Method and device for grouping floating objects in batches with hydraulic superposition of the objects
AssigneeMaf Agrobotic
InventorPhilippe BLANC
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for grouping fragile floating objects, such as floating fruits, in batches in at least one accumulation channel. An upstream portion (12) of at least one accumulation channel is supplied with objects transported by a hydraulic current as far as a downstream end of the latter provided with a retaining/releasing device for retaining/releasing the objects. The speed of the hydraulic current is adjusted so as to bring about a hydraulic superposition of the objects retained in a superposition zone of the accumulation channel against the retaining/releasing device which is closed so as to retain the objects.
Claims17
A method for grouping floating objects in batches in at least one channel, called the accumulation channel (11), in which:
- a hydraulic current capable of transporting the objects is formed in each accumulation channel (11),
- an upstream portion of at least one accumulation channel is supplied with objects so that the floating objects are transported by the hydraulic current along the accumulation channel as far as a downstream end (13) of the latter provided with a retaining/releasing device (14) for retaining/releasing the objects,
- each accumulation channel (11) having, at least in a downstream portion of the latter, called the superposition zone (18), a height greater than the maximum overall vertical size of each object so as to be able to receive superposed objects,
- wherein the speed of the hydraulic current formed in at least one accumulation channel (11) is adjusted so as to bring about a superposition of the objects retained in the superposition zone of the accumulation channel (11) against the retaining/releasing device (14) which is closed so as to retain the objects.
A device for grouping floating objects in batches comprising:
- at least one channel, called the accumulation channel (11),
- a hydraulic supply device adapted to form, in each accumulation channel (11), a hydraulic current capable of transporting the floating objects along the accumulation channel,
- an object supply device (10) for supplying objects to an upstream portion of each accumulation channel,
- each accumulation channel being provided, at a downstream end (13) of the latter, with a retaining/releasing device (14) for retaining/releasing the objects which it contains,
- each accumulation channel (11) having, at least in a downstream portion of the latter, called the superposition zone (18), a height greater than the maximum overall vertical size of each object so as to be able to receive superposed objects,
- wherein said hydraulic supply device is adapted to be able to form in each accumulation channel (11) a hydraulic current having at least locally a speed capable of bringing about a superposition of the objects retained in the superposition zone (18) of the accumulation channel (11) against the retaining/releasing device (14) which is closed so as to retain the objects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.