NL2006449C2 - Conveyor system comprising centring unit and rotation unit. - Google Patents

Conveyor system comprising centring unit and rotation unit. Download PDF

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Publication number
NL2006449C2
NL2006449C2 NL2006449A NL2006449A NL2006449C2 NL 2006449 C2 NL2006449 C2 NL 2006449C2 NL 2006449 A NL2006449 A NL 2006449A NL 2006449 A NL2006449 A NL 2006449A NL 2006449 C2 NL2006449 C2 NL 2006449C2
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NL
Netherlands
Prior art keywords
product
carrier
unit
product carrier
products
Prior art date
Application number
NL2006449A
Other languages
Dutch (nl)
Inventor
Cornelis Franciscus Maria Bootsman
Johannes Adrianus Maria Schaik
Ronald Walter Neutel
Original Assignee
Roboxis B V
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Roboxis B V filed Critical Roboxis B V
Priority to NL2006449A priority Critical patent/NL2006449C2/en
Priority to PCT/NL2011/050790 priority patent/WO2012093933A1/en
Priority to EP11788609.3A priority patent/EP2661404A1/en
Priority to PCT/NL2011/050789 priority patent/WO2012093932A2/en
Priority to EP11790680.0A priority patent/EP2661337A2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of NL2006449C2 publication Critical patent/NL2006449C2/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G47/00—Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyors; Methods employing such devices
    • B65G47/22—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
    • B65G47/26—Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
    • B65G2201/02—Articles
    • B65G2201/0202—Agricultural and processed food products
    • B65G2201/0211—Fruits and vegetables

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Specific Conveyance Elements (AREA)

Description

P30691NLOO/KHO
Title: Conveyor system comprising centring unit and rotation unit.
The invention relates to a conveyor system and method for processing at least one product in a conveyor system.
A lot of conveyor systems are known from the prior art. Conveyor systems are known for packaging all kind of products. In particular food articles have to be handled 5 carefully. Food articles typically have an amorphous geometry. Further, the food articles need to be handled carefully. A too hard gripping or pressing may damage the food articles which may strongly decrease the storage life of the food articles. Special tooling is available for handling such vulnerable articles, but damages to the products are still a problem. Other problems of the conveyor systems are a low efficiency and reliability. It is desired to improve 10 conveyer systems and in particular food conveyer systems in that an operating time of operating units is decreased and in that the reliability of the operations is increased. In particular it is desired to improve a handling of the products.
The general object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks and/or to provide a useable alternative. More specific, it is an object 15 of the invention to provide an improved conveyor system and method for processing products.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for processing at least one product in a conveyor system according to claim 1. In the conveying system at least one product is conveyed in a conveying direction. The method according to the invention 20 comprises the steps of providing a product carrier, wherein the product carrier has an upper surface for carrying the product, wherein the carried product is freely movable over the upper surface and wherein the upper surface has a centre position; supplying the product to the upper surface of the product carrier; providing a centring unit for positioning a product on the product carrier at the centre position; and operating the centring unit to displace the 25 product to the centre position of the product carrier.
The centre position may be a target zone or a target area at the upper surface of the product carrier. The target area may have a borderline wherein it is desired to position the product by the centring unit within the borderline, such that the product does not extend over the borderline. The dimensions of the borderline may correspond to a maximum outer 30 contour of a product including some tolerance.
Advantageously, the presence of a centring unit may make the conveyor system less susceptible for interferences. After passing the centring unit, the products may be supplied to downstream positioned operating units in a predetermined position. The operating units -2- may operate in a more efficient manner. In particular, the efficiency of grippers may be increased. The reach of grippers may be reduced which may allow a faster conveyer system.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the provided centring 5 unit comprises a vibration unit. The product carrier is vibrated by a vibration unit to force the carried product to the centre position. The generated vibrations may advantageously improve the centring efficiency of the centring unit. Due to the vibrations, random loaded products may get quicker at the centre position of the product carrier.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the product carrier is 10 vibrated and rotated about a vertical axis to force the carried product to the centre position, which vertical axis is positioned at the centre position. The provided centring unit comprises a rotation element for rotating a product on a product carrier. The vibrations may be generated in all directions. The vibrations may be generated in vertical and/or horizontal directions. But, preferably, the vibrations are generated in a horizontal plane. And, more 15 preferably, the generated vibrations are directed in a single direction which is transversal to the conveying direction. In this case of a single direction, the applied rotation of the product carrier may improve the centring efficiency further. The products are more susceptible for the single direction when the vibrations act on the product in a direction towards the centre position. By rotating the product carrier during a centring operation, the product and single 20 direction of the vibrations will get aligned which will stimulate the product to move to the centre position.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the vibration unit generates during a first time interval vibrations with a large amplitude and during a second time interval vibrations with a small amplitude. The first and second time interval may be 25 applied in random order, but preferably the first time interval is applied first such that the large amplitude of the vibrations cause the product to obtain a stable neutral position. In the stable neutral position, the product is less susceptible for rolling or other undesired movements. After the large amplitude vibrations, the product may get accurately positioned by generating the small amplitude vibrations. Herewith, the product may be stable and 30 accurately positioned at the centre position.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the provided conveyor system is of a continuous type, wherein products are conveyed continuous at a substantially constant velocity. In contrast to a conveyor system having a stop-and-go or incremental, stepwise moving product carrier, the continuous moving products in a conveyor system of 35 the continuous type are less susceptible to undesired displacements.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method further comprises a step of providing a rotation unit for rotating the product carrier; determine an -3- initial angular orientation of the product on the product carrier; determine a deviation angle which is defined by a deviation of the initial angular orientation from a desired angular orientation; and operating the rotation unit to rotate the product carrier about the deviation angle.
5 Advantageously, the method herewith comprises a first stage of centring a product to a centre position on the product carrier and further comprises a second stage of rotating the product to a desired angular orientation.
In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the product carrier is rotated by the rotation unit during a conveying movement of the product carrier by using an 10 occurring relative velocity between the rotation unit and the conveyed product carrier. The product carrier may pass the rotation unit. During the passage of the product carrier the rotation unit may engage to an outer circumference wall portion of the product carrier to rotate the product carrier. Advantageously, by using the relative velocity deducted from the movement of conveying, the rotation unit may have a simple configuration.
