 changes into a fourth transport direction T4 at the lower bend 106. A fourth conveyor section 107 extends between the lower bend 106 and the forward bend 100. The fourth conveyor section 107 has the fourth transport direction T4 which extends at less than 40 degrees to the horizontal. The products are dropped from the product carrier 40 when the product carrier 40 reaches the lower bend 106 of the endless conveyor 30 to ensure that the product carrier 40is empty when it moves in the direction of the receiving section 101 to receive new products from the supply path 3.

[0169] The product processing assembly 20 extends substantially vertically. The product rotating assembly 80 extends substantially horizontally.

[0170] An angle 0 formed by the product processing assembly and the product rotating assembly is between and including 60-120 degrees, in particular between and including 70- 110 degrees, more in particular between and including 80-100 degrees.

[0171] Turning to figures 4A, 4B and 5, the ejector device 50 is shown. Each ejector device comprises multiple movable ejection members 52. The ejection members are fingers 65 but may have a different shape. The movable ejection members 52 are configured to eject the product 1 out of the product carrier 40, either individually or acting in a group of ejection members. Each ejection member 52 of each ejector device 50 is movable between a first, retracted position 54 and a second, ejection position 55. The product 1 in the product carrier 40 is not ejected from the product carrier 40 when the product carrier 40 passes the ejector device 50 when one or more ejection members 52 are in the first, retracted position 54. The product 1 in the product carrier 40 is ejected from the product carrier 40 by at least one ejection member 52 when the product carrier 40 passes the ejector device 50 when one or more ejection members 52 are in the second, ejection position 55.

[0172] Turning to figures 6A-6C, the product carrier 40 is shown. Each product carrier 40 comprises multiple bars 90 and multiple openings 95 arranged in an alternating pattern. Each opening 95 is in particular located between two adjoining bars 90. Each ejection member 52 of the ejector device 50 is configured to extend through one of the openings 95 into the product carrier 40 when it is in the second, ejection position 54 in order to eject a product 1 from the product carrier 40. The product carrier 40 is a basket. Each product carrier 40 is elongate and has a main longitudinal direction 41 which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path 31.

[0173] Each ejection member 52 is configured to extend through an opening 95 on a rear side 45 and / or bottom side 46 of the product carrier 40 when in the second, ejection position. The ejection member 52 ejects a product 1 via a front side 47 of the product carrier 40. Each product carrier 40 comprises a threshold 48 which is elevated relative to a bottom portion 49 of the product carrier 40, and wherein the ejection members 52 are configured to push the product 1 over the threshold 48 when ejecting the product 1. The multiple ejection members 52 of each ejector device 50 are provided on an interior side 32 of the endless conveyor. The ejection members 52 move outwardly over a horizontal distance 56 when moving from the first, retracted position 54 to the second, ejection position 55.

[0174] Each bar 90 of each product carrier 40 comprises a bottom part 91, a rear part 92 and a bend 93. The bottom part 91 forming part of the bottom side 46 of the product carrier 40. The rear part 92 forming part of the rear side 45 of the product carrier 40. The bend 93 between the bottom part 91 and the rear part 92. The bottom part 91 and rear part 92 extend in a same vertical plane 94 which is in particular parallel to the transport directions 31 of the endless conveyor. Each opening 95 between the bars 90 comprises a bottom opening section 96 between two adjoining bottom parts 91 and a rear opening section 97 between two adjoining rear parts 92. The bottom opening section 96 and rear opening section 97 are connected, allowing the ejection member 52 and or rotation member 51 to enter the product carrier 40 via a combination of the bottom opening section 96 and the rear opening section 97.

[0175] Turning to figures 7A-7D, the ejector device 50 is shown. Each ejection member 52 of the ejector device 50 is pivotable about an ejection member pivot axis 57, wherein in particular all ejection members 52 of an ejector device 50 are pivotable about a common ejection member pivot axis 57. The common ejection member pivot axis 57 is in particular horizontal. The ejection member pivot axis 57 is located at an upper end 59 of each associated ejection member 52. The ejection member 52 extends downwardly from the pivot axis 57.

[0176] Turning to figures 10A-12, different cross-sectional views of the ejector device are shown. Each ejector device 50 comprises an ejection member actuator 110 for each ejection member 52. The ejection member actuator is an ejection member release actuator which holds the ejection member 52 in the first, retracted position 54 against the biasing force of the biasing device 53 until the ejection member should move to the second, ejection position 55.

[0177] The ejection member actuator 110 may be a solenoid and comprises a movable pin 115, which in this case is a retractable pin 115. The retractable pin 115 is configured to counteract the biasing force of the biasing device 53 on the ejection member 52 and hold the ejection member in place in the first, retracted position 54. A hold cam 119 in the upper end 59 of the ejection member 52 engages the movable pin 115 and applies the biasing force onto the movable pin 115, in particular onto an upper side of the movable pin. The movable pin 115 is movable from a first, holding location 117 in which it holds the ejection member 52 in the first, retracted position 54 to a second, release location 118 in which it allows the ejection member 52 to move to the ejection position 55. The first, holding location 117 of the outer portion 116 of the retractable pin 115 is shown in figures 10A and 10B. Figures 10C, 11 and 12 show the second, release location 118 of the outer portion 116 of the retractable pin 115.

