Nested Carousel Conveyor for Weight-Based Product Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional selection apparatuses for packaging fruit and vegetable products are limited in precision and flexibility, particularly when selecting combinations of products based on total weight, and require extensive space and vision systems, complicating their structure and operation.
Innovation Solution
A selection apparatus with multiple interconnected carousels allows for increased product processing capacity without increasing space, enabling precise selection of products by size range or total weight without vision systems, and facilitates manual or automated loading and unloading, with a flexible electronic management unit that optimizes weight precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple conveyors are arranged in parallel to increase product selection capacity, then the precision of weight selection is improved, but the space occupation and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple conveyor systems into a single integrated carousel structure, merging the functions of multiple parallel conveyors into one unified device. This allows the system to maintain the product selection capacity and weight precision of multiple conveyors while reducing the overall structural complexity and space requirements through consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The carousel design employs a nested configuration where multiple trays are arranged concentrically on the same rotational platform. This nesting approach allows multiple product selection zones to occupy the same footprint space, enabling the system to process more products simultaneously without proportionally increasing the apparatus's external dimensions or structural complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the conveyor length is increased to improve product combination selection precision, then the weight selection precision is improved, but the installation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a linear conveyor configuration to a rotational carousel configuration, changing the spatial dimension from one-dimensional linear extension to two-dimensional radial arrangement. This dimensional change allows multiple product trays to be accessed simultaneously on the same rotational path, effectively increasing the available product selection capacity without extending the apparatus's linear footprint.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vision systems are added to process different product types, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the product handling system by dedicating specific trays to specific product types, with physically separated loading stations for different products. This segmentation allows the system to process multiple product types simultaneously without requiring complex vision systems, as the physical arrangement itself provides the differentiation and routing logic.
Data Source
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AI summary
A selection apparatus for the packaging of products, in particular fruit and vegetable products, comprising at least two continuous conveyors (2a, 2b) that are configured as carousels, of which a first conveyor (2a) is arranged outside a second conveyor (2b) so as to define respective closed paths along the respective extensions. Preferably, the apparatus (1) also comprises a third conveyor (2c) which is configured as a carousel and is arranged inside the second conveyor (2b). Each one of the conveyors (2a, 2b, 2c) supports a plurality of trays (3) for the transfer of respective products and is a closed loop so as to define a closed path along which there are at least one loading station (4) of the products in respective trays (3), at least one weighing station (5) of the products accommodated in each tray (3), and at least one picking up station (6) of selected products. The apparatus (1) further comprises an electronic management and control unit which is adapted to store the weight and the position of each product loaded onto the conveyors (2a, 2b, 2c) and to select the products to be picked up at the at least one picking up station (6) according to a preset function of a preset or presettable weight.