Sorting system for sorting products and method therefor

Abstract

A sorting system for sorting products, in particular vulnerable products, such as apples and pears, and a method therefor. The sorting system comprises a singulator, a measuring system, and a sorting device provided with a number of sorting outlets, along with a control operatively connected to the measuring system and the sorting device, and provided with a classification system. The control is provided with a selection module configured to switch the sorting system between a basic configuration and a task configuration in which the selection module is configured to select sorting commands and to couple a sorting command to one or more of the available sorting outlets adaptable to the specific product properties by the control. A product allocation system is configured to distribute assessed products over the qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration.

Claims

1. A sorting system for sorting products, the system comprising: a singulator for singulating supplied products; a measuring system for determining product properties of the singulated products; a sorting device provided with a number of sorting outlets for sorting the supplied products on the basis of selected product properties; a control operatively connected to the measuring system and the sorting device, and provided with a classification system configured to determine on the basis of selected properties measured with the measuring system possible sorting outlets qualifying for an assessed product, wherein the control is further provided with: a selection module configured to switch the sorting system between a basic configuration with standard set sorting outlets according to a standard classification of the selected product properties and a task configuration, wherein in the task configuration at least a part of the sorting outlets is set according to a specific classification of the selected product properties and is allocated to one or more task sorting commands aimed at one or more specific product properties, during sorting of an intended quantity of products in the task sorting command in addition to and/or instead of the sorting outlets set according to the standard classification, wherein the selection module is further configured to: select in the task configuration the one or more task sorting commands, wherein each of the one or more task sorting commands has an associated priority ranging from a highest priority to a lower priority, and couple in the task configuration, at least partly based on the associated priority, the selected task sorting commands to one or more available sorting outlets adaptable to the specific product properties by the control, wherein the coupling automatically gives priority to the task sorting command with the highest priority; and a product allocation system configured to distribute assessed products over the qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration, such that the assessed products can be sent to the allocated selected sorting outlet by the control.

2. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the product properties comprise at least one of the following properties: size, color, external quality, weight, internal quality, and shape.

3. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring system comprises an external quality determination module.

4. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring system comprises a weight sensor.

5. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the measuring system comprises an internal quality determination module.

6. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a setting means for setting a tolerance in class widths of products.

7. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a priority coupling for coupling the control to a stock control system and/or a logistical planning system and/or a sales order system.

8. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a user interface for entering sorting commands remotely.

9. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a packaging device configured to package products sorted per sorting command.

10. The sorting system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the packaging device comprises a labelling device configured to label a packaging with sorted products with mention of information from the sorting command.

11. A method for sorting products, the method comprising: providing a sorting system; supplying products for sorting; singulating the supplied products using a singulator; determining product properties of the singulated products using a measuring system; switching from a basic configuration to a task configuration using a selection module; selecting, in the task configuration and using the selection module, task sorting commands with one or more specific product properties to be executed, wherein each of the task sorting commands has an associated priority ranging from a highest priority to a lower priority; coupling the selected task sorting commands to one or more available sorting outlets of a sorting device in the task configuration at least partly based on the associated priority, wherein the coupling automatically gives priority to the task sorting command with the highest priority; classifying assessed products on the basis of measured product properties and determining qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration; allocating classified products to one of the qualifying sorting outlets using a product allocation system in the task configuration; and sending the classified products to the allocated qualifying sorting outlet.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the product properties comprise at least one of the following properties: size, color, external quality, weight, internal quality, and shape.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the product allocation system employs a distribution for distributing assessed products over qualifying sorting outlets.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein after a sorting command has been executed, the coupled sorting outlet becomes available for a subsequent sorting command and/or for a basic setting.

15. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising setting tolerance limits for a range of a product property on the basis of which sorting takes place, such that a value for the product property is maintained in an assortment.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tolerance limits are set such that a desired class average is approximated more closely.

17. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising setting the product allocation system using a priority coupling to a stock control system and/or a logistical planning system and/or a sales order system.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising packaging sorted products using a packaging device and labelling a packaging with information from the sorting command and/or product information.

19. A sorting system for sorting products, the system comprising: a singulator for singulating supplied products; a measuring system for determining product properties of the singulated supplied products; a sorting device provided with a number of sorting outlets for sorting the supplied products on the basis of selected product properties; a control operatively connected to the measuring system and the sorting device, and provided with a classification system configured to determine on the basis of the selected product properties measured with the measuring system possible sorting outlets qualifying for an assessed product, wherein the control is further provided with: a selection module configured to switch the sorting system between a basic configuration with standard set sorting outlets according to a standard classification of the selected product properties and a task configuration, wherein in the task configuration at least a part of the sorting outlets is set according to a specific classification of the selected product properties and is allocated to one or more task sorting commands aimed at one or more specific product properties, during sorting of an intended quantity of products in the task sorting command in addition to and/or instead of the sorting outlets set according to the standard classification, wherein the selection module is further configured to: select in the task configuration the one or more task sorting commands, taking into account a priority of the task sorting commands, wherein each of the task sorting command has an associated priority ranging from a highest priority to a lower priority, and couple in the task configuration the selected task sorting commands to one or more available sorting outlets adaptable to the specific product properties by the control, wherein the coupling automatically gives priority to the task sorting command with the highest priority; and a product allocation system configured to distribute assessed products over the qualifying sorting outlets in the task configuration, such that the assessed products can be sent to the allocated selected sorting outlet by the control, taking into account the priority of the task sorting commands, further comprising setting means for setting a tolerance in class widths of products, a priority coupling for coupling the control to a stock control system and/or logistical planning system and/or sales order system, and a user interface for entering sorting commands remotely.

