Patent Application
20230124620
The present invention is in the field of a multiple carrier-gondola machine comprising modules for transferring objects, a machine for transferring objects comprising at least one module, which may be used for various applications. An example of such an application is harvesting of vegetables.
Modules for transferring objects, such as for harvesting vegetables provided in rows, packaging machines, pick-and-order machines, pick-and-place machines, surface mount technology component placement systems, and postal selection and sorting machines, are widely used. These machines are typically provided with robotic components or the like. They can be used for high speed, high precision placing of a broad range of components, such as electronic components, for moving selected items/objects to a further location, for harvesting, and so on.
A disadvantage of such machines is that typically operation is performed in a static mode, that is the machine is at a given location, components/elements are at a second location, and the machine transfers to component/element to a second location. The second location may also be a position aside a conveyor belt carrying the object, which aside position may be a further conveyor belt. When the machine operates in less static conditions, typically relating to moving objects, or moving relative to a first position, precision and speed may be hampered.
The present inventors have developed a machine for harvesting vegetables, which is shown in WO 2019/098827 A2. Said machine functions as expected, harvesting more than a million asparagus per module in 3-4 months' time, with minimal wear and maintenance, but the present invention provides improvements to said machine.
As background art the following documents may be mentioned: CN 106 233 925 A, CN 109 429 700 A, and EP 3 498 076 A1 recite alternative modules with linear actuator. WO 2012/148278 A1 recites a module with endless driving means having carriers mounted thereon.
The present invention therefore relates to an improved module, and a machine comprising such a module, for no-static conditions, which solves one or more of the above problems and drawbacks of the prior art, providing reliable results, without jeopardizing functionality and advantages.
It is an object of the invention to overcome one or more limitations of the devices of the prior art and to improve modules and machines thereof. In a first aspect the present invention relates to a module 100 for transferring objects, typically in a repetitive mode, and typically in an intermittent mode, such as moving these objects in a horizontal and/or vertical direction, comprising a frame 10 with a longitudinal axis, i.e. the machine typically is longer than wide, at least one first rotation system 20 comprising at least one individually operable rotator 21, each rotator connected to the rotation system, at least one carrier 30, each carrier connected to a rotator, preferably removably connected, wherein per rotator more than one carrier may be connected, such as 2-4 carries, preferably 2-20 carriers, the rotation system adapted to rotate the carrier, each carrier individually comprising a gondola 40, wherein said gondola is adapted to move within the carrier in a direction perpendicular to a movement of the carrier, wherein the gondola optionally also may rotate with respect to a suspension point, thereby providing movement which may be regarded as movement in an x-direction, per gondola an individually operable gondola driver 41 for moving the gondola within the carrier, each gondola comprising at least one object transferrer 42, wherein each rotator is individually operable for rotating the carrier along a continuous track 60, wherein said track comprises two substantially linear track parts 61 and two curved track parts 62 in between said two linear parts, which track may therefore be considered as “oval”-shaped, wherein said two substantially linear track parts are spaced apart and parallel to said longitudinal axis, which therefore provides two times a movement in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (which may be regarded as the y-direction), once advancing, and once reversing, at least one controller for controlling the individually operable rotator 21 and the gondola driver 41 such that a gondola is at a given position at a given time, the give position typically being a fixed position in a “space”, hence having a constant x,y,z, with respect to a location on earth, typically during a period of time, and at least one driving system 22 for driving the first rotation system and moving the gondola. In important part of the at least one first rotation system 20 is the at least one individually operable rotator 21, which in itself may already provide sufficient stability and accuracy. A track part 61 of a track 60 at a side where the gondola moves in a direction perpendicular to a movement of the carrier is considered most important, as it provides e.g. additional stability and accuracy to the present module. Therewith a rather generic module is provided which is suited for a large variety of functions, and which may be further adapted. The present module can for instance be used to move objects from a conveyor belt or the like, as the carrier may be provided with a speed substantially equal to the conveyor belt, and the gondola can then be used to move the objects, such as from the conveyor belt. The module can be used in a similar fashion on a vegetable harvesting machine. An example of such a harvesting machine is provided in WO 2019/098827, which document and its contents are incorporated by reference. So a simpler module is provided, which still provides reliable results under non-static conditions.
In a second aspect the present invention relates to a machine for transferring objects comprising at least one module according to the invention, typically comprising 2-50 modules.
Advantages of the present description are detailed throughout the description.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module it may comprise at least two first rotation systems 20 each comprising at least one individually operable rotator 21, preferably 3-24 rotators 21, more preferably 4-12 rotators 21, such as 6-8 rotators 21.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module per carrier two rotators 21 may be provided, wherein the two rotators are coupled to the carrier above/below one and another, respectively. Such provides improved stability, especially during movement, and in particular during acceleration or deceleration.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module at least n carriers 30 are coupled to the same rotator 21, wherein n is two or more, preferably coupled 360/n degrees out of phase, preferably removably coupled. With one rotator more than one carrier can be operated, typically in an “frequency” mode.
