WO2009019620A1

WO2009019620A1 - Fruit separation assembly

Info

Publication number: WO2009019620A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/052937
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dawid Moelich; Martin Taylor; Robert Buchanan
Original assignee: Capespan (Pty) Ltd
Priority date: 2007-08-06
Filing date: 2008-07-22
Publication date: 2009-02-12
Also published as: CL2008002237A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a fruit separation assembly having a belt joined to agitation means for agitating at least a part of the belt being located in an agitation area. The belt is circulated through the agitation area. Gripping means are provided on the belt for supporting a fruit bearing stalk from the belt within the agitation area, wherein the agitation means is adapted, in use, to vibrate the belt in a linear substantially vertical direction so as to cause the fruit to separate from the stalk.

Description

FRUIT SEPARATION ASSEMBLY

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fruit separation assembly.

More particularly the present invention relates to a fruit separation assembly, for separating fruit from a stalk or vine.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

Most prior art fruit harvesting or fruit removal machines operate by mechanical beating or shaking of the fruit bearing vegetative parts of the plant, which in the case of grape harvesting machines are primarily the canes. Satisfactory removal rates for grapes are typically obtained by optimising combinations of a first shaking direction (normally horizontal), a second direction (perpendicular to first direction) and a third direction to impart a swinging motion to the grape cluster via the canes or branches. In the case of tomato harvesters, a pendular motion of the fruit and its stem is desirable for optimum harvesting.

A disadvantage of these methods is that the fruit or grape berries are subjected to forces which often result in bursting, wounding or abrasion when they collide with or touch the canes, leaves and tendrils of the plant during the shaking action. This disadvantage can be alleviated by limiting the use of such harvesting techniques to crops which undergo further processing or preservation, such as juicing, winemaking, freezing or canning within a short period after harvesting.

The applicant is aware of the disclosure in JP 59055179, in which the grape berry cluster is initially frozen to allow removal of the stalk and skin from the grape berries. Such freezing is time consuming and tends to be expensive thus increasing the production costs for bringing the grape berries to the market.

In desert or fresh fruit, any bursting, cracking, decaying or damage results in the fruit losing its high commercial value. Also, in contrast to fruit intended for processing, fresh fruit quality needs to be maintained for an extended period to allow transportation and distribution. During this extended distribution phase, any desert fruit that has been subjected to abrasion, bruising, crushing or even microscopic wounding has a tendency to discolour by oxidative browning and decay. Microscopic wounding is undesirable as it is not easily detected during packing and sorting and manifests as a direct or indirect quality problem at a later stage only after substantial packaging and distribution costs have been incurred.

Fresh desert or table grapes are currently mainly marketed as bunches or clusters. However, with the ever-increasing demand for consumer convenience, it has now become desirable to market grape berries separate from the stalks (rachis), in value-added packages. Grape berries removed by mechanical three-dimensional shaking or swaying of a grape bunch, although effective, are often subjected to undesirable tearing of the skin of the berry at the pedicel attachment. Also, excessive abrasion and bruising results from berry on berry contact during swivel oscillation of the bunched cluster around the junction points between the peduncle and the longer pedicels. These are typically found in the shoulder area of the bunch cluster or in winged clusters.

Thus currently, most grape berries marketed in separated format, are removed by hand to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages associated with the mechanical fruit removal machines.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a fruit separation assembly, which will assist in overcoming these problems.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a fruit separation assembly includes a belt; agitation means for agitating at least a part of the belt being located in an agitation area; movement means for circulating the belt through the agitation area; and gripping means for supporting a fruit bearing stalk from the belt within the agitation area, wherein the agitation means is adapted, in use, to vibrate the belt in a linear substantially vertical direction so as to cause the fruit to separate from the stalk. The belt may be a conveyor or a chain.

The gripping means may include a number of spaced apart clamps fixedly joined to the belt.

The clamps may be movable between a closed position, in which each clamp is adapted to hold a fruit bearing stalk by its peduncle or laterals, and an open position, in which a fruit bearing stalk can be inserted or removed from the clamp.

Each clamp may have control means being adapted to automatically close the clamp upon entering the agitation area and further being adapted to automatically open the clamp upon removal from the agitation area.

The gripping means may include a number of spaced apart sleeves fixedly joined to the belt and being adapted to removably receive and attach a clamp to the belt.

The gripping means may include a cover being adapted to abut against a shoulder of the fruit bearing stalk to provide support.

The cover may be conical in shape and be made from a shock absorbing rigid material.

The belt may include a first loop and a separate second loop, wherein the first and second loops, for at least a part of their length, are positioned sufficiently close together to form the gripping means so as to frictionally pressingly support a fruit bearing stalk.

The first and second loops may abut against each other.

The first and second loops may be elastic being adapted to be deformable around a fruit bearing stalk.

The first and second loops may be lined with a friction adherent material being adapted to assist in holding a fruit bearing stalk and to prevent the stalk from slipping out from between the first and second loops during agitation of the belt in the agitation area. The agitation means may be an impact agitator.

The agitation means may include multiple impact agitators in series, each agitator being adapted to shake or vibrate the belt at a different amplitude or frequency to its neighbouring agitator.

