Oscillating sorting device for grape berries

Abstract

A oscillating sorting conveyor is adapted for separating whole berries of wine grapes from undesirable components such as “shot berries” (immature grapes), stems, raisins, leaf material, bugs, pebbles and the like. The sorter deploys a downward tilting trough that is driven to oscillate. A screen is disposed at the bottom of the trough such that whole berries are conveyed over the screen while the undesirable components pass through the screen. The preferred embodiment of the screen has a non-uniform cross-section to improve the efficiency of removal the undesirable components without clogging or requiring constant maintenance. The preferred embodiment of the oscillating conveyor is driven by a cam and cam follower, in which the cam driving shaft is counterweighted to minimize vibration. The more preferred embodiments minimize damage to the grape berries while efficiently removing the undesirable components.

1 . An oscillating flow separator comprising: 
 a) a support stand,    b) a substantially rectangular trough open at the top and enclosed by three substantially upright sides, said trough being open on one of the shorter sides of the rectangle for dispensing purified solid matter,    c) a screen disposed on the bottom of said trough,    d) four parallel legs connecting said trough to said support stand by rotating pivotal members to allow said trough to oscillate with respect to said support stand wherein the open end of said trough is disposed below the opposite side such that matter to be purified flows over said screen,    e) a motor having an axial shaft mounted on said support stand,    f) a drive belt having a first and second end, the first end wrapped in axial communication with the axial shaft of said motor,    g) a drive shaft mounted on said support stand, wherein the second end of said drive belt is wrapped in axial communication around said drive shaft to rotate said drive shaft via said motor,    h) a cam wheel surrounding said drive shaft wherein the center of gravity thereof is disposed off-axis with respect thereto,    i) a cam follower engaging said cam at a first end and engaging said rectangular trough at a second end via a rotating member wherein said cam follower causes the oscillation of said trough in response to the rotation of said motor,    j) wherein said drive shaft further comprises counterweights disposed there around and displaced off-axis in the substantially the opposite direction as the center of gravity of said cam, whereby the vibration of said support stand is reduced by said counterweights.    
   
   
       2 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 1  further comprising a catch basin disposed below the screen of said substantially rectangular trough.  
   
   
       3 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 2  and further comprising a funnel trough disposed below the screen of said substantially rectangular trough for directing matter separated by the screen into said catch basin.  
   
   
       4 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 2  wherein said catch basis comprises a secondary screen disposed at the bottom thereof.  
   
   
       5 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 4  further comprising a secondary trough disposed below said catch basis for collected liquid separated by said secondary screen.  
   
   
       6 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 4  wherein said secondary trough has a substantially solid bottom surface that tapers toward a drain hole.  
   
   
       7 . An oscillating flow separator comprising: 
 a) a substantially rectangular oscillating trough that comprises: 
 i) a bottom,  
 ii) three substantially upright surrounding sides,  
 iii) an aperture in said bottom,  
 iv) a screen covering said aperture  
 v) wherein one of the shorter sides of said rectangular trough is open and pointed downward to dispense matter purified by the separator.  
   
   
   
       8 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 7  wherein the oscillating trough is tilted such that the open side is lower than the opposite and surrounding side.  
   
   
       9 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 8  wherein the top side of the screen disposed parallel and distal to the open end of the trough is disposed slightly above the bottom of the trough.  
   
   
       10 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 8  wherein the top side of the screen disposed parallel and proximal to the open end of the trough is disposed slightly below the bottom of the trough.  
   
   
       11 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 7  wherein said screen comprises 
 a) a first parallel array of triangular shafts, each shaft oriented so that the sides define an upper plane,    b) a second parallel array of wires cross-connecting and stabilizing said array of triangular shafts,    c) wherein said second parallel array of wires is connected to each of the triangular shafts of said first parallel array near the apex thereof, opposite the side that defines a portion of the upper plane    
   
   
       12 . An oscillating flow separator according to  claim 7  further comprising means to oscillate in said trough along the principle axis thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries in a oscillating shaker, the screen comprising: 
 a) a first parallel array of triangular shafts, each shaft oriented so that the sides define an upper plane,    b) a second parallel array of wires cross-connecting and stabilizing said array of triangular shafts,    c) wherein said second parallel array of wires is connected to each of the triangular shafts of said first parallel array near the apex thereof, opposite the side that defines a portion of the upper plane.    
   
   
       14 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries according to  12  wherein the spacing between the triangular shafts at the upper plane is less than about 0.5 inches  
   
   
       15 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries according to  13  wherein the spacing between the triangular shafts at the upper plane is less than about 0.35 inches  
   
   
       16 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries according to  14  wherein the spacing between the triangular shafts at the upper plane is less than about 0.25 inches  
   
   
       17 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries according to  12  wherein the spacing between wires is about 3 times the spacing between the triangular shafts at the upper plane.  
   
   
       18 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries according to  claim 16  wherein the spacing between wires is about  4  times the spacing between the triangular shafts at the upper plane.  
   
   
       19 . A screen for separating MOG from grape berries according to  claim 18  wherein the spacing between wires is about 6 times the spacing between the triangular shafts at the upper plane.  
   
   
       20 . A process for separating MOG from grapes berries, the process comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a oscillating conveyor having a first section with a sealed bottom and a second section with a screened bottom,    b) initiating the oscillating motion of the conveyer,    c) depositing the mixture of grape berries and MOG on the first section of the conveyor whereby a substantial portion of the MOG is separated from the grape berries by falling through the screen bottom as the mixture is conveyed from the first section of the trough past the second section of the trough.    
   
   
       21 . A process for separating MOG from grapes berries according to  claim 20  wherein said screen comprises; 
 a) a first parallel array of triangular shafts, each shaft oriented so that the sides define an upper plane,    b) a second parallel array of wires cross-connecting and stabilizing said array of triangular shafts,    c) wherein said second parallel array of wires is connected to each of the triangular shafts of said first parallel array near the apex thereof, opposite the side that defines a portion of the upper plane.