[0178] The biasing force of the biasing device 53 results in friction between the hold cam 119 and the retractable pin 115. Friction would require a relatively strong ejection member actuator 110 to move the retractable pin 115 from the first, holding location 117 to a second, release location 118. A large actuator requires a relatively large space, is more expensive and has a greater energy requirement. The retraction force in a direction B is reduced by reducing the friction. The friction is reduced by moving the ejection member 52 in a direction A using the product carrier 40. This lifts and disengages the hold cam 119 from the retractable pin 115. The retractable pin 115 is thereafter movable from the first, holding location 117 to the second, release location 118 with relatively little force and little energy. The biasing force of the biasing device 53 then forces the ejection member 52 into a direction C.

[0179] The rotating assembly 80 is positioned along the endless conveyor 30. The product rotating assembly 80 is configured for rotating the products 1 in each product carrier 40. The endless conveyor 30 is configured to convey each product carrier 40 along the product rotating assembly 80 for rotating the products 1 in the product carrier 40.

[0180] The product rotating assembly 80 is configured to rotate products 1 over a discretionary angle. This angle may for instance be 90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees, but may also be 30, 40, 50 or 60 degrees.

[0181] The product rotation device 80 rotates products 1 around an axis which is not parallel to the transport path 31. In particular, the product rotation device 80 is configured to rotate products 1 around an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the transport path 31.

[0182] The product rotation device 80 is configured to rotate products 1 only through contact with a lower half of a product 1.

[0183] Each product carrier 40 is configured to carry multiple products 1. Turning to figures 15A - 15C, close-up views of a product rotation device 120 are shown. A plurality of link members 310 connected to an auxiliary conveyor 142 are configured to releasably link the auxiliary conveyor 142 to a product carrier 40. The auxiliary conveyor 142 is carried with the product carrier 40 as a result of the releasable coupling of the link member 310. Contacting members in the form of a pair of rollers 143 are connected to a second embodiment of the product rotating assembly 80, shown in Figure 11C. The contacting members (rollers) are moved with a product carrier 40 along the transport path 31. The auxiliary conveyor is located below the first conveyor section. A pair of rollers 143 is configured to extend into the product carrier 40 through at least one opening 95 in order to contact a product 1 in the product carrier 40. A pair of rollers 143 is connected to the product rotating assembly 80. The products 1 are rotated while they are conveyed, i.e. the endless conveyor 30 makes a continuous movement. It is conceivable that the endless conveyor moves intermittently.

[0184] An embodiment of the drive mechanism 315 is shown in Figures 16A-16B. The drive mechanism 315 rotates the rollers 143. The drive mechanism 315 comprises a rack 324 over which a pinion 326 connected to an associated roller 143 is moved by the auxiliary conveyor 142. This causes the rollers 143 to rotate. Other drive mechanisms 315, such as motors, may alternatively or complementary be used.

[0185] Product rotation device according to any of claims 54-58, wherein the drive mechanism 315 comprises a rack 324. At least one roller 143 comprises a pinion 326 configured to form a rack-and-pinion with the rack 324 of the drive mechanism 315 to rotate each roller 143 being moved over the rack 324 by the auxiliary conveyor 142.

[0186] The auxiliary conveyor 142 moves parallel to the conveyor 30 at the first transport section 102. The link members 310 are configured to move relative to a ramp 312 and are rotated upwards by the ramp 312. A link member 310 is configured to automatically disconnect from a respective product carrier 40 at the end of the first transport section 102. The disconnecting of the link member 310 results from the auxiliary conveyor 142 no longer running parallel to the conveyor 30 after the first transport section 102.

[0187] Turning to figures 9A-9K, the interaction between the ejection members 52 and the product carrier 40 is shown. Each ejection member 52 is biased by a biasing device 53 to move from the first, retracted position 54 to the second, ejection position 55 under the influence of the biasing device 53, this is shown in figures 9A-9C. The biasing device 53 may be a spring, a pneumatic cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder or any other elastic device. The ejection members 52 have an inclined orientation 112 when they are in the second, ejection position 55. The upper end 59 is located at an upper, inner position 113 and a lower end 58 is located at a lower, outer position 114. When an ejection member 52 is in the second, ejection position 55, the associated movable pin 115 is in a third, intermediate location 219 and engages a push cam 122 of the ejection member 52. In particular, a forward side of the movable pin 115 engages the push cam 122,

[0188] In the first, retracted position 54 the ejection members 52 are oriented more vertically than in the second, ejection position 55. The ejector device 50 further comprises a blocking member 134 which is configured to limit the maximal rotational movement of the ejection member 52.

[0189] Turning to figures 9C-9F, each product carrier 40 comprises a pushback member 70 which when seen in side view travels along an intersection path 22. The pushback member 70 intersects the second, ejection position 55 of the ejection members 52 of each ejector device 50. The pushback member is a transverse rod 72 extending transverse to the transport path 31 and along a length 74 of the product carrier 40. The bars 90 of the product carrier 40 are connected to the transverse rod 72. The width 5 of each discharge path 4 is similar to the length 74 of the product carriers 40.

[0190] Each ejection member 52 is movable by the pushback member 70 from the second, ejection position 55 to a third, hold-release position 129 against the biasing force of the biasing device 53, this is shown in figures 9D-9F.

[0191] The product carrier moves downwardly when the pushback member 70 collides with the ejection member 52. By the downward movement of the pushback member 70, the ejection member is retracted. The ejection member is retracted further in the third, holdrelease position 129 by the pushback member 70 than in the first, retracted position. The ejection member 52 remains in the third, hold-release position 129 as long as the pushback member 70 engages the ejection member 52 at the bottom end of the ejection member.