The fruit separation assembly may include an insertion section, preceding the agitation area in the direction of movement of the belt, and a removal section after the agitation area.

The insertion section may be separated from the agitation area by shock absorption combination rollers.

The removal section may be separated from the agitation area by shock absorption combination rollers.

The combination rollers may be guide wheels.

Also according to the invention, a method of removing fruit from a stalk, includes the steps of gripping a fruit bearing stalk so that the stalk hangs downwardly due to gravity, and of applying linear vertical oscillating acceleration forces to the stalk so that the fruit moves relative to the stalk.

The stalk may be gripped in a clamp.

The clamp may be supported from a movable belt.

The fruit bearing stalk may be gripped in such a position to secure both a peduncle and laterals in its shoulder area.

The method may include the step of positioning a cover next to a shoulder of a fruit bearing stalk to restrict movement of its laterals.

The method may include the step of applying various acceleration forces, having differing amplitudes and frequencies, to the fruit bearing stalk such that fruit of differing degrees of ripeness are separated from the stalk at different times or locations. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

In the drawings there is shown in :

Figure 1 : A fruit separating assembly according to the invention;

Figure 2 : A grape cluster illustrating its various shapes and structures; and

Figure 3 : A plan view of a belt for use in the fruit separating assembly of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figure 1, a fruit separating assembly in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The fruit separating assembly 10 is adapted to remove fruit, such as grape berries, from a stalk or grape cluster.

As shown in Figure 2, a grape cluster 12 includes a rachis 14 that is joined to a cane 16 by a peduncle 18. A number of laterals 20 branch off from the peduncle 18 in the shoulder region 22 of the rachis 14. Individual grape berries 24 are joined by pedicels 26 to either the laterals 20 or directly to the peduncle 18 at the free hanging extremity of the rachis 14 opposite to the cane 16. In layman's terms the peduncle 18, laterals 20 and pedicels 26 are referred to as the stalk of the grape cluster 12 once it has been picked from the cane 16.

The fruit separating assembly 10 includes a frame 28 supporting drive rollers 30. A continuous belt 32 extends around the rollers 30 and is provided with a number of spaced apart sleeves 34 fixedly joined thereto. The belt 32 can be in the form of a conveyor or chain. The sleeves 34 each removably receive and attach a clamp 36 to the belt 32, wherein the clamp 36 is adapted to hold a rachis 14. The clamp 36 can also optionally have a conical cover 38 for supporting the shoulder 22 of the rachis 14. The fruit separating assembly 10 has four distinct sections, namely an insertion section 40, an agitation area 42, a removal section 44 and a return section 46. Two sets of shock absorption combination rollers 48 separate the agitation area 42 from the insertion section 40 and the removal section 44. An oscillating impact agitator 50 is located in the agitation area 42 between the combination rollers 48 and is adapted to beat, shake or vibrate the belt 32 in a linear direction. The agitator 50 can be above or below the belt 32 and a berry receiving container 52 is provided in the agitation area 42 beneath the belt 32.

In use, a rachis 14 is inserted into the clamp 36 so that the clamp 36 grips the peduncle 18. If the rachis 14 has a relatively large number of exposed laterals 20 in the shoulder 22, the clamp 36 can be located to grip both the peduncle 18 and the exposed parts of the laterals 20. The conical cover 38 can also be attached to the clamp 36 to provide added support to the shoulder 22.

The clamp 36 is inserted into and held in a sleeve 34 in the insertion section 40 so that the rachis 14 hangs from the belt 32 under the force of gravity.

The belt 32 then moves the clamp 36 past the combination rollers 48.1 whereafter the belt 32 is linearly vertically shaken in an oscillating manner by the agitator 50 and this shaking movement is then also transferred to the rachis 14. As the peduncle 18 and laterals 20 are gripped in the clamp 36, no excessive pendulum movement of the rachis 14 relative to the clamp 36 is possible. If needed, such as in winged or very large rachis 14, the conical cover 38 provides added support to the shoulder 22 to restrict movement of the rachis 14 relative to the clamp 36. Thus the shaking motion is largely restricted to the individual grape berries 24, which shake vigorously about their pedicels 26. Due to their momentum, the grape berries 24 break free from the pedicels 26 and drop into the container 52 for collection.

The linear vertical shaking of the belt 32 reduces excessive pendulum movement of the peduncle 18 and laterals 20 and thus causes the grape berries 24 to be plucked from the pedicels 26 in a way very similar to hand picking of a grape. Thus there is little or no bruising or laceration of the grape berries 24 and also a cleaner separation at the pedicel attachment with little or no skin tearing of the grape berry 24.

As a further improvement of the fruit separating assembly 10, more than one agitator 50 can be provided in series, with each agitator 50 inducing different shaking acceleration properties, such as having differing amplitudes or frequencies. This will cause grape berries 24 of various ripeness levels (thus being attached to the pedicels 26 with different strengths) to be separated from the pedicels 26 at different times or areas within the agitation area 42 for collection in separate containers 52.

