Systems and methods are provided for an apparatus for moving objects along a predetermined path. A system includes plurality of conveying units, each conveying unit being connected to two other conveying units. A particular conveying unit includes a first link unit configured for connection to a first neighbor conveying unit. A second link unit is configured for connection to the first link unit, the second link unit further being configured for connection to a first link unit of a second neighbor conveying unit. A cup is detachably connected to the second link unit.

A draper belt (8) having a carry layer (14), a pulley cover layer (13), and a reinforcing layer (12) which is situated between the carry layer (14) and the pulley cover layer (13). The carry layer (14) includes a plurality of cleats (7) which are reinforced with reinforcing rods (15). The draper belt (8) has a first edge section (16), a second edge section (17), and a center section (18) located between the first edge section (16) and the second edge section (17). The first edge section (16) and the second edge section (17) of the draper belt (8) each have a modulus that is at least three times greater than the modulus of the center section (18).

A system and method for picking items from storage containers located in stacks within a grid-based storage system are described. The system can include a movable structural member, movable from a first position to a second position such that when in the second position it is possible for an operative to access at least one row of storage containers such that items can be manually picked therefrom.

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a movable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

A process for recognizing the orientation of a fruit, having a central axis of symmetry passing through the concave parts of the fruit. The process includes an initial measurement step in which the measuring instrument measures its distance from the sample fruit, an individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated travelling on the fruit multiple lanes tape, a comparison step in which the distance measured in the individual measurement step of each fruit to be treated is compared with the distances measured in the initial measurement step of the sample fruit to assess whether the distance measured in the individual measurement step is that one of a concave part of the fruit or that one of a convex part of the fruit, and a check step that determines that the fruit is correctly oriented or not. An apparatus that embodies this method is also described.

The present invention includes conveying and sorting systems utilizing a plurality of continuous rails which support a plurality of sliding pucks that are urged forward using a plurality of sprocket wheels, and which utilize magnetically operated activation components for causing produce to be selectively dropped from cups carried by the pucks into sorting bins. The structures for the conveying and actuating components of the systems have smooth external surfaces reducing potential contamination by bacteria, contaminants and debris, thereby making them easily accessible for cleaning, and allowing for longer continuous operation times and higher efficiency.

The invention relates to a measuring device for measuring products, such as fruits including vegetables and fruit, sorting system provided therewith, and method therefor. The measuring device according to the invention comprises: a frame provided with a number of movable fruit carriers on which or between which products can be placed for carrying and with which the products can be moved in a transport direction; and a sensor configured to perform a measurement or series of measurements on the products on or between the fruit carriers, wherein at least parts of the sensor are configured to enable the sensor to perform measurements over a measuring path, and wherein the measuring path is arranged at an angle to the transport direction so that a measurement can be performed over a distance over the product.

A crop cart cleaning and unloading system for cleaning debris such as dirt and rocks from a crop as the crop is being transferred between a hopper of a crop cart and a transport vehicle. The crop cart cleaning and unloading system generally includes a hopper for receiving a crop such as potatoes. The hopper transfers the crop onto a cleaning bed on which the crop is cleaned of debris, with the debris falling underneath the cleaning bed. The crop is conveyed across the cleaning bed as it is cleaned, with the cleaned crop being transferred from the cleaning bed onto an unloading conveyor. The unloading conveyor then transfers the cleaned crop to another location to be discharged, such as directly into a transport vehicle for further transport and processing.

Embodiments of product handling systems facilitate transfer of individual product items from incoming bulk form into dedicated trays for inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging. Inspection may comprise interrogation of product items within a tray by electromagnetic (e.g., optical, hyperspectral) or other (e.g., physical, acoustic, gas sensing, etc.) techniques. Prior to packaging, product items disposed within the tray may be stored in a moveable carousel responsible for controlling environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, illumination, ambient gases, product-to-product interactions, and/or others. Movement of product items from a carousel's transfer station to an outside staging position may be accomplished using robots and/or conveyor belts. Embodiments may allow rapid, low-cost consumer selection of specific individual product items based upon their accompanying metadata (e.g., source, identifier), in combination with the results of inspection (e.g., visual appearance). Embodiments may receive product items pre-packaged in tray format to expedite inspection, sorting, selection, and packaging.

The invention relates to a method and a device for grouping into batches fragile buoyant objects, such as buoyant fruit, in at least one accumulation channel with hydraulic superposition of the objects held in a superposition zone against a closed holding/releasing device so as to hold the objects. During a step of accumulating objects in an accumulation channel (11), an elevation (17) extending upwards from the bottom (19) of the accumulation channel (11) is moved upstream in said superposition zone (18) from the downstream end (13) of the accumulation channel (11) as the objects are being supplied so as to cause a superposition of the objects held in the superposition zone between said elevation (17) and the holding/releasing device (14).