Reject Selection Device

Abstract

Provided is a reject selection device for selecting rejects from a set of dried fruit or nuts moved on a conveyor belt, the device including a support element with a central zone above the conveyor belt at a distance thereto, parallel and transversal thereto, a sensor suitable for detecting physical and/or chemical qualities of the dried fruit or nuts and the position thereof on the conveyor belt, suction means with a set of suction nozzles arranged in the central zone, and identification software in communication with the sensor and suction means for identifying rejected pieces of fruit or nuts and instructing the suction means to remove the rejected pieces from the conveyor belt.

Claims

1. A reject selecting device for the elimination, based on at least one given quality, of undesirable elements or defective products present in a set of dried fruit or nuts moved on a conveyor belt, comprising: a support element comprising: a central zone formed by a longitudinal element with two opposite ends, said central zone being located above a conveyor belt at a distance therefrom and being parallel to the conveyor belt and arranged transversally thereto; and two fixing arms for respectively fixing each of the ends of the central zone to one of the sides of the conveyor belt; at least one sensor suitable for detecting at least one physical or chemical quality of each piece of the dried fruit or nuts and the position thereof; suction means for removing defective pieces of dried fruit or nuts, said suction means comprising a set of suction nozzles arranged in said central zone of said support element, said suction nozzles being oriented towards said conveyor belt, arranged in at least two rows with staggered positions, and spanning the length of said central zone of said support element identification software in electronic communication with said at least one sensor and said suction means, said identification software determining whether each piece of the dried fruit or nuts should be accepted or rejected and activating the suction means to remove rejected pieces detected by the at least one sensor.

2. The reject selection device according to claim 1, wherein said suction means further comprise a compressor or a suction pump, a pipe connected to each suction nozzle and to the compressor or pump, and a valve for opening and closing said suction pump.

3. The reject selection device according to claim 2, wherein said pipes connected to said suction nozzles are vacuum pipes.

4. The reject selection device according to claim 2, wherein said pipes connected to said suction nozzles are compressed air pipes.

5. The reject selection device according to claim 1, wherein said suction nozzles are fixed with respect to the central zone of the support element.

6. The reject selection device according to claim 1, wherein said suction nozzles are movable with respect to the support element in a movement direction toward and away from the conveyor belt.

7. The reject selection device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises one of a vision camera, an X-ray device, a hyperspectral camera, or a laser.

8. The reject selection device according to claim 1, the reject selection device being connected to equipment for the handling of dried fruit or nuts and being located in a zone thereof where said fruit or nuts are introduced.

9. The reject selection device according to claim 1, wherein the reject selection device is a standalone, independent machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view in perspective of the reject selection device, for one mode of a preferred embodiment of the invention

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a schematic vertical view of the reject selection device, for one mode of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0053] The following detailed description illustrates the technology by way of example, not by way of limitation of the principles of the invention. This description will enable one skilled in the art to make and use the technology, and describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. One skilled in the art will recognize alternative variations and arrangements, and the present technology is not limited to those embodiments described hereafter.

[0054] In view of the figures provided, it can be observed how in one mode of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the reject selection device (1) proposed here whose objective is the elimination, based on at least one given quality, of undesirable elements or defective products which are present in a set of dried fruit or nuts that are moved on a conveyor belt (2), comprises a support element (3), at least one sensor, identification software, suction means for suction of the detected defective elements, and a set of suction nozzles (4) connected to said suction means.

[0055] The support element (3), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, has a central zone (5) formed by a longitudinal element with two opposite ends, located over the conveyor belt (2) at a distance therefrom. This central zone (5) is located parallel to the belt (2) and transverse thereto.

[0056] Said support element (3) also has two fixing arms (6) for respectively fixing each of the ends of the central zone (5) to one of the sides of the conveyor belt (2).

[0057] For its part, this device (1) comprises a sensor that in this mode of preferred embodiment of the invention is formed by a hyperspectral chamber configured to detect humidity values in the fruit or nuts which are greater than a certain limit value.

[0058] In this case, therefore, the sensor is suitable for determining a chemical quality of the fruit or nut (7), in addition to the position thereof.