15 In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the method comprises the step of providing a base carrier which carries at least two product carriers which are arranged in an array, wherein the product carriers are rotatable connected to the base carrier, wherein the base carrier is conveyed together with the product carriers for processing multiple products as a group. The method may operate more efficient when 20 using the base carrier. An obtained position and orientation of a product may be more stable maintained which may improve the efficiency of the process.
Preferably, the method according to the invention is applied in a conveyor system which is arranged to process grouped products. In an embodiment of the conveyor system at least two product carriers are arranged side by side in a direction transversal the 25 conveying direction, wherein the method comprises the step of aligning side by side arranged carried products. By carrying out the method, the products are accurately positioned and oriented in a preferred angular orientation which may improve the efficiency of later performed operations. In particular, the method may be applied for packaging purposes. Grouped products may have a predefined positioning and orientation which may 30 allow easy gripping of the grouped products with a single gripper. Applying the method according to the invention may result in a simple configuration of total conveyor system which may reduce investment capital.
Further, the invention relates to a conveyor system for processing products, wherein 35 the conveyor system comprises a product carrier, wherein the product carrier has an upper surface for carrying the product, wherein the carried product is freely movable over the upper surface and wherein the upper surface has a centre position; and a centring unit for -4- centring the carried product on the product carrier such that the product is positioned at the centre position.
Advantageously, the conveyor system is suitable to process products which are susceptible for damages due to applied pressing forces. Such products are for example soft 5 and fresh products like vegetables and fruits. Such products must be handled with care. The product carriers are free from clamping or coupling elements which reduces the risks on damages to the products. The products are freely moveable over the upper surface of the product carrier. Further, this type of product carriers is in particular suitable to be used with amorphous products like paprika’s, sweet peppers, bell peppers, capsicums etc.
10 Advantageously, the presence of the centring unit may result in a more stable and reliable process. The positioning of the products at the centre position of the product carrier may reduce collisions with operating tools, like grippers, of operating units.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the upper surface of the product carrier comprises at least one inclined wall portion and wherein the 15 centre position is positioned at a lower region of the upper surface. Advantageously, the product carrier has a self centring property. The centring unit is incorporated in the product carrier. A product may be loaded from above on the upper surface. Due to the inclined wall portion the product will have already a tendency to move to the centre position.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the upper 20 surface of the product carrier is at least partially deformable to obtain a temporary inclined wall portion when the upper surface is agitated for forcing the product to the centre position. The product carrier may have a carrier platform made of an elastic material, like rubber. The carrier platform may be tensioned inside a circumferential framework. Advantageously, the product carrier may have a smooth configuration. Edges and corners may be minimised 25 which may reduce the risk on residuals after a cleaning the product carrier.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, wherein the product carrier has at least partially an upstanding upper edge for preventing a product from falling off the product carrier. The upstanding upper edge may be closed or partially open. The upper edge provides an obstacle which may stop a product.
30 In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, at least the upper surface of the product carrier is rotatable with respect to the conveying direction about a centre axis of the product carrier, wherein the centre axis passes through the centre position. Preferably, the product carrier as a whole is rotatably connected with respect to a conveyor means, in particular with respect to a base carrier. The upper surface including the 35 carried product may be rotated during a centring operation. The rotatable upper surface enables an improved centring efficiency.
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In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the centring unit comprises a vibration unit for vibrating a product carrier. Advantageously, the presence of the vibration unit positively effects the centring operation. Preferably, the vibration unit is arranged to generate vibrations in a direction transversal the direction of conveyance.
5 Preferably, the vibration unit comprises a capture element to engage with the product carrier to vibrate the product carrier. The capture element may be an elongated profile, wherein the product carrier is vibrated by the elongated profile which generates vibrations in a transversal direction.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the elongated 10 profile is fixedly connected at both ends to a framework. In contrast to a middle region of the profile, the fixed ends of the profile do not or hardly not cause vibrations. As a result, vibrations with a small amplitude are generated at the entrance and exit of the centring unit, and vibrations with a large amplitude are generated halfway the centring unit. Large vibrations forces the carried product into a stable position, and the small vibration brings the 15 product in accurate position. Advantageously, the presence of varying vibrations provide a more stable centring operation.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the centring unit comprises at least one rotation element for engaging and rotating a product carrier during a centring operation.
20 In a particular embodiment, the rotation element is a guide bar. Theguide bar is stationary disposed, such that an engaging product carrier rotates when passing by. Preferably, the rotation element of the centring element is resiliently disposed. To dispose the rotation element in a resilient manner, the rotation element may be resiliently connected to a framework by at least one spring or may at least partially be made of a resilient material. 25 Herewith, the rotation element of the centring unit may vibrate together with an engaged product carrier.
In an alternative embodiment, the centring unit comprises push means to push a product on a product carrier towards the centre position. The push means may comprise brushes. The brushes may be arranged movable, wherein a product is softly pressed to the 30 centre position. Alternatively, the push means may comprise air jets to push a carried product by an air stream.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the conveyor system comprises a base carrier for carrying multiple products which base carrier carries at least two product carriers for processing multiple products as a group, wherein the product 35 carriers are rotatable connected to the base carrier. Preferably, the at least two product carriers are disposed in a linear array on top of the base carrier. In particular the base carrier comprises at least three product carriers.
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Advantageously, grouped products on the base carrier are accurately positioned which may allow a group wise treatment of the products. The group of products may e.g. be picked up together to pack the grouped products in a package.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the base carrier 5 comprises an engagement element to obtain an engagement with the centring unit.
Advantageously, the base carrier may be vibrated such that all connected product carriers vibrate with the base carrier.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the conveyor system further comprises a rotation unit for rotating a product carrier, which rotation unit is 10 disposed downstream the conveying direction after the centring unit. The conveyor system includes advantageously a first stage of positioning the products on the product carriers and a second stage of orientating the products in a predetermined angular orientation at the product carrier.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the rotation unit 15 comprises a detector, in particular a camera detector, for detecting an initial orientation including an initial angle of the product carried by the product carrier. The rotation unit further comprises a control unit to determine a deviation angle defined by the difference between the initial angle and a desired angle of a desired orientation.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the rotation unit 20 comprises a rotation element to rotate at least one product carrier about the deviation angle.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the rotation element is an elongated rotation element which extends in the conveying direction.
