Abstract: An apparatus and system for aligning and packing rollable items such as prolate or spherical fruit; an apparatus to remove a single tray from a stack of trays and method therefor; a wrapper to wrap a tray in plastic film and method therefor; an apparatus to laterally retain a spherical or prolate fruit and method therefor; and an apparatus for aligning a fruit via series of rollers and/or suction heads and a method therefor.

Abstract: An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.

Abstract: An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.

Abstract: An article carrier (100) has a mounting portion (1) adapted for connection to a conveyor. A connecting member (4) is rotatably connected to the mounting portion (1) and is rotatable relative to the mounting portion (1) about a first axis of rotation (R1). A carrier portion (3) is rotatably connected to the connecting member (4) and is rotatable relative to the connecting member (4) about a second axis of rotation (R2), wherein the first axis of rotation (R1) is spaced apart from the second axis of rotation (R2). A releasably lockable carrier support means (5) is provided to support the carrier portion (3) in a carriage position when in a locked state, and to allow rotation of the carrier portion (3) to a discharge position when in an unlocked state.

Abstract: An article carrier (100) has a mounting portion (1) adapted for connection to a conveyor. A connecting member (4) is rotatably connected to the mounting portion (1) and is rotatable relative to the mounting portion (1) about a first axis of rotation (R1). A carrier portion (3) is rotatably connected to the connecting member (4) and is rotatable relative to the connecting member (4) about a second axis of rotation (R2), wherein the first axis of rotation (R1) is spaced apart from the second axis of rotation (R2). A releasably lockable carrier support means (5) is provided to support the carrier portion (3) in a carriage position when in a locked state, and to allow rotation of the carrier portion (3) to a discharge position when in an unlocked state.

Abstract: An article carrier (100) has a mounting portion (1) adapted for connection to a conveyor. A connecting member (4) is rotatably connected to the mounting portion (1) and is rotatable relative to the mounting portion (1) about a first axis of rotation (R1). A carrier portion (3) is rotatably connected to the connecting member (4) and is rotatable relative to the connecting member (4) about a second axis of rotation (R2), wherein the first axis of rotation (R1) is spaced apart from the second axis of rotation (R2). A releasably lockable carrier support means (5) is provided to support the carrier portion (3) in a carriage position when in a locked state, and to allow rotation of the carrier portion (3) to a discharge position when in an unlocked state.

Abstract: An apparatus for the processing of articles (5) is disclosed. The apparatus includes guide means (1) having a body, a first end (2) for receiving articles, and a second end (3) for dispatching articles. The apparatus may be used to transfer articles (5) from a first conveyor means to a second conveyor means with a reduced likelihood of the articles colliding with other articles.

Abstract: An apparatus for the processing of articles (5) is disclosed. The apparatus includes guide means (1) having a body, a first end (2) for receiving articles, and a second end (3) for dispatching articles. The apparatus may be used to transfer articles (5) from a first conveyor means to a second conveyor means with a reduced likelihood of the articles colliding with other articles.

Abstract: A sorting apparatus (1) has a first conveyor (2) with a plurality of cups (4) to receive products such as fruit (3). Moving substantially parallel with the first conveyor (2) is at least a second conveyor (5) having a plurality of discrete product holding compartments or pockets (6). The second conveyor (5) can move in the same or opposite direction to that of the first conveyor (2). The first conveyor (2) is operated so that products (3) are selectively discharged from the first conveyor (2) into respective compartments (6) until a required number of the products having a prescribed characteristic have been received and that pocket (6) can then be moved to the product transfer or emptying point. The characteristic of the product (3) can be for example type, weight, quantity, colour, shape, surface quality and/or density.

Abstract: An article carrier (1) includes a mount (3) for mounting the article carrier to a conveyor. A carrier frame (4) is located over the mount and is movable about a pivot (5) so as to be locatable in a carriage position, in which articles (2) may be supported on the carrier frame (4), and an ejection position, in which articles (2) are ejected from the carrier frame (4). The apparatus further includes a locking member (6); wherein when the carrier frame (4) is located in the carriage position, the locking member (6) is locatable in a first position that prevents movement of the carrier frame (4) about the pivot (5) and is movable into a second position that releases the carrier frame (4), allowing the carrier frame (4) to move about the pivot. When the locking member (6) is located in the first position to prevent movement of the carrier frame, the locking member is not under load. The article carrier (1) may be used as part of a grading apparatus.

Abstract: The characteristics of a product such as fruit are determined by analysing light reflected from or transmitted through the product. A tracking means which in one embodiment has an oscillating mirror and in another a light switching means enables a product to be tracked during its movement. Radiation other than that in the visible spectrum may be used.

Abstract: A multi-stream singulator has two continuously laterally adjacent streams of cups, which carry and advance articles to be graded to a discharge zone. Articles from the discharge zone are received onto a single stream grading conveyor. At least one of the streams of cups of the multi-stream singulator is a partial cup in advance of the other stream so that the items are discharged non-simultaneously at the discharge zone. Optical scanning of the articles is undertaken by a scanner scanning a zone of the singulating conveyor to determine a physical attribute of each article. Means are provided to associate the scanned attribute of each article from the singulating conveyor with its subsequent position on the single stream grading conveyor.

Abstract: The characteristics of a product such as fruit are determined by analysing light reflected from or transmitted through the product. A tracking means which in one embodiment has an oscillating mirror and in another a light switching means enables a product to be tracked during its movement. Radiation other than that in the visible spectrum may be used.

Abstract: A multi-stream singulator has two continuously laterally adjacent streams of cups, which carry and advance articles to be graded to a discharge zone. Articles from the discharge zone are received onto a single stream grading conveyor. At least one of the streams of cups of the multi-stream singulator is a partial cup in advance of the other stream so that the items are discharged non-simultaneously at the discharge zone. Optical scanning of the articles is undertaken by a scanner scanning a zone of the singulating conveyor to determine a physical attribute of each article. Means are provided to associate the scanned attribute of each article from the singulating conveyor with its subsequent position on the single stream grading conveyor.