[0059] For its part, the identification software is connected to the sensor and analyzes said physical quality of the dried fruit or nuts (7), comparing the data collected with a previously developed model and, from this comparison, concludes whether the fruit or nut (7) should be accepted or rejected.

[0060] This identification software is connected to the suction means and communicates to them the suction command of a defective element, as well as the position thereof, which are detected by the sensor.

[0061] In this mode of preferred embodiment of the invention, the means of suction comprise a compressor, a pipe (8) respectively connected to each suction nozzle (4) and to the compressor, and a valve for opening and closing said compressor. In the Figures, only one pipe (8) connected to a suction nozzle (4) has been shown, so as not to interfere with the view of the rest of the parts of the device.

[0062] For their part, as shown in FIG. 1, the suction nozzles (4) are arranged in the central zone (5) of the support element (3), oriented towards the conveyor belt (2) and situated in this mode of preferred embodiment of the invention, in two rows with alternate positions, according to the direction of the central zone (5).

[0063] In this mode of preferred embodiment of the invention, the pipes (8) respectively connected to each suction nozzle (4), are formed by compressed air pipes and said suction nozzles (4) are suitable for moving with respect to the support element (3), in a movement approaching the conveyor belt (2), prior to suction therethrough.

[0064] In this way, the data collected by the sensor are sent to the software that by comparison with the previously developed model, determines the existence or non-existence of differences according to the established criteria, and concludes the necessity of rejection or not of the element in question. When it is concluded that it is a reject element and must be separated from the rest of the fruit or nuts, the software sends a signal to the suction means, with the position and time of action and these suction means send the command to the suction nozzle (4) closest to the position of the fruit or nut (7), in order that it approaches towards it and applies suction thereto.

[0065] If no differences are detected and therefore the existence of elements to be separated is not determined, the system does not act.

[0066] In this mode of preferred embodiment of the invention, the reject selection device forms an independent machine whose function is to eliminate reject elements from a set of dried fruit or nuts (7), but in other modes of embodiment it can form part of equipment or a machine for the handling of dried fruit or nuts, being arranged in the zone thereof where said fruits or nuts enter.

[0067] The form of embodiment described constitutes only one example of the present invention, and therefore, the specific details, terms and phrases utilized in the present specification should not be considered as limiting, rather they should only be understood as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis that provides an understandable description as well as sufficient information to the person skilled in the art to apply this invention.

[0068] With the reject selection device presented here, important improvements are obtained with respect to the state of the art.

[0069] A versatile device is achieved, which can constitute an independent machine or be coupled to an existing machine, at the entrance thereof, and turns out to be very effective for detecting foreign elements or those that do not meet established basic properties.

[0070] It significantly improves currently existing means of detection, since in many cases they are limited to the location of a single characteristic or focus on characteristics related to the weight or feel of the fruit or nut.

[0071] With this device it is possible to detect physical and chemical qualities and to also remove said elements detected as incorrect, without this interfering in the movement and normal trajectory of the rest of the fruit or nuts, thanks to the fact that an ejector which can affect the fruit or nuts around the reject is not utilized. When using a spray system that also approaches the reject at the time it is sucked up, the spray focus is more specific for the specific element that needs to be removed from the rest. It also results in a device with a very low inertia, so that the spray means react very rapidly thanks to very short start-stop times, which favors high precision in capturing rejects.

[0072] On the other hand, thanks to the existence of several spray nozzles, action for the elimination of more than one reject at the same time is possible, since it is possible that, together with the flow of dried fruit or nuts there are, for example, two rejects arranged parallel to the direction of the flow. In this case, a single nozzle would not be able to handle both rejects, but this selection device, which has a set of nozzles, is capable of carrying this out.

[0073] In addition, it is simple to apply and is suitable for use with fruit or nuts of reduced size, such as dried fruit or nuts, which is why it is very effective and favorable.

[0074] While the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments and arrangements of parts, features, and the like, it is not limited to these embodiments or arrangements. Indeed, modifications and variations included in these teachings will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.