In a further embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the rotation unit of the conveyor system may comprise an auxiliary detector. The auxiliary 25 detector may be positioned downstream the conveying direction after the rotational element. The auxiliary detector may be used to control the desired orientation of the product. The auxiliary detector may be used to generate data relating to a secondary angular deviation. The data from the auxiliary detector may be used to calibrate an upstream rotation element to obtain a more accurate orientation. Herewith, the rotation element may be automatically 30 controlled in a closed loop.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the rotation element comprises a movable belt along an outer contour to get in engagement with an outer edge product carrier to rotate the product carrier during a time interval of engagement.
In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the rotation 35 element is movable from a first position, wherein the rotation element remains free from engagement with a conveyed product carrier to a second position, wherein the rotation element is in engagement with the conveyed product carrier.
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In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the product carrier may comprise an upper part and a lower part. The product carrier is rotatably connected to a base carrier. The upper part comprises the upper surface for carrying a product. The lower part of the product carrier comprises a disc for an engagement with a 5 rotation element for rotating a carried product at the upper surface. In the conveyor system, the rotation element of the centring unit or rotation unit is engageable to the lower part of the product carrier which may provide several advantageous.
In comparison with a product carrier which is engaged at a circumference wall portion of the upper part, an engagement with the disc of the product carrier may be advantageous, 10 because it allows a more compact arrangement of the product carriers in the transversal direction. The product carriers may be arranged close to each other without an intermediate positioned rotation element. The rotation element may be positioned below the upper part of the product carrier. Advantageously, more or larger product carriers may be arranged side by side in a transversal direction on a limited conveyer width.
15 In an embodiment of the conveyor system according to the invention, the upper and lower part may be both arranged above the base carrier, but preferably, the upper part is positioned at a first side above the base carrier and the lower part is positioned at a second opposite side under the base carrier. The product carrier may comprise a centre shaft which defines a centre axis of rotation of the product carrier during the centring stage or stage of 20 rotation. The product carrier is connected rotatable to the base carrier by the shaft and the shaft connects the upper part to the lower part. The lower part of the product carrier is positioned at the underside of the base carrier. Herewith, the rotation element of the centring or rotation unit may engage with the disc of the lower part at the underside of the base carrier to rotate the upper surface of the product carrier above the base carrier.
25 Advantageously, the presence of the disc at the lower part allows a compact arrangement of the product carriers and the positioning at the underside of the base carrier allows a more clean configuration of the conveyor system.
Further preferred embodiments are defined in the subclaims.
30
The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings. The drawings show a practical embodiment according to the invention, which may not be interpreted as limiting the scope of the invention. Specific features may also be considered apart from the shown embodiment and may be taken into account in a broader 35 context as a delimiting feature of the invention, not only for the shown embodiment but as a common feature for all embodiments, in which: -8-
Fig. 1A shows in a schematic view a first and a second stage I, II of a preferred method according to the invention for processing conveyed products;
Fig. 1B shows in a schematic top view a conveyor system according to the invention;
Figure 2A shows in a schematic front view a base carrier which supports at least 5 three product carriers;
Figure 2B shows a top view of the base plate out of Fig. 2A with product carriers;
Figures 3A-3C show in a schematic top view subsequent steps for centring a loaded product on the product carriers;
Fig. 4A-4D show in a schematic top view a subsequent rotation of the product 10 carriers to align loaded products and to obtain a desired orientation;
Fig. 4E shows an alternative embodiment of a rotation element 202 of a rotation unit 200 which comprises a moving outer surface; and
Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of a product carrier which allows a displacement of a product to a centre position of the product carrier.
15
Identical reference numbers are used in the drawings to indicate identical or similar components.
Fig. 1A shows in a schematic view a first and a second stage I,II of a preferred method according to the invention for processing conveyed products 1 in a conveyor 20 system. In the method, products 1 are supplied which are loaded in a random orientation on product carriers 2. In the first stage I the products 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 are displaced to a centre position 21 of the product carriers 2. The products 1.1, 1.2, 1.3 are centred on the product carriers 2 at the centre position 21. In the second stage II, the centred products 1 are rotated by rotating the product carriers 2 about the centre position 21 to a predetermined orientation. 25 After passing the first and second stages I, II, the products are repositioned into a predetermined orientation. After carrying out the preparing steps under stage I and stage II, the products can be processed further.
Fig. 1B shows in a schematic top view an embodiment of a conveyor system 10 according to the invention. The conveyor system 10 is arranged to convey products in a 30 conveying direction 9. The conveyor system 10 has a supplier unit 300 for supplying products 1 to product carriers 2. The products are food articles like snacks or vegetables. The products have an amorphous shape. In the conveyor system, the products are conveyed along at least one operation unit for carrying out an operation. The conveyor system is provided to operate the at least two products together at the operation units. The 35 conveyor system may be arranged for packaging products. The at least two products may be gripped together by a gripper unit to pack the products in one step in a package.
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The supplier unit 300 has at least two, in particular three supplier devices 300.1, 300.2, 300.3 for supplying the products to at least two, in particular three product carriers 2.1.2.2, 2.3. The product carriers 2 are arranged side by side on a base carrier 3. The conveyor system 10 is a multiple track conveyor system. The multiple track conveyor system 5 comprises at least two, in particular three product tracks. The product carriers are conveyed about the three product tracks in a conveying direction 9 by the base carrier 3. The base carriers 3 may be coupled to each other.
The product carriers have an outer dimension of at most 50cm, in particular at most 30cm. The product carriers have an outer dimension of at least 10cm, in particular at least 10 15cm.
The multiple track conveyor system has an outer dimension of at most 3metres, in particular at most 2 metres.
The supplier unit 300 supplies products from above the product carriers 2. The products are in random orientation and at a random position supplied to an upper carrying 15 surface of the product carrier 2. The supplied products can freely move over the upper surface of the product carrier. The products are positioned in a preparing step by a centring unit 100 and a rotation unit 200 before supplying the products to an operation unit. In the centring unit 100, the products are moved to a centre position of the product carrier. The centring unit 100 will be elucidated further with reference to Fig. 3A-3C. In the rotation unit 20 200, the products are oriented in a desired orientation. The rotation unit will be elucidated by
Fig. 4A-4D.
Fig. 1B shows a first operation unit 400. The first operation unit 400 is a handling unit. The handling unit comprises a gripper for gripping at least two products from at least two product tracks in one gripping step. The products are gripped together.
