WO2025114635A1 - Conveyor belt for transferring fruit and/or vegetables - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a conveyor belt for the individualized transfer of fruit and/or vegetables which comprises two or more load conveyor belts (1) positioned such that each pair of adjacent belts forms a V; and wherein the V-shaped load conveyor belts (1) are positioned between the fruit entry zone (2) and the fruit exit zone (3).

Description

Qualification

Conveyor belt for the transfer of fruit and/or vegetables.

Technical field

The present invention relates to a V-shaped loading belt, of the type used in the agri-food industry for receiving fruit that is randomly placed on a flat feed belt and arranged in continuous individual rows of fruit so that they can be delivered as smoothly as possible to individual fruit conveyors that are arranged on longitudinal rails.

Background

The current state of the art offers various systems whose main requirement is the use of low-cost belts. The transfer of fruit and/or vegetables (hereinafter, the product) is compromised because, in general, the use of larger diameter transfer rollers is required, and therefore, the fruit falls more easily onto the conveyor. Ultimately, reliability is compromised because taut belts create high transmission loads when following a complex path. Furthermore, high friction requires significant power, which accelerates mechanical wear and causes the belts to deviate from the correct path, further exacerbating the problems.

Furthermore, the high belt tension requires additional drive components, which adds complexity to the assembly and disassembly processes of conventional conveyor belts. This significantly increases the time required to replace belts and other components in the event of a breakdown.

Finally, hygiene is affected by the high tension on the belts, as rapid tensioning systems are generally not possible and therefore the belts and rollers cannot be easily cleaned.

Explanation of the invention

An object of the present invention is a conveyor belt for the transfer of fruit and/or vegetables that provides smooth identification and transfer of the fruit and/or vegetables, that is reliable in dirty and humid environments typical of the agri-food industry, and that allows rapid assembly and disassembly in the event of a failure and/or for cleaning and sanitizing the belt. This object is achieved with the conveyor belt for transferring fruit and/or vegetables according to claim 1.

Among the advantages provided by the invention is that it is possible to individualize the transmission of the fruit with two positive bands placed at angles where one of them goes at a slower speed than the other to favor the individualization of the product in its trajectory.

The improvements include improved fruit handling when transferred at high speed to the conveyor, as the receiving roller has a smaller diameter, resulting in less fruit drop. Transmission power is significantly lower, as the belts are relatively loose in the complex belt path, generating less heat, noise, and wear. The present invention is more reliable than prior-art belts, as they are self-guided and do not accumulate contaminants around the belt, causing deviations in its path. Finally, they are simple to guide and retrieve, allowing the "V" belts to be easily released for cleaning or removed for maintenance.

Throughout the description and claims, the word "comprise" and its variants are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components, or steps. For those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent in part from the description and in part from the practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to restrict the present invention. Furthermore, the present invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.

Brief description of the figures

Below, a series of drawings are briefly described to help better understand the invention and are expressly related to a realization of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example thereof.

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the conveyor belt for the transfer of fruit and/or vegetables according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of the input area of the conveyor belt for the transfer of fruit and/or vegetables according to the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of the exit area of the conveyor belt for the transfer of fruit and/or vegetables according to the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows in detail the transmission (8) that couples or meshes with the buckets or lugs on the inner face of the individual loading belt (1).

Fig.5 shows a detail of the transfer roller (9).

The following numerical references have been used in the figures:

1. Single loading belt

2. Fruit input from the feed belt

3. Fruit output to the sorters

4. Drive roller

5. Drive motor

6. Transfer roller assembly

7. Tape guide

8. Lower coupling transmission with individual loading belt (1)

9. Transfer roller

Detailed explanation of an embodiment of the invention

As shown in the attached figures, the function of the loading belt (1) is to receive fruit from the fruit inlet (2). Each pair of adjacent loading belts (1) are placed in a “V” shape. In the present description, “V loading belt (1)” refers to each pair of individual loading belts (1), with their facing sides forming a “V” forming a single row. The fruit is randomly placed in individual rows so that they can be delivered to the sorters (not shown in the attached figures) as smoothly as possible.

The main requirements for V-shaped loading belts (1) are to provide single-out and smooth transfer of a wide range of fruit and vegetable varieties to the sorters. This operation takes place in dirty and humid environments, so it is necessary for these devices to be easily removable in the event of a fault and also to allow for easy cleaning and sanitation.

Under the current state of the art, most requirements dictate the use of low-cost, low-tech belt technologies. In many cases, fruit transfer is compromised because other guided belt technologies require large-diameter transfer rollers, resulting in greater fruit drop onto the conveyor. Furthermore, tensioned belts create high transmission loads when following a complex belt path.

