Tipping actuator for a conveyor system

摘要

Disclosed are a tipping actuator (80) and a conveyor system. The disclosure notes that conveyors used in grading systems for articles such as fruit include article carriers which discharge the articles. Triggers activated by a solenoid and spring cause the article carrier to tip violently resulting in damaged fruit. The present tipping actuator (80) is shaped to ease contact between the trigger member (83) and the article carriers. The tipping actuator (80) is suitable for use with a conveyor system. The conveyor system comprises a plurality of article carriers moving on an endless conveyor in a conveying direction. Each article carrier has a carrier frame for bearing an article. The carrier frame is pivotally mounted on the article carrier and is operable to tip enabling discharge of the article borne on the carrier frame. The tipping actuator (80) comprises a trigger member (83) and an actuation mechanism. The trigger member (83) has a contact portion for contacting the article carriers. The actuation mechanism is operable to move the trigger member (83) between a non-contact position and a contact position. In the non-contact position, the contact portion is positioned out of the path of the article carriers so as to avoid contact therewith. In the contact position, the contact portion is positioned in the path of the article carriers to make contact therewith and effect tipping thereof away from the trigger member (83). The trigger member (83) comprises upstream (81) and downstream (82) trigger member parts. Each trigger member part (81, 82) is configured to effect tipping of the article carriers if positioned in their path. The upstream trigger member part (81) is able to move into the contact position upon actuation of the actuation mechanism if the downstream trigger member part (82) is constrained from moving into the contact position.