25 Figure 2A shows in a schematic front view a base carrier 3 which supports at least two, in particular three product carriers. Figure 2B shows a top view of the base plate with product carriers 2.1,2.2, 2.3. A plurality of such substantially identical base carriers may be arranged in a conveyor system to convey at least two products. The base carriers 3 may be coupled to each other or positioned on a conveyor belt. The conveyer system may comprise 30 at least one operating unit for treating or handling a product, in particular a food article. The base carrier 3 may be conveyed along several operating units to carry out an operating step.
The base carrier 3 is plate shaped. The base carrier 3 comprises a tray to carry at least two product carriers 2. The base carrier 3 comprises at least two product carriers 2 which are disposed in a linear array. The product carrier 2 is arranged to carry a single 35 product. The products 1 are loaded on an upper surface 22 of the product carrier. The upper surface is a top surface which is open from above to receive products. The product carriers 2 are arranged side by side on the base carrier 3 in a transversal direction. An arrow -10- indicates a conveying direction 9 of the base carrier. The transversal direction is transversal, in particular perpendicular, to the conveying direction 9.
The base carrier 3 comprises an engagement element 4 to engage the base carrier 3 with an agitator unit of a centring unit 100. The agitator unit is a unit which generates a 5 movement. By coupling a passing product carrier directly or indirectly via the base carrier 3 to the agitator unit, the generated movement is transferred to the product carrier. The generated and transferred movement will force a movement of the product to the centre position 21. Here, the agitator unit is a vibration unit to vibrate the base carrier 3 during engagement of the base carrier 3 with the vibration unit.
10 The engagement element 4 is a pin which is connected to the tray. The pin extends upwardly from the base carrier. The pin is positioned close to an edge of the base carrier 3 to engage the pin with the agitator unit which is positioned adjacent the base carrier.
The vibration unit has a capture element 101 for capturing the engagement element 4 of the base carrier. The capture element 101 comprises an elongate profile. The elongate 15 profile extends in the conveying direction 9. The elongate profile has an elongated slot at a bottom side. The slot is open at both heading faces of the profile to receive the engagement element 4 of the base carrier 3 during a conveying movement of the base carrier. The vibration unit generates vibrations having an amplitude directed in a transversal direction. The vibrations are directed in a horizontal plane. The vibration unit is arranged to vibrate the 20 base carrier 3 in a direction transversal the conveying direction 9. During engagement of the base carrier 3 with the vibrator, transversal vibrations are transferred to the base carrier. The product carriers 2 will be vibrated by the base carrier 3 and a loaded product on the product carrier 2 will be vibrated such that the product displaces in transversal direction to a centre line which is parallel to the conveying direction 9.
25 The product carrier 2 is rotatable connected to the base carrier 3. The product carrier 2 is rotatable about its centre axis. The product carrier 2 has an axis of symmetry which defines the centre axis. The vibration unit has a guide bar for rotating a passing product carrier 2. The guide bar is stationary positioned. The guide bar engages a passing product carrier 2 at an outer circumference to rotate the product carrier 2 about its centre axis. The 30 guide bar may improve the centring efficiency of the centring unit. In case of vibrations in mainly a transversal direction, a rotation of the product carrier 2 brings a loaded product in such a position that the loaded product moves more easy to a centre position. The loaded product will move more easily to a centre position which is located at a front side when generated vibrations push the loaded product at a back side.
35 The product carrier 2 is designed to carry a product. The shown product is a food article, in particular a vegetable, more in particular a fruit. The product has an amorphous outer contour. The amorphous product has a neutral position when positioned on the - 11 - product carrier 2. In the neutral position, the loaded product is stationary positioned. The product is not clamped or connected to the product carrier 2, but the product is freely movable over the product carrier 2. Only a friction force maintains the product in the neutral position. The product carrier 2 has an upper surface 22 for receiving the product. A product 5 can be loaded from above onto the product carrier 2.
The product carrier 2 has a centre position at the upper surface 22. For further operations to the conveyed products, it is desired to get a loaded product in a predetermined position, which is defined by the centre position 21. It is desired to get the loaded product first in a stable neutral position. It is further desired to get the loaded product at the centre 10 position 21. The centre position may be a target area with borderlines. To obtain a desired centring of the product, it is desired to get the product within the borderline of the target area. For food articles, the borderline may have maximum dimensions which correspond to a maximum outer dimension of the food article including a tolerance of some centimetres. The target area may have a rectangular shape. For example, for a fruit like paprika the borderline 15 of the target area may have an outer dimension of at most 25cm.
The product carrier 2 has an upper surface 22 with centring properties. The upper surface 22 comprises an inclined wall which is designed to force the product due to gravity forces to a lower region of the product carrier 2. The inclined wall is formed by a rounded, conical or tapered portion. The product carrier 2 further has an upstanding outer edge 23 to 20 keep the product on the upper surface 22 of the product carrier 2. The outer edge 23 forms an obstacle to prevent the product from falling off the product carrier 2.
Figures 3A-3C show in a schematic top view subsequent steps for centring a loaded product on the product carriers 2. Fig. 4A-4D show in a schematic top view a subsequent rotation of the product carriers 2 to align loaded products to obtain a desired orientation.
25 In Figure 3A, the product carriers 2 are positioned at the base carrier 3 which is located upstream the conveying direction 9 before the vibration unit. The base carrier 3 has an engagement element 4 which is not yet agitated by the vibration unit. The arrow indicates the conveying direction 9. Conveyed products are oriented in two stages. In a first stage, the products are centred by a centring unit, in a second stage the centred products are 30 subsequently aligned by rotation of the product carriers 2. A rotation unit 200 to align the products is arranged downstream the vibration unit.
In Fig. 3A, the centre unit 100 is a vibration unit which is shown in a top view which corresponds with the front view of Fig. 2A. As indicated above, the vibration unit comprises an elongate profile to engage with the base carrier 3 for transferring generated vibrations to 35 the base carrier 3 and connected product carriers 2. The elongate profile has a through slot for capturing and passing the engagement element 4 of the base plate. Further, the vibration unit comprises three stationary positioned guide bars 102.1,102.2,102.3 to rotate - 12- the product carriers 2 during conveying. The presence of the guide bars improves the efficiency of the centring unit.