20. The sorting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sorting task commands with the lower priority do not take part in the sorting if there are more sorting task sorting commands than available sorting outlets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

(2) FIG. 1 shows a view of the sorting system according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further view of the system according to the invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the process steps for the sorting system according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Sorting system 2 (FIG. 1) comprises measuring part 4 which is substantially provided at the end of a singulator 6 on which supplied products P are singulated. Placed at the end of singulator 6 is an external quality assessment system, such as iQs module 8, to assess defects on the surface of product P. After the external quality has been determined, products P are in the shown embodiment transferred to holders of system 2 using transfer system 10. Transfer system 10 is for instance of the type as described in NL 1003057 and NL101686. It will be apparent that other transfer systems 10 can also be utilized in sorting system 2. In the shown embodiment products P in the holders are then assessed in internal quality measurement system 12 on the basis of the internal quality using transmission techniques, for instance using a so-called iFA module 12. This can be carried out on products in the holders or cups of sorting device 14, for instance carried out as described in NL 2003166. It will be apparent that it is also possible to use other sorting devices 14 in sorting system 2.

(6) Products P can be weighed using a measuring sensor while being transferred by transfer system 10 and/or transported in the holders of sorting device 14.

(7) Sorting device 2 (FIG. 2) is provided with feed system 16 whereby products P are supplied to singulator 6. Products are then carried using measuring models 8, 10, 12 to sorting device 14, which is provided with a number of sorting outlets 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e and 18f.

(8) Sorting system 2 is controlled using control 20. Control 20 receives a command 22a from an operator and/or from a user interface such as touchscreen 22b. In the shown embodiment control 20 is provided with selection module 24 or at least operatively connected thereto for the purpose of selecting a sorting command to be executed and then coupling a sorting command with specific product properties to one or more of the available sorting outlets 18a-f. Control 20 sends setting values 26 to relevant outlets 18a-f for this purpose. In the shown embodiment control 20 tracks the position of the fruits on the basis of an encoder which measures the displacement of the holders of system 2. When the position of the fruit nears the sorting outlet, control 20 activates the offloading mechanism whereby the fruits are offloaded at the sorting outlet.

(9) Control 20 receives measurement information 28, 30 from the different measuring modules 8, 12 and classifies products P. Product allocation system 32 then allocates individual products P to one of the qualifying sorting outlets 18a-f. Control 20 is optionally connected to stock control system/logistical planning 34 with which information 36b can be exchanged. Information 36 can for instance be used to select a sorting command in selection module 24 and/or to employ an allocation formula in product allocation system 32.

(10) In the shown embodiment sorting system 2 is operatively connected to packaging device 38 and then to labelling device 40. Product flow 42 from one of the sorting outlets 18a-f is carried to packaging device 38 and product flow 44 is then fed through to labelling device 40, after which the labelled and packaged products are dispatched via flow 46. Information 48 is exchanged with packaging device 36 and labelling device 40 from control 20. This packaging device can for instance be a filling system for bags of fruit with a content of for instance 2 kg, but also a filling system for large crates with a content of for instance 300 kg.

(11) For the sorting 50 (FIG. 3) of products such as apples and pears sorting system 2 is provided with a standard setting 52 in a basic configuration. In an advantageous embodiment this is carried out by loading a sorting program into sorting system 2. After a command 54 has been received a selection or optimization 56 is carried out, wherein sorting commands are selected and are coupled to a specific sorting outlet. This can preferably be done online, wherein priorities of individual tasks can if desired be adjusted, for instance depending on the demand for a product. The sorting system switches to a task configuration herein. In an advantageous embodiment this is done by loading a task list into sorting system 2. Setting 58 of the relevant sorting outlet then takes place on the basis of the specific product properties. Products are then supplied in supply step 60. After singulation 62 thereof, products P can optionally be measured externally 64 and if desired be transferred 66 using transfer device 10, after which the internal quality can optionally be measured 68. It will be apparent that the measuring steps can also be performed in a different order and with more or fewer measuring steps.

(12) Using control 20, products P are then sorted in sorting device 14 and distributed over sorting outlets 18a-f in sorting and allocating step 70. This sorting relates to the processing of the supplied measurement data relating to product P, after which the relevant data of the product P in question are compared to the specifications of a task and allocated to a sorting outlet. Use is made here in the task configuration of allocation system 32. If product P does not fit within a task it is possible to compare the relevant data of the product P in question to specifications of the sorting program and to allocate product P to a standard sorting outlet. The allocation of product P to a sorting outlet is preferably also tracked during sorting, so that data are for instance available for labelling.

(13) Control 20 with setting means, for instance a tolerance setting program, sets a tolerance for the limits of a sorting outlet. These tolerance settings are, if necessary, preferably adjusted during sorting. Adjustment for instance takes place if the average of a product property on the basis of which sorting takes place varies over time. By adding a product which falls outside the class width but within the tolerance limits, the average in question is influenced to take on a desired value, or a value closer thereto. The average value of an assortment can thereby be maintained more effectively and for instance be kept constant over time more effectively.

(14) A sorted batch of products P is then packaged 72 and provided with label 74, and then further dispatched 76.

(15) After a sorting task has been completed, a sorting command is terminated 78. Possible information is supplied 80 to packaging device 38 and/or labelling device 40. Information 82 is if desired also supplied 86 for the purpose of planning and/or logistics and/or sales. Termination 78 of a command is then reported 84 to sorting system 2, after which it is possible to continue with standard setting 52 in a basic configuration or with accepting a new sorting command 54 in the task configuration.

(16) It will be apparent that the above described measurements performed on the product, including internal quality, external quality and/or weight, can also be carried out in other ways, as long as a classification of the supplied product can be enabled.

(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.