[0192] Turning to figs. 9E, 9F, the friction between the hold cam 119 and the retractable pin 115 is reduced or eliminated when the ejection member 52 is in the third, hold-release position 129, because the holding cam 119 is higher than the movable pin 115. As a result, the ejection member actuator can move the movable pin from the first, holding location to the second, release location without touching the holding cam 119 and therefore with less energy than when the ejection member is in the first, retracted position. This allows the ejection member actuator 110 to move the retractable pin 115 from the second, release location 118 to the first, holding location 117, see figures 9E and 9F.

[0193] Turning to fig. 9G, once the product carrier 40 passes the respective ejection device 50, the biasing member 53 moves the ejection member 52 from the third, hold-release position 129 to the first, retracted position 54 where the hold cam 119 engages the retractable pin 115. Figure 9G shows that the ejection member actuator 110 is preventing the ejection member 52 from moving further to the second, ejection position 55.

[0194] Turning to fig. 9I and 9J, the product processing assembly is configured to move each ejection member actuator from the first, holding location 117 to the second, release location 118 or vice versa when the ejection member is in the third, hold-release position 129. This requires little energy.

[0195] The ejection member actuator 110 releases the ejection member 52 when a product 1 should be ejected from the next product carrier 40, i.e. from the product carrier which is above the product carrier of which the pushback member 70 pushes the ejection member to the third, hold-release position 129. Likewise, the retractable pin 115 is only movable to the first, holding location 117 when the ejection member 52 is forced into the third, hold-release position 129 by a pushback member. This is done by the pushback member 70 of a previous product carrier 40 that passes the ejection device 50, see figures 9H-9J. Every product carrier 40 that passes an ejector device 50 collides with the ejection member 52 to move the ejection member 52 to the third, hold-release position 129 for a short time period. The ejection member 52 only moves to the second, ejection position 55 when the retractable pin 115 is moved to the second, release location 118. Otherwise, the ejection member 52 will be moved from the third, hold-release position 129 back to the first, retracted position 52 by the biasing force of the biasing member 53 once the product carrier 40 has passed. It is held in the first, retracted position 52 by the movable pin 115.

[0196] Figure 9K shows the ejection member 52 in the second, ejection position 55. The actuator has released the retractable pin, as a result of which the retractable pin moves outward under the influence of the pin biasing member 121 and engages the push cam of the ejection member. The retractable pin does not reach the first holding location 117, but is blocked by the push cam in a third, intermediate location 219 which is between the first holding location 117 and the second release location 118. This is also the position in which the retractable pin is shown in figs. 9A and 9B. Turning to figures 13A-13B, a schematic representation of the rotational movement of the ejection member 52 is shown. The ejection member 52 rotates around an ejection member pivot axis 57 and is movable between the second, ejection position 55 and the third, hold-release position 129. The first, retracted position 54 of the ejection member 52 is positioned between the second, ejection position 55 and the third, hold-release position 129. The ejection member angle y between the ejection member 52 and the hold cam 119 is constant. Rotational movement of the ejection member 52 also results in rotational movement of the hold cam 119. In the third, hold-release position 129 the ejection members 52 are oriented more vertically than in the first, retracted position 54 and the second, ejection position 55. See first angle p and second angle y.

[0197] The ejection member 52 moves to the third, hold-release position 129 due to the collision between the pushback member 70 and the ejection member 52. The rotational displacement of the ejection member 52 with first angle also lifts the hold cam 119 from the retractable pin 115, resulting in also a rotational displacement of first angle p. The schematical displacement with first angle p is relatively small and therefore not visible in figures 9E, 9F, 9I, 9J, 10B and 10C.

[0198] Returning to figure 9F, each ejection member further comprises a push cam 122 configured to push the movable pin 115 rearward when an ejection member 52 is moved from the second, ejection position 55 to the first, retracted position 54 or to the third hold-release position 129. The push cam 122 comprises an apex 133 which passes the movable pin 115. The holding cam 119 is now located above the movable pin 115, allowing the movable pin 115 to move back to the first, holding location 117 when the push cam has passed the movable pin to hold the ejection member 52 in the first, retracted position 54.

[0199] Turning to fig. 9G, the movable pin 115 holds the ejection member via de holding cam 119.

[0200] Returning to figure 9A, each ejection member actuator 110 is a single-direction actuator which, when activated, moves the movable pin 115 from the first, holding location 117 to the second, release location 118 but not vice versa. Each ejection member actuator 110 comprises a pin biasing member 121 which exerts a bias force on the movable pin 115 to move the movable pin 115 from the second, release location 118 to the first, holding location 117 when the ejection member actuator 110 is not activated. In a different embodiment which is not shown, a separate retraction mechanism can be used for each ejector device, wherein the retraction mechanism has an separate actuator and a separate bar which pushes all ejection members 52 of an ejector device 50 back to the retracted position after the product carrier has passed the ejector device. This is not preferred because extra parts are required, but also works.

[0201] Returning to figure 2, a control unit 60 is shown. The control unit 60 is configured to control each ejection member 52 of each ejector device 50, in particular individually or in groups. The product processing assembly 20 further comprises an image recognition device 62. The image recognition device 62 is configured to record images of the incoming flow 2. The image recognition device 62 is positioned upstream of the at least one ejector device 50 and is connected to the control unit 60. The control unit comprises an image recognition module 63 to determine at least one feature of the products 1 based upon which the ejection members 52 are controlled to eject a product 1 or not.