At the left, Fig. 3A further shows a graph of a sinusoidal vibration to illustrate a generated vibration having an amplitude in a transversal direction. The elongate profile 101 5 which generates the vibrations is connected at both ends to a framework of the vibration unit. Due to the fixation of the ends of the elongate profile, the vibrating elongate profile has a decreasing amplitude in a direction from the middle of the profile to the fixed ends. A middle region of the elongate profile will provide a stronger vibration. Herewith, the base carrier 3 is gradually vibrated when passing through the vibration unit.
10 The rotation unit 200 is arranged downstream the vibration unit. The working of the rotation unit 200 will be explained with reference to Fig. 4A-4D.
In Fig. 3B, the vibration unit has just been engaged with the base carrier. The rotation unit 200 is not shown in Fig. 3B. The loaded products are random positioned at the upper surface 22 of the product carriers 2. The engagement element 4 of the base carrier 3 is 15 received in the through slot of the elongate profile 101 of the vibration unit. Generated vibrations will be transferred to the base carrier 3 during engagement of the base carrier 3 with the vibration unit. The product carriers 2 are connected to the base carrier 3 and will also start vibrating. Due to the vibrations, the loaded products will displace to the lower situated centre position.
20 The product carriers 2 are each in engagement with a fixed guide bar 102 of the vibration unit. The product carrier has an outer circumference wall portion which is in contact with the guide bar 102. Due to the engagement with the guide bar, the product carrier 2 will start rotating about a centre axis. Due to the rotation, the loaded products 1 on the product carriers 2 will come in a position, wherein the products are more susceptible to generated 25 vibrations in transversal direction.
Fig. 3C shows the base carrier 3 at a later moment when the product carriers 2 pass through the vibration unit. The products are displaced over the upper surface 22 of the product carrier 2 and are positioned at the centre position of the product carrier 2. In this centred position which represents a desired position, the products on the product carriers 2 30 will leave the vibration unit.
Fig. 4A-4D show a subsequent stage II after the centring stage I, wherein centred products on product carriers 2 are rotated to bring the products 2 in a desired angular orientation with respect to the base carrier. The base carrier 3 with centred products is supplied to a rotation unit 200. In the rotation unit 200, the product carriers 2 will be rotated 35 to get the loaded products into the desired orientation, in particular to align the loaded products in a length direction of the products.
-13-
As shown in Fig. 4A, the rotation unit 200 comprises a detector 201 for observing an initial angular orientation of supplied products. The detector 201 is shown in Fig. 1B. The product carrier is conveyed in a conveying direction along the detector to determine the initial orientation of the supplied products. The initial orientation may differ from the desired 5 orientation. A control system, in particular a computer, is implemented to calculate a deviation angle which is defined by the difference between the desired and initial angular orientation. The deviation angle determines an angle of rotation which has to be performed by the rotation unit 200.
As shown in Fig. 4B, the rotation unit 200 comprises at least one rotation element 10 202 to rotate the at least one product carrier 2 about the deviation angle. The rotation unit 200 is provided with a rotation element for each product carrier 2 on the base carrier. Here, the rotation element is a movable positioned rotation element. The rotation element is elongated and extends in conveying direction 9. The rotation element is designed to get in engagement with the product carrier 2 to rotate the product carrier 2 about the 15 predetermined deviation angle. The rotation element 202 is movable in the transversal direction from a first position to a second position. The transversal direction is a direction transversal the conveying direction. In the first position, the rotation element 202 remains free from engagement with a passing product carrier 2. In the second position, the rotation element 202 is in engagement with the passing product carrier 2. The rotation element 202 20 is controllable to get in engagement with a passing product carrier 2 during a time interval. During the time interval, the product carrier 2 rotates and the product gets into the desired angular orientation. After the time interval, the rotation element is withdrawn into the first position, such that the product carrier 2 stops rotating.
Fig. 4C shows a particular moment during the operation of the rotation unit 200. The 25 base carrier 3 is provided with three product carriers 2. At the illustrated moment, one of the three product carriers 2 is positioned in the desired orientation. At that moment, as indicated by the arrows, the rotation element 202.1 dedicated to the well oriented product carrier 2 is withdrawn to the first position. The other two rotation elements 202.2, 202.3 are still positioned in the second position and are still in engagement with the product carriers 2 to 30 obtain a further rotation.
Fig. 4D shows a particular moment during the operation of the rotation unit 200, wherein all product carriers 2 are sufficient rotated to get the loaded products in the desired orientation. All rotation elements 202.1,202.2, 202.3 are positioned back into the first position to remain free of engagement with the product carriers 2. The product carriers 2 are 35 further conveyed in the desired orientation. In the achieved desired orientation of the products, it may be easy to process the products further. It may e.g. be easy to pack the - 14- products on a single base carrier 3 by a single gripper to put the products together in one package.
In a further embodiment of the rotation unit 200, the conveyor system 10 may comprise an auxiliary detector 203. The auxiliary detector 203 is shown in Fig. 1B. The 5 auxiliary detector is positioned downstream the conveying direction after the rotational element 202. The auxiliary detector 203 is used to control the desired orientation of the product. The auxiliary detector 203 is used to generate data relating to a secondary angular deviation. The data from the auxiliary detector is used to fine tune an upstream rotation element 202 to obtain a more accurate orientation. Herewith, the rotation element may be 10 automatically controlled in a closed loop.
In Fig. 4A-4D an embodiment is illustrated of a rotation unit 200 including rotation elements 202 which has a stationary outer surface which is engageable to an outer circumference of a product carrier 2. A relative movement of a passing by product carrier is used to rotate the product carrier. The product carrier is rotated by the rotation unit during a 15 conveying movement by using an occurring relative velocity between the rotation unit and the conveyed product carrier.
Fig. 4E shows an alternative embodiment of a rotation element 202 of a rotation unit 200 which comprises a moving outer surface. The shown rotation element 202 may also be integrated in the centring unit 100 to rotate a product carrier during a centring operation. The 20 moving outer surface is positioned at the outer contour of the rotation element 202. A small arrow indicates the movement of the outer surface. The outer surface may be moved by moving the rotational element 102, 202 in the conveying direction 9.
In the shown embodiment, the rotation element 202 comprises a belt which extends along the outer circumference to provide the moving outer surface. The belt is tensioned by 25 two pulleys which are provided at an end of the rotation element framework. The belt is drivable to move the outer surface. The outer surface can be brought in engagement with the product carrier 2 to rotate the product carrier 2. The product carrier 2 may be engaged during a conveying movement or during a standstill of the product carrier 2. The rotation element 202 with movable outer surface provides for both situations a possible rotation of 30 the product carrier.
