Sorting table with sorter rolls for elimination of foreign matter remaining mixed in a harvest of small fruit

Abstract

Sorting table with sorter rolls eliminates foreign matter remaining mixed in with the products of the harvest of small fruit. The present invention features a sorting system constituted by a succession of rotating rolls of cylindrical shape arranged in parallel so as to form a mobile sorting plane, and a locomotion device, allowing the rotating drive of the rolls in the same direction, so as to allow transporting the grapes dumped on the upstream part of this sorting plane, in a direction that is perpendicular to the axis of the rotating cylindrical rolls and over the entire length of the sorting plane. The rotating cylindrical rolls are laid out so as to allow the passage and drop-off of only the small fruit to be sorted, whereas the foreign matter of a size larger than that of the latter remains on the surface of the mobile sorting plane and is evacuated at the downstream end of it.

1 . Sorting table with sorter rolls for the elimination of foreign matter remaining mixed in with harvest of small fruit, the table comprising:
 a plurality of rotating rolls of a general cylindrical shape, being adjacent and arranged in parallel so as to form a sorting plane;   a plurality of driving means for rotating movement of the rolls in a same direction, and lateral movement from an upstream part of said sorting plane, in a direction perpendicular to an axis of said rotating rolls, said lateral movement being over an entire length of said sorting plane, said rotating rolls being immobilized in translation and fitted with a number of openings between adjacent rolls.   
     
     
         2 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 1 , wherein the rolls present a succession of circular reliefs separated by circular grooves, said circular grooves being comprised of a median circular crest or ridge joining each other at a root of the grooves by a concave surface, said rotating rolls being so positioned that the circular grooves form, together with the circular grooves of the adjacent roll, a number of openings. 
     
     
         3 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 2 , wherein the circular reliefs of each sorter roll are slightly offset in relation to the circular reliefs of the adjacent roll, having adjacent edges partially engaged in the grooves of said adjacent roll. 
     
     
         4 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 2 , wherein the circular reliefs of the sorter rolls ( 2 ) are peripherally provided with spaced stubs, notches or humps. 
     
     
         5 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 2 , wherein the circular grooves of the rolls are provided with angularly spaced flutes. 
     
     
         6 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a succession of rotating feeder-cleaner rolls of cylindrical shape, arranged in parallel upstream of the sorter rolls, the feeder-cleaner rolls being kept in rotation in the same direction as the sorter rolls and featuring a succession of circular reliefs separated by circular grooves, the rotating feeder cleaner rolls being immobilized in translation and positioned so that the corresponding circular reliefs are imbricated in the grooves of the adjacent roll, with a gap between interpenetrating parts of the adjacent rolls.   
     
     
         7 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 6 , wherein the circular reliefs of the rolls and the feeder cleaner rolls in the upstream part of the sorting plane, are peripherally provided with spaced stubs or notches or humps. 
     
     
         8 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 1 , wherein the rolls are installed in a removable and interchangeable manner on a bearing structure. 
     
     
         9 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 2 , wherein the circular reliefs and the circular grooves of the feeder cleaner rolls and the sorting rolls are comprised of rollers successively threaded on a support bar, each roller featuring a circular relief and a circular half-groove positioned on each site of said circular relief, the circular grooves being formed by junction of two adjacent rollers. 
     
     
         10 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 9 , wherein the rollers forming the rolls of the sorting table are installed in a removable and interchangeable manner in a respective support bar. 
     
     
         11 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 9 , wherein the rollers are threaded on the respective support bar and are coupled in rotation with each other by notches and complementary lateral arc-shaped slots of the rollers, being immobilized in translation on the support bar. 
     
     
         12 . Sorting table with sorter rolls according to  claim 9 , wherein one of end of the support bar is mounted by an axis axially mobile and engaged in a retractable manner in an axial bore of said end, the retractable axis being subjected to action of a spring expanding to keep engagement with the bore. 
     
     
         13 . Machine for harvesting small fruit, in particular a grape-picking machine, comprising:
 a sorting table with rolls according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         14 . Machine for harvesting small fruit, in particular a grape-picking machine, according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plurality of receiving bins, said sorting table with rolls being positioned above an upper opening of said or bins.   
     
     
         15 . Machine for harvesting small fruit, in particular a grape-picking machine, according to  claim 14 , wherein the sorting table is mounted and tiltable through intermediary of one of side thereof on a subjacent receiving bin. 
     
     
         16 . Machine for harvesting small fruit, in particular a grape-picking machine, according to  claim 13 , wherein the sorting table is built in two parts, namely a downstream part and an upstream part, said downstream part being mounted in a tiltable fashion, said upper opening of a subjacent receiving bin being retracted and assessed.