The speed at which the belt 32 moves through the agitation area 42 is adjustable so that at least 95%, but preferably 100%, of the grape berries 24 are separated from the stalk before the clamp 36 moves to the removal section 44. The combination rollers 48.2 restrict the shaking of the belt 32 in the removal section 44 so that the clamps 36 can be removed from the sleeves 34. Thereafter the empty stalks are released from the clamps 36 and discarded and the clamps 32 returned to the insertion section 40.

The belt 32 finally cycles around through the return section 46 to the insertion section 40.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown in the drawings), the clamps 36 can be permanently joined to the belt 32, with the clamps 36 being movable between a closed position, in which each clamp is adapted to hold a rachis 14 by its peduncle 18 or laterals 20, and an open position, in which a peduncle 18 or laterals 20 of a rachis 14 can be inserted or removed from the clamp 36. In this embodiment each clamp 36 moves automatically from its open position to its closed position prior to entering the agitation area 42 and thereafter, after exiting the agitation area, moves automatically again from its closed position to its open position. The automatic movement of the clamps 36 can be regulated pneumatically by suitable control means. This will allow a reduction in manual labour as each rachis 14 merely has to be held in location to be gripped by the clamp 36 and, once all the grape berries 24 are removed, the stalk will be discarded. Referring now to Figure 3, in yet a further embodiment the belt 32 can include a first loop 32.1 and a second loop 32.2. The first and second loops 32.1, 32.2, for at least a part of their length extending across the agitation area 42, are sufficiently close together to grip a peduncle 18 or laterals 20 of a rachis 14 between them.

The first and second loops 32.1, 32.2 can be made of elastic material and lie adjacent to each other so that they deform around a peduncle 18 or laterals 20 held between them.

The first and second loops 32.1,32.2 can be coated with a friction adherent material being adapted to assist in holding a peduncle 18 or laterals 20 and to prevent them from sliding out away from the belt 32 during agitation thereof in the agitation area 42.

Although the description given above refers to grape berries, any other fruit joined to a stalk can also be separated using the fruit separating assembly 10.

Claims

1. A fruit separation assembly including a belt; agitation means for agitating at least a part of the belt being located in an agitation area; movement means for circulating the belt through the agitation area; and gripping means for supporting a fruit bearing stalk from the belt within the agitation area, wherein the agitation means is adapted, in use, to vibrate the belt in a linear substantially vertical direction so as to cause the fruit to separate from the stalk.

2. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which the belt is a conveyor or a chain.

3. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the gripping means includes a number of spaced apart clamps fixedly joined to the belt.

4. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the clamps are movable between a closed position, in which each clamp is adapted to hold a fruit bearing stalk by its peduncle or laterals, and an open position, in which a fruit bearing stalk can be inserted or removed from the clamp.

5. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which each clamp has control means being adapted to automatically close the clamp upon entering the agitation area and further being adapted to automatically open the clamp upon removal from the agitation area.

6. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gripping means includes a number of spaced apart sleeves fixedly joined to the belt and being adapted to removably receive and attach a clamp to the belt.

7. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the gripping means includes a cover being adapted to abut against a shoulder of the fruit bearing stalk to provide support.

8. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 7, in which the cover is conical in shape and is made from a shock absorbing rigid material.

9. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the belt includes a first loop and a separate second loop, wherein the first and second loops, for at least a part of their length, are positioned sufficiently close together to form the gripping means so as to frictionally pressingly support a fruit bearing stalk.

10. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 9, in which the first and second loops abut against each other.

11. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 9 or 10, in which the first and second loops are elastic being adapted to be deformable around a fruit bearing stalk.

12. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the first and second loops are lined with a friction adherent material being adapted to assist in holding a fruit bearing stalk and to prevent the stalk from slipping out from between the first and second loops during agitation of the belt in the agitation area.

13. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the agitation means is an impact agitator.

14. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the agitation means includes multiple impact agitators in series, each agitator being adapted to shake or vibrate the belt at a different amplitude or frequency to its neighbouring agitator.

15. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes an insertion section, preceding the agitation area in the direction of movement of the belt, and a removal section after the agitation area.

16. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 15, in which the insertion section is separated from the agitation area by shock absorption combination rollers.

17. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 15 or 16, in which the removal section is separated from the agitation area by shock absorption combination rollers.

18. A fruit separation assembly as claimed in claim 16 or 17, in which the combination rollers are guide wheels.

19. A method of removing fruit from a stalk, including the steps of gripping a fruit bearing stalk so that the stalk hangs downwardly due to gravity, and of applying linear vertical oscillating acceleration forces to the stalk so that the fruit moves relative to the stalk.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the stalk is gripped in a clamp.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the clamp is supported from a movable belt.

22. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21, in which the fruit bearing stalk is gripped in such a position to secure both a peduncle and laterals in its shoulder area.

23. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22, which includes the step of positioning a cover next to a shoulder of a fruit bearing stalk to restrict movement of its laterals.

24. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23, which includes the step of applying various acceleration forces, having differing amplitudes and frequencies, to the fruit bearing stalk such that fruit of differing degrees of ripeness are separated from the stalk at different times or locations.

25. A fruit separation assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.

26. A method of removing fruit from a stalk substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings.