Lateral Offset Supply Conveyor for Continuous Fruit Sorting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital fruit and vegetable sorting systems face issues with continuous circulation due to the structure of the main conveyor, leading to emergency stops when fruits or vegetables remain in receiving areas or weighing errors occur.
Innovation Solution
A digital sorting system with a main conveyor and a laterally offset supply conveyor allowing continuous circulation, featuring a closed loop with linear and curved sections, sensors for weighing, and a computer-controlled system that prevents overloading and ensures precise dumping into storage zones, enabling continuous operation and precise batch formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the main conveyor uses a closed loop structure with receiving zones for calibration, then sorting precision is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to emergency stops when fruits remain in receiving areas
Solution Approach 1:
The supply conveyor is positioned laterally offset from the linear section of the main conveyor, creating a spatial separation that allows independent operation. This dimensional arrangement enables the supply conveyor to discharge fruits laterally into receiving zones without interfering with the main conveyor's closed loop circulation, thus preventing emergency stops while maintaining sorting precision
Solution Approach 2:
The laterally offset supply conveyor acts as an intermediary element between the fruit supply source and the main conveyor system. It mediates the fruit transfer process by discharging fruits laterally into receiving zones, allowing the main conveyor to maintain continuous circulation without being disrupted by loading operations, thereby resolving the conflict between sorting precision and system reliability
2Manufacturing precision
If the main conveyor stops for emergency situations, then fruit handling precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to interrupted circulation
Solution Approach 1:
The main conveyor operates as a continuous closed loop that never stops, maintaining uninterrupted circulation of fruits throughout the system. The laterally offset supply conveyor enables continuous fruit loading into receiving zones without requiring the main conveyor to halt, thus preserving both productivity and handling precision through continuous operation
Solution Approach 2:
By positioning the supply conveyor laterally offset from the main conveyor's linear section, the system enables simultaneous independent operations: the main conveyor maintains continuous circulation while the supply conveyor continuously loads fruits into receiving zones. This spatial separation eliminates the need for stopping and maintains both productivity and handling precision
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures continuous circulation of fruits and vegetables, reduces emergency stops, and enhances precision in batch formation by allowing fruits and vegetables to make multiple turns before being sorted, thus optimizing handling and reducing operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
one or several sensors suitable for measuring the weight of the fruit or vegetable contained, where applicable, in each receiving zone
Implementation Method 2
a main conveyor comprising a plurality of receiving zones suitable for conveying fruit and/or vegetables, said receiving zones being mounted on drive means forming a closed loop defining a linear section
Implementation Method 3
configured for fruit and/or vegetables to be discharged laterally into the receiving areas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
AI summary
System (1) for sorting fruit and/or vegetables, comprising: - a main conveyor (2) comprising a plurality of receiving zones (22) mounted on drive means (21) forming a closed loop defining a linear section, - a feed conveyor (3), adapted to feed the main conveyor (2), comprising a feed portion (31) adapted to discharge fruit and/or vegetables into the linear section of the main conveyor, - a computer (5) and one or more sensors (23), characterized in that said feed portion (31) is arranged so as to be laterally offset and arranged so as to be adjacent to the linear section, and configured so that the fruit and/or vegetables are discharged laterally into the receiving zones (22), so that the feed conveyor (3) allows the continuous circulation of fruit and/or vegetables over the entire closed loop of the main conveyor (2).