| 摘要 |
An apparatus for sorting objects or articles of produce according to preselected visually ascertainable criteria. Each object is singulated and transported between adjacent pairs of plural rollers attached to a conveyor chain so as to be freely rotatable on an axis oriented normal to the conveying path. A rotation control surface along the conveying path causes rotation in the rollers and in the object supported therebetween, increasing the surface of the object accessible for optical scanning. Information obtained during scanning is utilized to unload the objects. Pivotally mounted between each pair of rollers below the object transported therebetween is an elongated discharge plate. Each object is unloaded at an appropriate discharge location by pivoting upwardly the discharge plate therebelow. Pivoting of the discharge plate is caused by the activation of a diverter arm at the discharge location. The activated diverter arm directs an orientation control surface attached to the discharge plate onto a ramp adjacent the conveying path. The apparatus involves a single sorter chain having attached thereto a plurality of three parts: rollers, discharge plates, and roller mounts. Rollers and discharge plates are supported on the roller mounts, which are in turn releasably secured to the sorter chain. |