In an exemplary embodiment the present module may comprise a feedback loop 70 for spatially cycling each carrier 30 from a back side to a front side of the frame 10 and from a front side to a back side of the frame 10.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the object transferrer 42 may be a tongs. Said tongs may grip an object, such as at a first location, and transfer it, such as to a second location.
In an exemplary embodiment the present module may comprise a carrier guidance 50, wherein the carrier guidance 50 may be adapted to move at a constant or zero speed.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the frame 10 may comprise at least one passage 14 for allowing rotation of the at least one carrier 30 in a cyclic manner.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola may comprise an object transferrer 42 movable in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, in a vertical direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and combinations thereof. Hence the present design provides a high amount of flexibility for moving gondolas around.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola and/or the object transferrer 42 is rotatable along a first axis, and/or the gondola and/or the object transferrer 42 is rotatable along a second axis, therewith providing even more degrees of freedom.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the rotator 21 may be selected from a belt, a chain, a toothed belt, and combinations thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola driver may be selected from a belt, a chain, a toothed belt, and combinations thereof.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola driver may be provided eccentric in the frame, such as 10-80% closer to a side of the frame where the gondola is adapted to move in a direction perpendicular to a movement of the carrier.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the at least one controller may comprise a closed loop, such as a feedback loop. Therewith, for instance when the present machine is moving at a speed of 1 m/sec, the accuracy of positioning the gondola is increased dramatically. The prior art system of WO 2019/098 827 A2 already was quite accurate at somewhat lower speeds, but at a speed of 1 m/sec the accuracy of positioning the gondola was about ±5 cm, whereas with the present system an accuracy of about ±1.5 mm is achieved.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the at least one controller may be adapted to move the gondola in a position closer to the frame as the carrier is in at least one of the two curved track parts in between said two linear parts, preferably in a position closest to the frame.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola driver and/or rotator may be provided with a gear.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the carrier and gondola may be adapted to lock in with the gondola driver in one of the two curved track parts.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module may comprise a calibration unit, preferably a calibration unit per carrier and gondola.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola may be adapted to move at a speed v2 larger than a speed v1 of the carrier when the carrier left one of the two curved track parts and enters one of the two linear parts, wherein the gondola is adapted to move at a speed v2 equal to a speed v1 of the carrier when the carrier is in a mid-section of the one of the two linear parts, and wherein the gondola is adapted to move at a speed v2 smaller than a speed v1 of the carrier when the carrier leaves the one of the two linear parts and enters the second of the two curved track parts.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present module the gondola and carrier may be adapted to transfer an object within 2 secs, preferably within 1500 msecs, such as within 1200 msecs.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine it may be selected from harvesting machines, such as for harvesting vegetables provided in rows, such as asparagus, from packaging machines, such as for parcels, from pick-and-place machines, from surface mount technology component placement systems, from pick-and-order machines, from non-static machines, and from postal selection machines. The machine and method can in principle also be used for similar plants, especially Asparagaceae species in general, such as the genus of Asparagus, such as Asparagus officinalis, such as the genus of Ornithogalum, such as Ornithogalum pyrenaicum, and Cichorioideae species, such as Tragopogon, and Scorconera. Also other vegetables, such as of the Brassicaceae family.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine the gondola may be a cutting module comprising an tongs 43 for grasping an individual vegetable, a cutter 44, a vegetable locator 45, and wherein the cutting module is movably located in the carrier allowing movement in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine it may comprise a movable frame 10, the movable frame 10 comprising a motor 11 and wheels 12, a speed controller 13, and optionally at least one continuous track 16.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine it may comprise a central bottom passage 15 for allowing free movement of the machine over a row of vegetables.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine it may comprise a controller 35 for controlling the at least one carrier and gondola, frame speed, and feedback loop speed.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine it may comprise at least one location sensor 80, such as an optical sensor, for detecting an individual vegetable.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine it may comprise wherein the cutter comprises a vertical holder 47, such as a rod, a knife blade 48, and a knife blade protector 49, wherein the knife blade is adapted to rotate in a horizontal plane for cutting the individual vegetable.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present machine the vegetable locator 45 may comprise at least two horizontally rotatable tactile sensors 45a spaced apart at a distance of 1-10 cm, and oriented in a tapered geometry, such that a vegetable can be located.
The invention will hereafter be further elucidated through the following examples which are exemplary and explanatory of nature and are not intended to be considered limiting of the invention. To the person skilled in the art it may be clear that many variants, being obvious or not, may be conceivable falling within the scope of protection, defined by the present claims.
a-c show certain aspects of the present machine and module.
In the figures:
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025474 | Apr 2020 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2021/050281 | 4/29/2021 | WO |
