Alignment conveyor
AssigneePip Innovations B.V.
InventorBart KROEF
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A passive alignment conveyor suitable for elongated bodies including at least one piece of material including an indentation in an alignment direction as an alignment lane, which alignment lane includes at least one slot in the alignment lane in an angle to the alignment direction, at least one means for optical detection, at least one electronic circuit-based control device, wherein least one movable knife mounted shifted from the means for optical detection in the alignment direction, mounted in an angle to the alignment direction and mounted in such a way that it can move within the slot in the alignment lane.
Claims16
1-17. (canceled)
An alignment conveyor suitable for elongated bodies comprising
- at least one piece of material comprising an indentation in an alignment direction as an alignment lane,
- which alignment lane comprises at least one slot in the alignment lane in an angle to the alignment direction,
- at least one means for optical detection for determining the speed of the elongated body on the alignment conveyor,
- at least one electronic circuit-based control device,
- at least one movable knife mounted shifted from the means for optical detection in the alignment direction, mounted in an angle to the alignment direction and mounted in such a way that it can move within the slot in the alignment lane and wherein
- that the at least one alignment lane is sloped.
A method comprising using the alignment for the automatic removal of defects from either whole, peeled or cut vegetables or fruit by identifying a defect by optical inspection which leads to a movement of a movable knife which selectively cuts the French Fries, carrots, cucumbers, zucchinis, bananas, beans, asparagus or salsify roots apart in such a way that the French Fries, carrots, cucumbers, zucchinis, bananas, beans, asparagus or salsify roots are cut selectively at least one time before the defect and one time after the defect leading to the French Fries, carrots, cucumbers, zucchinis, bananas, beans, asparagus or salsify roots being cut into at least three pieces wherein the defect is comprised either in one piece or in several pieces or by chopping thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.