Measuring device for measuring products, and method therefor

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A measuring device for measuring products, comprising: 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, wherein the angle lies in the range of 20 to 70 degrees to the transport direction.

2. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the angle further lies in the range of 30 to 60 degrees to the transport direction.

3. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a shield arranged between the fruit carriers and at least parts of the sensor, wherein the shield is provided with an elongate recess substantially parallel to the measuring path, and wherein the elongate recess is configured for passage of a measuring signal.

4. The measuring device of claim 3, further comprising a moving device configured to move the sensor or parts thereof.

5. The measuring device of claim 4, wherein the moving device comprises a drive provided with an arm on which the sensor or parts thereof are arranged, and wherein the arm is provided for rotation around a rotation axis.

6. The measuring device of claim 5, wherein the drive is provided with a compensator configured to compensate for the movement of the arm such that a linear movement of the sensor running substantially synchronously with the transport system can be realized while the measurement is being performed.

7. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising a moving device configured to move the sensor or parts thereof.

8. The measuring device of claim 7, wherein the moving device comprises a drive provided with an arm on which the sensor or parts thereof are arranged.

9. The measuring device of claim 8, wherein the arm is provided for rotation around a rotation axis.

10. The measuring device of claim 9, wherein the drive is provided with a compensator configured to compensate for the movement of the arm such that a linear movement of the sensor running substantially synchronously with the transport system can be realized while the measurement is being performed.

11. The measuring device of claim 8, wherein the drive is provided with a compensator configured to compensate for the movement of the arm such that a linear movement of the sensor running substantially synchronously with the transport system can be realized while the measurement is being performed.

12. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device further comprises a controller which is operatively connected to the sensor and is configured to control the measurement on the basis of a product detection.

13. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is provided on the lower side of the fruit carriers on which or between which the products can be carried.

14. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more signal receivers and the measuring device is further provided with one or more signal transmitters.

15. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor processes signals with different frequencies or frequency spectra in succession.

16. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises one or more of a physical hardness tester, laser, methane sensor, ultrasonic sensor, spectrometer, X-ray detector, and photosensitive element.

17. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the fruit carriers comprise diabolos.

18. A sorting system provided with the measuring device of claim 1.

19. A method for measuring products, the method comprising: providing a measuring device comprising: 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; arranging a number of products on or between the fruit carriers; activating the sensor; and measuring the product over the measuring path at an angle that lies in the range of 20 to 70 degrees to the transport direction.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising moving the sensor or parts thereof at an angle to the transport direction.

Description

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1-3 show different views of the measuring device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the measuring device of FIGS. 1-3;

(4) FIG. 5 shows a side view of the measuring device of FIG. 4; and

(5) FIG. 6 shows a further view of the measuring device according to the invention.

(6) Measuring device 2 (FIGS. 1-6) is provided with transport system 4 with diabolos 6.

(7) In the shown embodiment rotation axis 24 is situated about 50 cm from the underside of diabolos 6. Measuring device 2 is further provided with frame 3 comprising transport system 4. In the shown embodiment transport system 4 is provided with first track 8 and second track 10. Products P, carried by diabolos 6, are movable in transport direction A. In the shown embodiment products P are pears. Measurements on singulated products P are performed using sensor/sensor system 12. Sensor system 12 comprises transmitter or signal source 14 arranged on the upper side of measuring device 2 and configured to transmit signal 16. On the lower side of fruit carriers 6 a number of receivers 18 is provided on arm 20 and configured to receive information beam 18b, which is shown schematically in the figures.

(8) In the shown embodiment arm 20 can be moved by means of connecting arm 22 around rotation axis 24 using drive 26. In the shown embodiment flexible hose 23 is arranged for the measuring cable. In the shown embodiment rotation axis 24 is situated about 50 cm from the underside of diabolos 6. In the shown embodiment drive 26 is also provided with drive shaft 28, with which drive rod 32 can be moved using eccentric 30 such that arm 20 moves.

(9) In the shown embodiment shielding plate 34 is provided with two recesses 36 corresponding to tracks 8, 10. Side shields 38 are provided here on either side of recess 36 for further shielding from disruptive influences.

(10) Recess 36 extends in longitudinal direction B. In the shown embodiment longitudinal direction B and transport direction A form an angle with each other. In the shown embodiment angle is about 45. It will be apparent that other angles, particularly in the range of 30 to 60, are also possible.

(11) Although in the shown embodiment arm 20 is movable around rotation axis 24, alternative embodiments are also possible. Arm 20 can thus be displaced linearly. It is also possible to position arm 20 fixedly relative to recess 36 and to provide a static receiver 18 or row of receivers 18.

(12) Control system 40 (FIG. 3) comprises controller 42 which optionally receives detection signal 46 from product detector 44. Controller 42 then sends activation signal 48 to drive 26 in order to start the product measurement. Measuring signal 50, received from receivers 18, is then in the shown embodiment processed by controller 42. Controller 42 then preferably provides a quantitative value for the measured quality feature or quality features of product P. These quantitative values are then preferably used in the classification of products P for the purpose of sorting. In the shown embodiment controller 42 also controls transmitter 14 using control signal 52. It will be apparent that control system 40 can have central controller 42 and/or a number of local controllers.

(13) In the shown embodiment controller 42 is provided with compensator 54, with which control signal 48 is adjusted on the basis of information 58 from encoder 56. Drive 26 is provided with information about the position of the transport unit by means of control signal 48. Drive 26 follows this signal over the position, such that during the outward movement receiver 18 follows the fruit on the transport system with a substantially linear movement throughout the measuring path, after which an accelerated return movement is made possible, such that the sensor is able to follow the next fruit. Drive 26 preferably comprises for this purpose a servomotor with its own control circuit and provided with its own position encoder on drive shaft 28. It is hereby possible to provide a substantially linear movement of arm 20 parallel to recess 36.

(14) For the purpose of measuring product P, particularly a specific quality feature thereof, in the shown embodiment a product is detected using detector 44 and detection signal 46 is sent to controller 42. If product P has to be measured, activation signal 48 will be sent to drive 26 and control signal 52 to the one or more transmitters 14 of sensor system 12. In the currently preferred embodiment starting of drive 26 moves the one or more receivers 18 on arm 20 in coordination with the movement of product P by rotation around rotation axis 24. The signal which was originally transmitted by one or more transmitters 14, and is transmitted/radiated through product P, is then received here via recess 36 and along shield 34 by receiver(s) 18. The signal 50 received by receiver(s) 18 is then fed back to controller 42, which then performs an optional further processing on the measuring signal. In the shown embodiment measuring signal 50 is preferably converted into a quantitative indication of the relevant quality feature or features of product P. This information is then used for further sorting of products P.

(15) In the shown embodiment a moving receiver 18 is shown in a two-track embodiment. It will be apparent that application is also possible in embodiments with a different number of tracks, for instance one, three or four. It is further possible to provide receiver 18 in an elongate embodiment, optionally with a row of static/fixed receivers 18. This enables a simplified embodiment in respect of coordination of relative movement according to the invention.

(16) A number of further optional aspects of measuring device 2 is described in NL 1019600, including application of carriers in the form of grippers or cups, application of a lens system and/or mirrors.

(17) The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged.