Potato Sorting Roller Oscillation for Surface Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing potato sorting apparatuses struggle to accurately capture and evaluate the entire surface of potatoes due to their oblong shape, leading to hidden ends, especially in outermost rows, which can result in undetected defects being approved for sale.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs a conveying device with horizontally mounted rollers that rotate and oscillate independently, allowing controlled rotation and movement of potatoes, ensuring both ends and sides are visible to the camera, enabling comprehensive image processing and accurate sorting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If potatoes are conveyed on an endless belt with rotating rollers, then the potatoes can be advanced in rows, but the ends of the potatoes remain hidden from the camera
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the rollers movable rather than fixed. Each roller can be displaced forward and backward in a reciprocating motion while maintaining its rotational function. This dynamic adjustment allows the rollers to push potatoes forward and then move back, exposing different portions of the potato surface to the camera during each cycle, thereby solving the problem of hidden ends while maintaining a relatively simple conveying structure.
2Reliability
If potatoes are rotated around their longitudinal axes, then they can be conveyed efficiently, but the outermost ends remain hidden from detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dimensionality change principle by adding a new dimension of motion to the rollers themselves. Instead of relying solely on potato rotation around their longitudinal axes, the rollers are given reciprocating motion in a direction perpendicular to their rotation axis. This creates a multi-dimensional motion pattern where the rollers move forward to convey potatoes, then backward to expose hidden surfaces, ensuring all areas including outermost ends are visible to the camera for reliable detection.
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
This solution enhances the accuracy of potato sorting by ensuring all surfaces are captured, reducing the risk of defective potatoes being approved and improving the efficiency of the sorting process compared to manual methods.
Implementation Method 1
the rollers convey a variable load onto the potatoes because of the oscillating movement thereof, while the potatoes generally remain in abutment with the rollers
Implementation Method 2
During the forward movement the rollers exert a force component directed against gravity on the potatoes, whereby the potatoes are pressed down against the rollers with increased force, resulting in the potatoes exerting an increased normal force on the rollers and thus increasing the ability of the rollers to rotate the potatoes
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus for use to check potatoes or similar items, the apparatus including a feeding device for advancing the potatoes in a plurality of rows, a conveying device adapted to receive the rows of potatoes from the feeding device and advancing them while maintaining the row structure, at least one camera with associated image processor for recording and evaluating each individual potato on the conveying device and a sorting device controlled by the image processor, the sorting device being adapted to sort the potatoes. The conveying device includes a plurality of substantially horizontal rollers, the axes of rotation of the rollers extending parallel to the advance direction of the potatoes, the rollers being rotatably mounted in a support frame and connected with a first driving device for rotating the rollers. The rollers are each independently additionally displaceable in parallel forwards and backwards in a substantially straight line.