[0202] The product processing assembly further comprises a recognition point 24, see figure s 6A-6B, located on the product carrier 40 and a recognition device 66, see figure 14, for recognizing a position 36 of the product carrier 40 on the endless conveyor 30. The recognition device 66 reads the recognition point 24 to determine which product carrier 40 passes the recognition device 66 at a particular moment. Determination of the exact position is further based on measurements from an encoder 12, see figure 14. The encoder 12 could be used to determine the rotational speed, the number of rotations and position of the conveyor in time. The position 36 of the product carrier 40 is used by the control unit 60 to correctly time the control of the ejection member actuator 110 with the position 36 and movement of the product carrier 40.

[0203] Turning to figure 3, the product rotating assembly 80 having multiple contacting members in the form of contacting projections 82 is shown. The product rotating assembly 80 is configured to rotate products 1 which are supplied to the product processing assembly 20 via the supply path 3. Products 1 are rotated to ensure that multiple sides and in particular all sides of the product 1 are exposed to the image recognition device 62 before the product 1 is ejected from the at least one product carrier 40. Each contacting projection 82 is configured to enter a product carrier 40 via one of the openings 95 and contact a product 1 in the product carrier 40. The contacting projections 82 are stationary and are positioned in a path along which the product carriers 40 are moved. The image recognition module 63 is configured to create a 3D-image of each product 1 which is rotated by the product rotating assembly 80 and recorded by the image recognition device 62. The control unit 60 further comprises a location module 64. The location module 64 is configured to determine the position of each product 1 in each product carrier 40. The control unit 60 controls the ejection member actuators 110 based on the determined locations of the products.

[0204] Returning to figure 5, the product carrier 40 connected to the endless conveyor 30 via a hinge 33 is shown. The hinge 33 defines a carrier pivot axis 42 which is preferably horizontal. Each product carrier is pivotable about the carrier pivot axis between at least a rotation orientation 43 and an ejection orientation 44. In the rotation orientation, the contacting projections 82 enter the product carrier 40 via the openings 95 to rotate the products in the product carrier 40. In the ejection orientation 44 products can be ejected from the product carrier 40 using the ejection members 52. In addition, in the ejection orientation 44 the bottom side 46 of the product carrier 40 is positioned higher relative to the threshold 48 of the product carrier 40 than in the rotation orientation 43.

[0205] Turning to figures 8A-8E, the method of sorting and / or grading of products from a bulk flow using the product sorting system 10 is shown. The product sorting system 10 comprises the product processing assembly 20, at least one supply path 3 and at least one discharge path 4. A bulk flow 2 of products is fed to the product carriers 40 of the endless conveyor 30 at the receiving section 101 in figure 8A. In figure 8B, products are then rotated in the product carrier 40 using the product rotating assembly 80, wherein the products collide with the contacting projections 82. A 3D-image of each product is generated using the image recognition device 62 and image recognition module 63 during the rotation of the product in the product carrier.

[0206] The product information is used to select one or more products to be ejected into the first discharge path. The products are selected based on one or more features selected from a group comprising: size, weight, shape, color, presence of undesirable spots or protrusions. The control unit 60 controls one or more ejection members of the first ejector device from the first, retracted position 54 to the second, ejection position 55. The one or more ejection members 52 will ejected the respective product from the product carrier into the first discharge path in figures 8C-8E. The same product information is also used for the products which are still in the product carrier to select whether one or more products need to be ejected into the second discharge path. The control unit 60 will move one or more ejection members 52 of the second ejector device from the first, retracted position 54 to the second, ejection position 55 and ejects the selected product(s) from the product carrier 40 into the second discharge path. The same steps are repeated for every discharge path.

[0207] Returning to figures 3, 5 and 8B, a product rotation device 120 for rotating products in one or more product carriers 40 is shown. The product rotation device 120 comprises an endless conveyor 30, one or more product carriers configured for carrying one or more products and a product rotating assembly 80 for rotating the products in each product carrier 40. The product rotation device 120 comprises a drive assembly 38 to drive the endless conveyor 30. The one or more product carriers 40 are connected to the endless conveyor 30 and the endless conveyor 30 is configured to move each product carrier 40 along a transport path 31. Each product carrier 40 comprises multiple bars 90 and multiple openings 95 arranged in an alternating pattern, each opening 95 being located between two adjoining bars 95.

[0208] The product rotating assembly 80 comprises multiple contacting projections 82 which are located below a first conveyor section 102 and against which the products in the products carriers 40 collide when the product carrier 40 moves past the contacting projections 82. Each contacting projection 82 is configured to extend into the product carrier 40 through one of the openings 95 in order to contact the product in the product carrier 40. The product carrier 40 does not collide with the contacting projections 82.

[0209] An upper side 83 of each contacting projection 82 has a varying shape 84 in the direction of the transport path 31 of the product carrier 40. A first projection section 86 comprises a sawtooth shape 87 and a second projection section 88 comprises a hill shape 89. The varying shape 84 is configured to vary the rotational speed of the products in the product carriers 40.

[0210] The multiple contacting projections 82 are positioned horizontally below the first conveyor section 102 and do not move together with the endless conveyor 30. The multiple contacting projections 82 are positioned in a row 85 which extends transverse to the transport direction 31. Each product carrier 40 comprises 20-100 openings 95. The product rotating assembly 80 comprises at least a same number of contacting projections 82 so that at least one contacting projection 82 is associated with each opening 95. Each product carrier 40 is elongate and has a main longitudinal direction 41 which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path 31. Turning to figures 6A, 8A and 8B, each product carrier 40 comprises a first end 321 and a second end 322, and transverse rods 72 connecting the first end 321 and second end 322, wherein, when viewed in top view, a centre (C) of a product 1 is configured to remain within a contour 320 defined of the product carrier during rotation. Or, in other words, the centre (C) of the product remains in the product carrier 40 during rotation. In particular, the centre of the product remains between the first end 321, the second end 322 and the transverse rods 72.

