Apparatus for use to check potatoes or similar items

Abstract

An apparatus for use to check potatoes or similar items comprises a feeding device (2) for advancing the potatoes in a plurality of rows, a conveying device (13) adapted to receive the rows of potatoes from the feeding device (2) and advancing them while maintaining the row structure, a camera (42) with associated image processing means for recording and evaluating each individual potato on the conveying device (13), and a sorting device (31) controlled by the image processing means, said sorting device being adapted to sort the potatoes. The conveying device (13) comprises a plurality of substantially horizontal rollers (14, 15), the axes of rotation of said rollers extending parallel to the advance direction (12) of the potatoes. The rollers (14, 15) are rotatably mounted in a support frame (25, 26) and connected with a first driving device (29) for rotating them, said rollers each independently being additionally displaceable in parallel forwards and backwards in a substantially straight line extending in a vertical plane, said plane comprising the axis of rotation of each roller, and inclining somewhat upwards, seen in the advance direction. Finally, the rollers (14, 15) are connected with a second driving device (27) adapted to confer a reciprocating oscillating movement to each roller along said line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.