High belt friction requires significant power to overcome, accelerating mechanical wear and causing the belts to deviate from the correct path, further exacerbating the problems. High belt tension requires additional drive and pulling components, which adds significant complexity to disassembly and assembly processes. This can significantly increase the time required to replace belts and other components in the event of a failure. Hygiene is compromised by high belt tensions, as rapid tension release systems are generally not possible, and therefore the belts, belt paths, and rollers cannot be easily cleaned.

Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the conveyor belt of the invention comprises two or more loading belts (1) positioned such that each pair of adjacent belts forms a V, and where the loading belts (1) are located between the input zone (2) of the fruit and the output zone (3) of the fruit. Figure 2 shows the input zone (2) in detail, while the output zone (3) is shown in greater detail in Figure 3.

The inlet area (2) contains the means of propulsion of the belts (1) consisting of at least the following elements: one or more drive rollers (4), one or more drive motors (5) connected by pulleys to a drive roller (4); and a transmission (8) of the movement of at least one drive roller (4) towards -al less- a belt (1). Thus, the drive motor (5) activates a drive roller (4) that, through the transmission (8) that pushes from its lower part, to the belts (1), since the transmission (8) is configured as a series of protuberances and recesses in the lower part of each belt (1) susceptible to being pushed by the drive rollers (4). This configuration, together with the material of the belts (1) reduces the tension necessary to move the V-belts (1), both in its upper path, as in its lower path. The conveyor belts or bands (1) are preferably made of Pll or PVC and have the particularity of having in their lower part a plurality of buckets or lugs that help to center the band through the drive roller (4). That is, each drive roller (4) comprises projections that mesh with the protuberances and recesses of each individual belt (1), fractioning them.

In the exit area (3) there is the set of rollers (6) comprising one or more transfer rollers (9) that allow the reduction of the transfer height, since the vertical distance from which the fruit falls between the belts (1) and the conveyors -not shown- in the next section of the classifier is determined by the diameter of the transfer rollers (9), which will be smaller due to the configuration described above for each belt (1).

Note that in Figure 3, for each pair of adjacent tapes (1) that form the V, one of them shows the tape (1) while the other shows the elements hidden by the tape (1) in its position of use.

Traditional belts described in the prior art are very difficult to keep on the correct path as they “twist” while traveling around the belt path. The present invention provides significant advantages in reliability because the drive (8) engages in multiple locations around the belt path (1) providing tracking thereof by means of the lower center lugs of the belt (1). The engagement parts of the drive (8) are the drive roller (4), the belt guides (7), and the transfer rollers (9).

Note that the transmission (8) is coupled with the V-belt (1) by means of protuberances on its lower or internal face that mesh with the corresponding recesses of the transmission (8) to facilitate its movement. This configuration avoids the problems encountered with traditional belts, which require very high tensions to ensure sufficient friction between the belt and the drive roller. This causes any fruit contamination to become compressed in layers onto the pieces around the belt path, causing the belts to deviate from their path, causing additional wear and friction.

Finally, the present invention features quick release means for belt tension and easy belt removal for regular cleaning and maintenance. For cleaning and disinfection purposes, it should be noted that the force required to release the tension on the belt (1) is low. Thus, the present invention allows the belt (1) to be very easily disengaged by lifting the transfer roller (9) and pivoting the transfer assembly (6) upwards to release the belt tension. The belt and surfaces can then be cleaned and disinfected. Furthermore, the drive rollers (4) have a gap (41) between them, which allows the V-belts (1) to be removed without disassembling the drive from the motor (5) to the rollers (4). Traditionally, this cannot be done, so belt maintenance is much more time-consuming.

In conclusion, the practically appreciable advantage of the present invention is a combination of different factors that result in a novel design in this type of conveyor belts for the transfer of fresh fruit and/or vegetables.

Claims

Claims 1. A conveyor belt for the individual transfer of fruit and/or vegetables comprising: two or more loading belts (1) with each pair of adjacent belts arranged in a V; and wherein the loading belts (1) in a V shape are located between the input zone (2) of the fruit and the output zone (3) of the fruit; characterized in that the input zone (2) contains means for propelling the belts (1) comprising at least the following elements: one or more drive rollers (4) located coaxially with a space between two drive rollers (4); one or more drive motors (5) connected by pulleys to at least one drive roller (4); and a transmission (8) of the movement of at least one drive roller (4) to at least one loading belt (1); such that the drive motor (5) activates a drive roller (4) which, through the transmission (8) pushes, from its lower part, at least one loading belt (1), the transmission (8) and the loading belt (1) being meshed together; and because the output zone (3) comprises a set of rollers (6) with one or more transfer rollers (9). 2. The conveyor belt according to claim 1 wherein the transmission (8) meshes in multiple parts around the path of the belt (1), on the inner or lower face thereof, with at least one drive roller (4), at least one belt guide (7) and at least one transfer roller (9). 3. The conveyor belt according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each belt (1) is removable by lifting the transfer roller (9) and rotating the transfer assembly (6) upward to release the tension on the belt (1).