[0211] Returning to figure 2, a control unit 60 with image recognition module 63 is shown. The product rotation device 120 further comprises an image recognition device 62. The image recognition device 62 is configured to record images of each product in the product carrier 40. The image recognition device 62 is connected to the control unit 60. The product rotating assembly 80 is configured to ensure that multiple sides of the product are exposed to the image recognition device 62. The image recognition module 63 is configured to create a 3D- image of each product which is rotated by the product rotating assembly 80 and recorded by the image recognition device 62.

[0212] Turning to figures 13A-13C, another embodiment of a product rotation device 120 for rotating products in one or more product carriers 40 is shown. The product rotation device 120 comprises an endless conveyor 30, one or more product carriers configured for carrying one or more products and a second embodiment of a product rotating assembly 80 for rotating the products in each product carrier 40. The product rotation device 120 comprises a drive assembly 38 to drive the endless conveyor 30. The one or more product carriers 40 are connected to the endless conveyor 30 and the endless conveyor 30 is configured to move each product carrier 40 along a transport path 31. Each product carrier 40 comprises multiple bars 90 and multiple openings 95 arranged in an alternating pattern, each opening 95 being located between two adjoining bars 95.

[0213] The product rotating assembly 80 comprises a auxiliary conveyor 142 which is located below a first conveyor section 102 and at least two rollers 143 connected to the product rotating assembly 80. The rotational speed of the auxiliary conveyor 142 is similar to the rotational speed of the endless conveyor 30 such that a pair of rollers 143 move with the product carriers 40 along the transport path 31. The rollers 143 move back to the receiving section 101 after the end of the first conveyor section 102. The product rotating assembly 80 comprises multiple pairs of rollers 143. The rollers 143 comprise multiple disks 144. Each disk 144 is configured to extend into the product carrier 40 through one of the openings 95 in order to contact the product in the product carrier 40. The product carrier 40 does not collide with the contacting projections 82. The disks 144 are positioned in a row 145 which extends transverse to the transport direction 31. Each product carrier 40 comprises 20-100 openings 95. The product rotating assembly 80 comprises at least a same number of disks 144 so that at least one disk 144 is associated with each opening 95. Each product carrier 40 is elongate and has a main longitudinal direction 41 which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path 31. The rotational movement of the rollers 143 causes the products 1 to rotate in the product carrier 40.

[0214] Returning to figures 4A and 4B and 6A and 6B, the product processing assembly further comprises a rail 15A which is configured to support the products carriers and a chain (35) which interconnects the product carriers. The product carriers are connected to the chain via a left and right support pin 202 which is inserted in left and right holes 204 in end plates 206 of the product carriers. The product processing assembly further comprises a cam track 16A configured to control the orientation of each product carrier 40. Each product carrier comprises an orientation cam 17 which is received in the cam track. The rail 15A is positioned in parallel with the third conveyor section 105. The cam track 16A is configured to receive the orientation cam 17 when the product carrier 40 passes the upper bend 104. The cam track 16A is also configured to release the orientation cam 17 when the product carrier 40 passes the lower bend 106. The distance between the cam track 16A and the rail 15A controls the orientation of the product carrier.

[0215] Turning to figure 12, the lower bend 106 of the endless conveyor 30 is shown. The cam track 16A may comprise a S-turn 18 which is configured to rotate the product carrier 40 to a release orientation 19 by increasing the distance between the cam track and the rail. In the release orientation 19 the bottom portion 49 of the product carrier 40 is positioned higher relative to a threshold 48 of the product carrier 40 than in the ejection orientation 44. All products are dropped from the product carrier 40 once the product carrier 40 is in the release orientation 19. This step is important to ensure that the product carriers 40 are empty when they reach the receiving section 101 of the endless conveyor 30. Dropping the products before the lower bend 106 could present an additional discharge path 4, but could also be used for dropouts or to initiate a return flow for extra analysis.

[0216] Returning to figure 8B, the product rotating assembly 120 further comprises a rail 15B which is configured to control the orientation of each product carrier 40. The rail 15B comprises a cam track 16B which is configured to receive an orientation cam 17 of each product carrier 40. The rail 15B is positioned in parallel with the first conveyor section 102 to ensure that each product carrier 40 remains stable when products are rotated in the product rotating assembly 120.

[0217] Figures 14A-14H show an alternative embodiment of the ejection member 52. Each ejection member 52 comprises a main ejection part 301 configured to contact the products in a first product carrier 40 and an ejection member extension part 302 which extends from a lower end 58 of the main ejection part 301 and extends at an angle 304 relative to the main ejection part 301. The ejection member extension part 302 is configured to contact a second product carrier 40 which precedes the first product carrier 40. It should be understood that the use of ‘first’ and ‘second’ in this paragraph does not indicate the order in which the product carriers 40 are moved past an ejection member 52.

[0218] The extension angle 304 is between, and including 90-150 degrees, in particular between, and including, 100-140 degrees, more in particular between, and including, 110-130 degrees, most in particular 120 degrees.

[0219] The ejection member extension part 302 is configured to engage a preceding product carrier 40 in the transport path 31, in particular a pushback member 70 thereof, such that an associated biasing device 53 moves the ejection member 52 to the second, ejection position after the preceding carrier 40 has passed an ejection member extension part end 303 while a following product carrier 40 passes the ejection member 52 and a bias force exerted by the biasing member 53 in conjunction with the relative movement of the product carrier 40 relative to the ejection member 52 ejects a product 1 out of the product carrier 40.

[0220] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. Not all embodiments may achieve all stated objects.

[0221] The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and / or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e. , open language, not excluding other elements or steps). Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims or the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Product processing assembly (20) for sorting and / or grading products (1), in particular horticultural or agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, flower bulbs, from an incoming flow (2) of products, the product processing assembly comprising:- an endless conveyor (30) configured to convey the one or more products with a plurality of product carriers (40),- the plurality of product carriers (40), each product carrier connected to the endless conveyor and configured for carrying one or more products, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to move each product carrier along a transport path (31), and- at least one ejector device (50), each ejector device being configured to eject at least one product from the product carrier by which the product is carried into at least one discharge path (4), wherein each ejector device is configured to eject the at least one product from the product carrier during the motion of the at least one product carrier along the transport path, wherein each ejector device comprises multiple movable ejection members (52) which are configured to eject the product out of the product carrier, either individually or acting in a group of ejection members, wherein each ejection member of each ejector device is movable between: o a first, retracted position (54) in which the product in the product carrier is not ejected from the product carrier when the product carrier passes the ejector device, o a second, ejection position (55) in which the product in the product carrier is ejected from the product carrier by at least one ejection member when the product carrier passes the ejector device.

2. Product processing assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein each ejection member is a finger (65).

3. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each product carrier comprises multiple bars (90) and multiple openings (95) arranged in an alternating pattern, each opening in particular being located between two adjoining bars, and wherein each ejection member is configured to extend through one of the openings into the product carrier in the second, ejection position in order to eject a product from the product carrier.

4. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each ejection member is configured to extend through an opening on a rear side (45) and / or bottom side (46) of the product carrier when in the second, ejection position, and to eject a product via a front side (47) of the product carrier, wherein in particular each product carrier comprises a threshold (48) which is elevated relative to a bottom portion (49) of the product carrier, and wherein the ejection members are configured to push the product over the threshold when ejecting the product.

5. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the multiple ejection members of each ejector device are provided on an interior side (32) of the endless conveyor, and wherein the ejection members move outwardly over a horizontal distance (56) when moving from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position.

6. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a control unit (60), wherein the control unit is configured to control each ejection member of each ejector device, in particular individually or in groups.

7. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each ejection member is pivotable about an ejection member pivot axis (57), wherein in particular all ejection members of an ejector device are pivotable about a common ejection member pivot axis, and wherein the common ejection member pivot axis is in particular horizontal.

8. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each ejection member is biased by a biasing device (53) to move from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position under the influence of the biasing device.

9. Product processing assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the biasing device is a spring.

10. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising multiple ejection member actuators (110), each ejection member actuator being associated with an ejection member and configured to control the movement of the ejection member to the second, ejection position.

11. Product processing assembly according to the preceding claim insofar as dependent on claim 8 or 9, wherein each ejection member actuator comprises a movable pin (115) which is movable between: a first, holding location (117) in which the movable pin holds the ejection member in the first, retracted position against the bias force of the biasing device until the ejection member should move to the second, ejection position, and a second, release location (118) in which the movable pin releases the ejection member, wherein subsequently the biasing force of the biasing device moves the ejection member to the second, ejection position.

12. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each product carrier comprises a pushback member (70) which when seen in side view travels along an intersection path (22) which intersects the ejection members of each ejector device when in the second, ejection position, wherein said pushback member is configured to push an ejection member from the second, ejection position back to the first, retracted position against the biasing force of the biasing device.

13. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 11-12, wherein each ejection member is movable by the pushback member (70) to a third, hold-release position (129) in which the ejection member is retracted further than in the first, retracted position, wherein in the hold-release position the ejection member is disengaged from the movable pin or exerts a smaller force on the movable pin than in the first, retracted position, as a result of which the ejection member actuator can move the movable pin from the first, holding location to the second, release location with less energy than when the ejection member is in the first, retracted position, and wherein the product processing assembly is configured to move each ejection member actuator from the first, holding location (117) to the second, release location (118) or vice versa when the ejection member is in the third, hold-release position (129).

14. Product processing assembly according to claim 13, wherein each ejection member is movable by the biasing device from the third, hold-release position to the second, ejection position.

15. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 10 - 14, wherein each ejection member actuator is a single-direction actuator which, when activated, moves the movable pin (115) from the first, holding location to the second, release locationbut not vice versa, and wherein each ejection member actuator comprises a pin biasing member (121) which exerts a bias force on the movable pin to move the movable pin from the second, release location to the first, holding location when the ejection member actuator is not activated.

16. Product processing assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein each ejection member comprises a push cam (122) configured to push the movable pin rearward when an ejection member is moved from the second, ejection position to the first, retracted position or to the third hold-release position, wherein the push cam comprises an apex (133) which is configured to pass the movable pin during this movement, allowing the movable pin to move back to the holding location to hold the ejection member in the first, retracted position.

17. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 12-16, wherein the pushback member is a transverse rod (72) extending transverse to the transport path and along a length (74) of the product carrier, and wherein in particular the bars are connected to the transverse rod.

18. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 10-17 wherein the control unit controls each ejection member actuator.

19. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of ejector devices are arranged along a section of the transport path having a downward transport direction (34).

20. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein multiple ejector devices are located vertically above one another.

21. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, comprising an image recognition device (62) configured to record images of the incoming flow, the image recognition device being positioned upstream of the at least one ejector device wherein the image recognition device is connected to the control unit, the control unit comprising an image recognition module (63) to determine at least one feature of the products based upon which the ejection members are controlled to eject a product or not.

22. Product processing assembly according to the preceding claim, wherein the control unit comprises a location module (64) configured to determine the position of each product in each product carrier, and wherein the control unit controls the ejection member actuators based on the determined locations of the products.

23. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 2-22, wherein the product processing assembly comprises: a recognition point (24) located on the product carrier, a recognition device (66) for recognizing a position (36) of the product carrier on the endless conveyor, wherein the position of the product carrier is used by the control unit to correctly time the control of the ejection member actuator with the position and movement of the product carrier.

24. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each product carrier is elongate and has a main longitudinal direction (41) which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path.

25. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 7-24, wherein each ejection member pivot axis is located at an upper end (59) of each associated ejection member, the ejection member extending downwardly from the pivot axis.

26. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in the second, ejection position the ejection members have an inclined orientation (112), wherein the upper end is located at an upper, inner position (113) and a lower end (58) is located at a lower, outer position (114), and wherein in the first, retracted position the ejection members are oriented more vertically than in the second, ejection position.

27. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each product carrier is a basket.

28. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 3-27, wherein each bar (90) of each product carrier comprises: a bottom part (91) forming part of the bottom side of the product carrier, a rear part (92) forming part of the rear side of the product carrier, a bend (93) between the bottom part and the rear part.wherein the bottom part and rear part extend in a same vertical plane (94) which is in particular parallel to the transport directions of the conveyor, wherein each opening between the bars comprises: a bottom opening section (96) between two adjoining bottom parts, and a rear opening section (97) between two adjoining rear parts, wherein the bottom opening section and rear opening section are connected, allowing the ejection member and or rotation member (51) to enter the product carrier via a combination of the bottom opening section and the rear opening section.

29. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 4-28, wherein each product carrier is connected to the endless conveyor via a hinge (33) which defines a carrier pivot axis (42) which is preferably horizontal, wherein each product carrier is pivotable about the carrier pivot axis between at least a: a rotation orientation (43) in which contacting projections (82) of a product rotating assembly (80) enter the product carrier via the openings to rotate the products in the product carrier, ejection orientation (44) in which products can be ejected from the product carrier by the ejection members, wherein in the ejection orientation the bottom portion of the product carrier is positioned higher relative to the threshold (48) of the product carrier than in the rotation orientation.

30. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the endless conveyor comprises: a forward bend (100) and a receiving section (101) located at the forward bend, wherein the supply path connects to the receiving section, a first conveyor section (102) which faces upwards and has a first transport direction (T1) extending at an angle of less than 20 degrees to the horizontal, wherein the product rotating assembly and the image recognition device are located at the first conveyor section to rotate the products and record images of the products in the first conveyor section, an inner bend (103) where the transport direction changes from the first to a second transport direction (T2), a second conveyor section (108) having the second transport direction, an upper bend (104) where the transport direction changes from the second to a third transport direction (T3),a third conveyor section (105) having the third transport direction (T3) which is downward, wherein the plurality of ejector devices are located along the third conveyor section, a lower bend (106) where the transport direction changes from the third transport direction to a fourth transport direction (T4), a fourth conveyor section (107) extending between the lower bend and the forward bend and having the fourth transport direction (T4) which extends at less than 40 degrees to the horizontal.

31. Product processing assembly according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ejection member comprises a main ejection part (301) configured to contact the products in a first product carrier and an ejection member extension part (302) which extends from a lower end (58) of the main ejection part and extends at an angle (304) relative to the main ejection part, wherein the ejection member extension part is configured to contact a second product carrier which precedes the first product carrier.

32. Product processing assembly according to claim 31 , wherein the extension angle (304) is between, and including 90-150 degrees, in particular between, and including, 100-140 degrees, more in particular between, and including, 110-130 degrees, most in particular 120 degrees.

33. Product processing assembly according to any of claims 31-32, wherein the ejection member extension is configured to engage a preceding product carrier in the transport path, in particular a pushback member (70) thereof, such that an associated biasing device (53) moves the ejection member to the second, ejection position after the preceding carrier has passed an ejection member extension part end (303) while a following product carrier passes the ejection member and a bias force exerted by the biasing device in conjunction with the relative movement of the product carrier relative to the ejection member ejects a product out of the product carrier.

34. Product sorting system (10) comprising: the product processing assembly (20) according to any of the preceding claims, at least one supply path (3) to provide the incoming flow (2) of products to the product processing assembly (20),at least one discharge path (4), each discharge path being configured to receive one or more products from the product processing assembly, wherein each ejector device is associated with a discharge path.

35. Product sorting system according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one ejector device and at least two discharge paths, each ejector device being configured to eject at least one product from the product carrier by which the product is carried into one of the discharge paths.

36. Product sorting system according to any of the two preceding claims, comprising a product rotating assembly (80), wherein the product rotating assembly is configured to rotate products which are supplied to the product processing assembly via the supply path to ensure that multiple sides and in particular all sides of the product are exposed to the image recognition device before the product is ejected from the at least one product carrier.

37. Product sorting system according to the preceding claim, wherein the product rotating assembly comprises: an auxiliary conveyor (142), wherein the auxiliary conveyor is located below the first conveyor section, at least one pair of rollers (143) configured to extend into the product carrier through at least one opening (95) in order to contact the product in the product carrier, wherein the at least one pair of rollers is connected to the product rotating assembly, and a drive mechanism (315) for rotating the rollers, or, wherein the product rotating assembly comprises multiple contacting projections (82) which are located below a first conveyor section (102), wherein each contacting projection is configured to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings in order to contact the product in the product carrier.

38. Product sorting system according to the preceding claim, wherein the product processing assembly is oriented substantially vertically and wherein the product rotating assembly is oriented substantially horizontally.

39. Product sorting system according to claim 38, wherein when seen in side view an angle (0) enclosed between by the product processing assembly and the productrotating assembly is between and including 60-120 degrees, in particular between and including 70-110 degrees, more in particular between and including 80-100 degrees.

40. Product sorting system according to any of claims 36-39, wherein the endless conveyor comprises: a sorting section (350) which forms part of the product processing assembly and a rotation section (351) which forms part of the product rotating assembly, wherein a transport direction of the sorting section is directed substantially vertically and a transport direction of the rotation section is directed substantially horizontally.

41. Method of sorting and / or grading products from a bulk flow, the method comprising, feeding a flow of products to the product processing assembly according to any of the claims 1-33, selecting one or more products to be ejected and moving one or more ejection members of the ejector device from the first, retracted position to the second, ejection position and ejecting the selected product(s) from the product carrier.

42. Method according to any of the previous method claims, wherein the products are selected based on one or more features selected from a group comprising: size, weight, shape, color, presence of undesirable spots or protrusions.

43. Product rotation device (120) for rotating products in one or more product carriers (40), the product rotation device comprising: an endless conveyor (30), one or more product carriers connected to the endless conveyor and configured for carrying one or more products, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to move each product carrier along a transport path (31), and wherein each product carrier comprises multiple bars (90) and multiple openings (95) arranged in an alternating pattern, each opening being located between two adjoining bars, a product rotating assembly (80) configured for rotating the products in each product carrier, wherein the product rotating assembly comprises multiple contacting members (82, 144; 143), wherein each contacting member is configured to extend into the product carrier through one of the openings in order to contact the product in the product carrier, wherein the contacting members are configured to rotate the products while, when viewed in top view,a centre (C) of each product remains within a contour (320) of the product carrier.

44. Product rotation device according to the preceding claim, wherein the product rotating assembly is positioned along the endless conveyor, wherein the endless conveyor is configured to convey each product carrier along the product rotating assembly for rotating the products in the product carrier.

45. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-44, wherein the contacting members are:- rollers (143), or contacting projections (82,144), in particular stationary contacting projections.

46. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-45, wherein each product carrier comprises a first end (321) and a second end (322) and transverse rods (72) connecting the first end and second end, wherein, when viewed in top view, a centre (C) of a product is configured to remain within the contour (320) defined by the first end, the second end and the transverse rods.

47. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-46, wherein an upper side (83) of each projection has a varying shape (84) in the direction of the transport path of the product carrier.

48. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-47, wherein the product carrier does not collide with the contacting members.

49. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-48, wherein the multiple contacting members are positioned below the first conveyor section and do not move together with the endless conveyor.

50. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-49, wherein multiple contacting members are positioned in a row (85) which extends transverse to the transport path.

51. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-50, wherein each product carrier comprises multiple openings and wherein the product rotating assembly comprises at least a same number of contacting members so that at least one contacting memberis associated with each opening.

52. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-51, comprising an image recognition device (62) configured to record images of each product in the product carrier, wherein the image recognition device is connected to a control unit (60).

53. Product rotation device according to the preceding claim, wherein the product rotating assembly is configured to ensure that multiple sides of the product are exposed to the image recognition device.

54. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-53, wherein the product processing assembly comprises a drive assembly (38) to drive the endless conveyor.

55. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-54, wherein each product carrier is elongate and has a main longitudinal direction (41) which is oriented orthogonal to the transport path.

56. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-55, wherein the product rotating assembly comprises: an auxiliary conveyor (142), wherein the auxiliary conveyor is located below the first conveyor section, the rollers (143), which in particular form pairs, wherein the rollers are configured to extend into the product carrier through at least one opening (95) in order to contact the product in the product carrier, wherein the rollers are connected to the product rotating assembly, and a drive mechanism (315) for rotating the rollers.

57. Product rotation device according to the preceding claim, wherein the product rotating assembly comprises a plurality of link members (310) connected to the auxiliary conveyor and configured to releasably link the auxiliary conveyor to at least one product carrier such that the auxiliary conveyor is carried with the at least one product carrier and the at least one pair of rollers moves with a product carrier along the transport path.

58. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-57, wherein the product rotating assembly is configured to rotate products over a discretionary angle, e.g. 90 degrees,180 degrees, 270 degrees or 360 degrees, but also e.g. 30 degrees, 40, degrees, 50 degrees or 60 degrees.

59. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-58, wherein the product rotation device is configured to rotate products about an axis which is not parallel to the transport path, in particular substantially perpendicular to the transport path.

60. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-59, wherein the product rotation device is configured to rotate products only through contact with a lower half of a product.

61. Product rotation device according to any of claims 43-60, wherein each product carrier is configured to carry multiple products, in particular at least three products.

62. Product rotation device according to any of claims 57-61, wherein the drive mechanism comprises a rack (324), wherein at least one roller comprises a pinion (326) configured to form a rack-and-pinion with the rack of the drive mechanism to rotate each roller being moved over the rack by the auxiliary conveyor.

Images