The speed of the movable outer surface may be varied to adapt the total amount of rotation of the product carrier during engagement. Fig. 4E shows three steps of rotation of a product. In a first step, the product carrier starts rotating. In the second step, the amount of rotation of the product satisfies a desired rotation. In the third step, the amount of rotation is 35 not changed with respect to the second step by maintaining the speed of the outer surface of the rotation element equal to the speed of the conveyed product 1.
- 15-
Fig. 5 shows in a top view and in an above that view depicted cross sectional view an embodiment of a product carrier 2 which allows a displacement of a product to a centre position or so called target area of the product carrier 2. The product carrier 2 has an upper surface 22 which is initially flat shaped. The product carrier 2 has an at least partially 5 upstanding edge to prevent products falling off the upper surface 22. The upper surface 22 is deformable. The upper surface 22 is made of a flexible material, in particular an elastomer material like rubber. The upper surface 22 may comprise an elastic material. An agitator unit which may also called an excitation unit is arranged to agitate the upper surface 22. In the shown embodiment, the upper surface 22 comprises an engagement element 4 which can 10 be engaged by the agitator unit. The engagement element 4 is connected to the product carrier 2. The engagement element 4 is connected at an underside of the upper surface 22. The agitator unit may engage the upper surface 22 from underneath. The agitator unit may vibrate, press or pull the upper surface 22 downwards which will deform the upper surface 22. The upper surface 22 will obtain temporary an inclined wall portion which will force the 15 product to the centre position of the product carrier 2.
Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to particular embodiments, from reading this description those of skilled in the art may appreciate changes and modification that may be possible from a technical point of view but which do not depart from the scope of the invention as described above and claimed hereafter. It will be 20 understood by those of skilled in the art that equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed in the above detailed description, but that the 25 invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (34)

1. Werkwijze voor het bewerken van ten minste één product in een transportsysteem, waarbij ten minste één product (1) getransporteerd wordt in een transportrichting (9), waarbij de werkwijze de stappen omvat van: • het verschaffen van een productdrager (2), waarbij de productdrager (2) een 5 bovenvlak (22) heeft voor het dragen van het product (1), waarbij het gedragen product (1) vrij beweegbaar is over het bovenvlak (22) en waarbij het bovenvlak (22) een centrale positie (21) heeft; • het toevoeren van het product op het bovenvlak (22) van de productdrager (2); 10 «het verschaffen van een centreereenheid (100) voor het positioneren van een product (1) op de productdrager (2) op de centrale positie (21); • het laten werken van de centreereenheid (10) om het product (1) naar de centrale positie (21) van de productdrager (2) te verplaatsen.A method for processing at least one product in a conveying system, wherein at least one product (1) is transported in a conveying direction (9), the method comprising the steps of: • providing a product carrier (2), wherein the product carrier (2) has an upper surface (22) for supporting the product (1), wherein the supported product (1) is freely movable over the upper surface (22) and wherein the upper surface (22) has a central position ( 21); • supplying the product to the top surface (22) of the product carrier (2); Providing a centering unit (100) for positioning a product (1) on the product carrier (2) at the central position (21); Operating the centering unit (10) to move the product (1) to the central position (21) of the product carrier (2). 2. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 1 waarbij de verschafte centreereenheid (100) een vibreereenheid omvat en waarbij de productdrager wordt gevibreerd door de vibreereenheid om het gedragen product naar de centrale positie (21) te forceren.The method of claim 1 wherein the centering unit (100) provided comprises a vibrating unit and wherein the product carrier is vibrated by the vibrating unit to force the carried product to the central position (21). 3. Werkwijze volgens conclusie 1 of 2 waarbij de productdrager wordt gevibreerd en 20 geroteerd rond een verticale as om het gedragen product naar de centrale positie (21) te forceren, welke verticale as op de centrale positie (21) is gepositioneerd.Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the product carrier is vibrated and rotated around a vertical axis to force the supported product to the central position (21), which vertical axis is positioned at the central position (21). 4. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de vibreereenheid gedurende een eerste tijdsinval trillingen genereert met grote amplitude en 25 gedurende een tweede tijdsinterval trillingen genereert met een kleine amplitude.4. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the vibrating unit generates vibrations with a large amplitude during a first time interval and generates vibrations with a small amplitude during a second time interval. 5. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij het transportsysteem van een continu type is, waarbij producten continu worden getransporteerd op een in hoofdzaak constante snelheid. 30A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the conveying system is of a continuous type, wherein products are continuously conveyed at a substantially constant speed. 30 6. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de productdrager wordt getrild door een trillend langwerpig profiel (101) welke trillingen genereert in een dwarsrichting. - 17-Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the product carrier is vibrated by a vibrating elongated profile (101) which generates vibrations in a transverse direction. - 17- 7. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de werkwijze verder een stap omvat van: • het verschaffen van een rotatie-eenheid (200) voor het roteren van de productdrager; 5. het bepalen van een initiële hoekoriëntatie op de productdrager; • het bepalen van een hoekafwijking welke gedefinieerd is door een afwijking van de initiële hoekoriëntatie ten opzichte van een gewenste hoekoriëntatie; • het laten werken van de roteereenheid (200) om de productdrager (2) over de hoekafwijking te roteren. 10A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprises a step of: • providing a rotation unit (200) for rotating the product carrier; 5. determining an initial angle orientation on the product carrier; Determining an angular deviation which is defined by a deviation of the initial angular orientation from a desired angular orientation; Operating the rotary unit (200) to rotate the product carrier (2) over the angular deviation. 10 8. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de productdrager (2) wordt geroteerd door de roteereenheid gedurende een transportbeweging met gebruikmaking van een optredend snelheidsverschil tussen de roteereenheid (200) en de getransporteerde productdrager (2) 158. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the product carrier (2) is rotated by the rotary unit during a transport movement using an occurring speed difference between the rotary unit (200) and the transported product carrier (2). 9. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de werkwijze een stap omvat van het verschaffen van een basisdrager (3) welke ten minste twee productdragers (2) draagt die in een rij zijn ingericht waarbij de productdragers (2) roteerbaar zijn verbonden aan de basisdrager (3), waarbij de basisdrager (3) 20 tezamen met de productdragers (2) wordt getransporteerd voor het groepsgewijs bewerken van meerdere producten (1) bijvoorbeeld om meerdere producten tezamen te grijpen met een enkele grijper.A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises a step of providing a base carrier (3) carrying at least two product carriers (2) arranged in a row with the product carriers (2) rotatably connected to the base carrier (3), wherein the base carrier (3) is transported together with the product carriers (2) for group-wise processing of several products (1), for example to grab several products together with a single gripper. 10. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de ten minste 25 twee productdragers (2) naast elkaar zijn ingericht in een richting dwars op de transportrichting (9)10. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the at least two product carriers (2) are arranged next to each other in a direction transverse to the transport direction (9) 11. Werkwijze volgens een van de voorgaande conclusies, waarbij de werkwijze de stap van het uitlijnen van naast elkaar gelegen producten (1) omvat. 30A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises the step of aligning adjacent products (1). 30 12. Transportsysteem voor het bewerken van producten (1), waarbij het transportsysteem omvat: • een productdrager (2), waarbij de productdrager een bovenvlak (22) heeft voor het dragen van het product (1), waarbij het gedragen product (1) vrij 35 beweegbaar over het bovenvlak (22) is en waarbij het bovenvlak (22) een centrale positie (21) heeft; -18- • een centreereenheid (100) voor het centreren van het gedragen product (1) op de productdrager (2) zodanig dat het product is gepositioneerd op de centrale positie (21).12. Transport system for processing products (1), wherein the transport system comprises: • a product carrier (2), wherein the product carrier has an upper surface (22) for carrying the product (1), wherein the carried product (1) is freely movable over the top surface (22) and wherein the top surface (22) has a central position (21); • a centering unit (100) for centering the supported product (1) on the product carrier (2) such that the product is positioned at the central position (21). 13. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 12, waarbij het bovenvlak (22) van de productdrager (2) ten minste één schuin wandgedeelte omvat en waarbij de centralepositie (21) gepositioneerd is op een lagergelegen gebied van het bovenvlak.Transport system according to claim 12, wherein the top surface (22) of the product carrier (2) comprises at least one sloping wall portion and wherein the central position (21) is positioned on a lower region of the top surface. 14. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 12 of 13, waarbij het bovenvlak (22) van de productdrager (2) ten minste gedeeltelijk deformeerbaar (fig. 5) is om tijdelijk een schuin wandgedeelte te verkrijgen wanneer het bovenvlak (22) wordt geagiteerd voor het forceren van het product naar de centrale positie (21).A conveyor system according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the top surface (22) of the product carrier (2) is at least partially deformable (Fig. 5) to temporarily obtain a sloping wall portion when the top surface (22) is agitated for forcing the product to the central position (21). 15. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-14, waarbij de productdrager (2) een ten minste gedeeltelijk opstaande buitenrand (23) heeft om te voorkomen dat een product van de productdrager valt.Transport system according to one of claims 12-14, wherein the product carrier (2) has an at least partially raised outer edge (23) to prevent a product from falling off the product carrier. 16. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-15, waarbij ten minste het 20 bovenvlak (21) van de productdrager (2) roteerbaar is ten opzichte van de transportrichting (9) rond een centrale as van de productdrager (2), waarbij de centrale as zich uitstrekt door de centrale positie (21).16. Transport system as claimed in any of the claims 12-15, wherein at least the upper surface (21) of the product carrier (2) is rotatable relative to the transport direction (9) about a central axis of the product carrier (2), wherein the central axis extends through the central position (21). 17. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-16, waarbij de 25 centreereenheid (100) een vibreereenheid omvat voor het vibreren van een product drager.17. Transport system as claimed in any of the claims 12-16, wherein the centering unit (100) comprises a vibrating unit for vibrating a product carrier. 18. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 17, waarbij de vibreereenheid is ingericht om trillingen in een richting dwars op de richting van transport (9) te genereren. 30Transport system according to claim 17, wherein the vibrating unit is adapted to generate vibrations in a direction transverse to the direction of transport (9). 30 19. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-18, waarbij de vibreereenheid een vangelement (101) omvat voor het aangrijpen met de productdrager (2) om de productdrager (2) te vibreren.A conveyor system according to any of claims 12-18, wherein the vibrating unit comprises a catch element (101) for engaging the product carrier (2) to vibrate the product carrier (2). 20. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-19, waarbij het vangelement een langwerpig profiel (101) is, waarbij het langwerpig profiel vast verbonden is op beide uiteinden aan een frame. -19-A conveyor system according to any of claims 12-19, wherein the catch element is an elongated profile (101), the elongated profile being fixedly connected at both ends to a frame. -19- 21. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-20, waarbij de centreereenheid (100) ten minste één rotatie-element (102, 202) omvat voor het aangrijpen en roteren van een productdrager gedurende een centreerbewerking.A conveyor system according to any of claims 12-20, wherein the centering unit (100) comprises at least one rotation element (102, 202) for engaging and rotating a product carrier during a centering operation. 22. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 21, waarbij het rotatie-element een geleidingsstang is, welke geleidingstang (102) stationair is opgesteld, zodanig dat een aangegrepen productdrager (2) roteert gedurende een passage.A conveyor system according to claim 21, wherein the rotation element is a guide rod, which guide rod (102) is arranged stationarily, such that an engaged product carrier (2) rotates during a passage. 23. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-21, waarbij de 10 centreereenheid (100) duwmiddelen omvat voor het duwen van een product op een productdrager naar de centrale positie.A transport system according to any of claims 12-21, wherein the centering unit (100) comprises pushing means for pushing a product on a product carrier to the central position. 24. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-22, waarbij het transportsysteem een basisdrager (3) voor het dragen van meerdere producten 15 omvat, welke basisdrager (3) ten minste twee productdragers draagt voor het groepsgewijs bewerken van meerdere producten, waarbij de productdragers roteerbaar zijn verbonden aan de basisdrager (3).24. Transport system as claimed in any of the claims 12-22, wherein the transport system comprises a base carrier (3) for carrying a plurality of products, which base carrier (3) carries at least two product carriers for group-wise processing a plurality of products, the product carriers are rotatably connected to the base carrier (3). 25. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 24, waarbij de ten minste twee 20 productdragers zijn opgesteld in een lineaire rij boven op de basisdrager (3).25. Transport system according to claim 24, wherein the at least two product carriers are arranged in a linear row on top of the base carrier (3). 26. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 24 of 25, waarbij de basisdrager of productdrager een aangrijpelement (4) omvat om een aangrijping met de centreereenheid te verkrijgen. 25A conveyor system according to claim 24 or 25, wherein the base carrier or product carrier comprises an engaging element (4) for obtaining an engagement with the centering unit. 25 27. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 12-26, waarbij het transportsysteem verder een roteereenheid (200) omvat voor het roteren van een productdrager (2), welke rotatie-eenheid (200) stroomafwaarts is opgesteld ten opzichte van de transportrichting na de centreereenheid (100). 30A conveyor system according to any of claims 12-26, wherein the conveyor system further comprises a rotating unit (200) for rotating a product carrier (2), which rotating unit (200) is arranged downstream with respect to the conveying direction after the centering unit (100). 30 28. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 27, waarbij de rotatie-eenheid (200) een detector omvat voor het detecteren voor een initiële oriëntatie met een initiële hoek van het product dat gedragen wordt door de productdrager (2).The transport system of claim 27, wherein the rotation unit (200) comprises a detector for detecting an initial orientation with an initial angle of the product carried by the product carrier (2). 29. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 27 of 28, waarbij de rotatie-eenheid (200) een controle eenheid omvat om een hoekafwijking te bepalen gedefinieerd door -20- het verschil tussen de initiële hoek en een gewenste hoek van een gewenste oriëntatie.The conveyor system of claim 27 or 28, wherein the rotation unit (200) comprises a control unit to determine an angular deviation defined by the difference between the initial angle and a desired angle of a desired orientation. 30. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 27-29, waarbij de rotatie- 5 eenheid van het transportsysteem een bijkomende detector omvat welke stroomafwaarts aan de transportrichting is opgesteld na het roteerelement van de rotatie-unit om een stroomopwaarts gelegen rotatie-element te kalibreren.30. Transport system as claimed in any of the claims 27-29, wherein the rotation unit of the transport system comprises an additional detector which is arranged downstream of the conveying direction after the rotation element of the rotation unit to calibrate an upstream rotation element. 31. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 27-30, waarbij de rotatie- 10 eenheid (200) een rotatie-element (202) omvat voor het roteren van ten minste één productdrager over de hoekafwijking.31. Transport system as claimed in any of the claims 27-30, wherein the rotation unit (200) comprises a rotation element (202) for rotating at least one product carrier over the angular deviation. 32. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 31, waarbij het roteerelement (202) een langwerpig roteerelement is dat zich in de transportrichting uitstrekt, welk 15 langwerpig roteerelement een stationair opgesteld buitengelegen oppervlak heeft dat kan aangrijpen op een passerende productdrager om de productdrager te roteren.32. Transport system according to claim 31, wherein the rotating element (202) is an elongated rotating element which extends in the conveying direction, which elongated rotating element has a stationary outer surface which can engage a passing product carrier to rotate the product carrier. 33. Transportsysteem volgens conclusie 31, waarbij het rotatie-element een 20 beweegbare riem omvat welke een beweegbaar buitengelegen oppervlak langs een buitengelegen contour vormt om in aangrijping te komen met een buitengelegen rand van een productdrager (2) om de productdrager gedurende een tijdsinterval van aangrijping te roteren.33. Transport system as claimed in claim 31, wherein the rotation element comprises a movable belt which forms a movable outer surface along an outer contour to engage an outer edge of a product carrier (2) around the product carrier during a time interval of engagement to rotate. 34. Transportsysteem volgens één van de conclusies 30-33, waarbij het rotatie- element (202) beweegbaar is van een eerste positie, waarbij het rotatie-element (202) vrij blijft van aangrijping met een getransporteerde productdrager naar een tweede positie , waarbij het rotatie-element (202) in aangrijping is met de getransporteerde productdrager (2). 30A conveyor system according to any of claims 30-33, wherein the rotation element (202) is movable from a first position, the rotation element (202) remaining free from engagement with a transported product carrier to a second position, the rotation element (202) is in engagement with the transported product carrier (2). 30
NL2006449A 2011-01-07 2011-03-22 Conveyor system comprising centring unit and rotation unit. NL2006449C2 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2006449A NL2006449C2 (en) 2011-03-22 2011-03-22 Conveyor system comprising centring unit and rotation unit.
PCT/NL2011/050790 WO2012093933A1 (en) 2011-01-07 2011-11-18 Conveyor system comprising centring unit and/or rotation unit
EP11788609.3A EP2661404A1 (en) 2011-01-07 2011-11-18 Conveyor system comprising centring unit and/or rotation unit
PCT/NL2011/050789 WO2012093932A2 (en) 2011-01-07 2011-11-18 A gripper assembly and a handling system
EP11790680.0A EP2661337A2 (en) 2011-01-07 2011-11-18 A gripper assembly for handling variable-shaped object

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NL2006449A NL2006449C2 (en) 2011-03-22 2011-03-22 Conveyor system comprising centring unit and rotation unit.

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US3602281A (en) * 1970-01-22 1971-08-31 Fmc Corp Fruit-orienting system
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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3219168A (en) * 1960-09-14 1965-11-23 Fmc Corp Fruit orienting apparatus
US3602281A (en) * 1970-01-22 1971-08-31 Fmc Corp Fruit-orienting system
US3695322A (en) * 1970-08-05 1972-10-03 Fmc Corp Peach pitter
JPS6175726A (en) * 1984-09-19 1986-04-18 Iseki & Co Ltd Fruit align and feed apparatus
EP0454267A1 (en) * 1990-04-26 1991-10-30 Adrianus Wilhelmus Tas Apparatus for orienting spherical products having at least one substantially flattened surface, such as tomatoes and the like
US5870949A (en) * 1998-04-24 1999-02-16 Ashlock Company, A Division Of Vistan Corporation Pitting apparatus with box cam; wiping blade, or separating assembly
US20070212174A1 (en) * 2006-03-09 2007-09-13 Seiko Epson Corporation Workpiece conveyor and method of conveying workpiece
FR2927007A1 (en) * 2008-01-31 2009-08-07 Caustier France Sa Triangle receptacle for e.g. pear, has rear raising line provided between rear side peaks forming cavity, and inclined side surface extending laterally outside of cavity, where surface is inclined in descending slope from crest lines

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