Abstract: The invention relates to a measuring device for multispectral measuring of products, such as vegetables and fruit, a sorting system provided therewith and a method therefor. A measuring device according to the invention comprises a frame provided with transport means for transporting the products, a camera system provided with at least one light source and at least one camera for recording an image at a frequency or frequency spectrum, and a controller operatively connected to the camera system for controlling the camera system, wherein the controller is provided with a data processing system and detection system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filling device (2) for filling a holder with vulnerable products, for instance apples, and a method therefor. The filling device according to the invention comprises: —a main frame (14) provided with an elevator conveyor (4) with a supply side (10) and a filling side (12); —a distributing device (28) connected operatively to the filling side of the elevator conveyor and provided with one or more distributors configured to distribute products over the holder; —height adjusting means (42,44) configured to move the distributing device in the height relative to the holder such that the distributing device is movable in the height during filling of the holder; and—a supply side guide arranged (66,68,70) on the main frame (14) for operation with the height adjusting means and configured to align the supply side of the elevator conveyor with a delivery end of a feed conveyor during a movement of the distributing device in the height.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging device and sorting system (82) for directional packaging of products (P), such as vegetables and fruit, and a method therefore. The packaging device according to the invention comprises: —a sensor system (54) configured to detect a collection of suitable pick-up points; —at least one directing unit (16) configured to direct a product and provided with at least one degree of freedom for rotation of the product around a substantially horizontal rotation axis; and —a manipulator (28) comprising: —a pick-up element (44); and —a moving device (30) comprising at least four degrees of freedom for translation of the product and rotation around a substantially horizontal axis, wherein a rotation of the product around a substantially vertical rotation axis is possibly by means of providing the moving device and/or directing unit with an additional degree of freedom.

Abstract: An eliminator for detecting and removing products, such as vegetables and fruit, which are oversized and/or have undesired product properties, and a singulator and sorting system provided therewith, and a method therefor. The eliminator comprises a feed system for supplying products, a detector configured to determine dimensions and/or product properties of a product of the supplied products, a controller operatively connected to the detector and configured to determine on the basis of determined dimensions and/or product properties of the product whether the product is suitable for processing in a sorting device, and a remover operatively connected to the controller for separating products which are not suitable for processing in the sorting device from products which are suitable for processing in the sorting device.

Abstract: The invention relates to an eliminator for detecting and removing products, such as vegetables and fruit, which are oversized and/or have undesired product properties, and to a singulator and sorting system provided therewith, and method therefor. The eliminator comprises: —a feed system for supplying products; —a detector configured to determine dimensions and/or product properties of a product of the supplied products; —a controller operatively connected to the detector and configured to determine on the basis of determined dimensions and/or product properties of the product whether the product is suitable for processing in a sorting device; and —a remover operatively connected to the controller for separating products which are not suitable for processing in the sorting device from products which are suitable for processing in the sorting device.

Abstract: A filling device and method for filling a container with floating and/or suspended products, in particular for apples and pears. The device has a frame provided with a supply tank fillable with aqueous liquid, and a vacuum chamber for realizing an underpressure in at least a part of the supply tank; immersion means operatively connected to the frame for the purpose of placing the container into or removing the container from the supply tank; and feeder for feeding to the supply tank the aqueous liquid in which the floating and/or suspended products are entrainable. The feeder includes a flow tube or flow channel with which the floating and/or suspended products are carriable into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filling device and method for filling a container with floating and/or suspended products, in particular for apples and pears. The device according to the invention includes: a frame provided with a supply tank finable with aqueous liquid, and a vacuum chamber for realizing an underpressure in at least a part of the supply tank; immersion means operatively connected to the frame for the purpose of placing the container into or removing the container from the supply tank; and feeder for feeding to the supply tank the aqueous liquid in which the floating and/or suspended products are entrainable. The feeder includes a flow tube or flow channel with which the floating and/or suspended products are carriable into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a buffering device and method for buffering products such as apples. The device according to the invention comprises: a liquid; a supply means wherein during use an entry side is operatively connected to a feed channel and an exit side of the supply means is provided below the liquid level in the basin, such that during use products are buffered substantially in vertical direction.

Abstract: A transport device for transporting products and a sorting device provided therewith are disclosed. A transporting method making use of these systems is also disclosed. The transport device according to the exemplary embodiment comprises, a frame engaging means connected to the frame for operatively connecting the transport device to a drive system; and rotatable carrier means connected to the frame for operatively connecting the transport device to a drive system; and a rotatable carrier means connected to the frame for carrying a product, wherein the carrier means is rotatable about a shaft substantially perpendicular to the direction of transport of the product.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for transporting fruits, comprising: a frame; a channel for fluid arranged on the frame for the purpose of transporting the fruits between an entry side and an exit side of the channel; a system for causing circulation of the fluid; and transport influencing means for influencing transport of the fruits and/or the fluid.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for uniformly filling a relatively large container (5) with relatively delicate products, wherein the products are supplied at a first level using a feed conveyor (17), and these products are transferred by means of a guiding device which guides the products in restrained manner from the first level to a second level, wherein at the second level the products are released into a distributing device (3) for distribution in the container. The invention further relates to a guiding device (2) for guiding products from a feed conveyor, comprising: —at least one transfer member (11) comprising means for receiving the products at a speed which can be adjusted to the speed of the feed conveyor, —a guide member (12) which is arranged substantially along a part of the outside of the transfer member for guiding the products in the transfer member.

Abstract: Device for classifying products such as fruits, comprising: a number of product carriers for carrying the products in a transport path of a conveyor with classification outlets, radiating means for irradiating the products, one or more radiation receiving elements for receiving a radiation sample of radiation emitted by the radiating means once it has irradiated the product during transport of the products by the conveyor.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for transporting fruits, comprising: a frame; a channel for fluid arranged on the frame for the purpose of transporting the fruits between an entry side and an exit side of the channel; a system for causing circulation of the fluid; and transport influencing means for influencing transport of the fruits and/or the fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and/or transferring relatively vulnerable products, such as fruits, wherein the fruits are held in grippers while being conveyed and transferred. The grippers comprise a first gripper portion and a second gripper portion, which are movable over sliding elements substantially in the direction in which the gripping force is exerted on the products.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device and method for singulating from a holder with liquid and/or individualizing of products, such as fruits, wherein the device comprises: a discharge conveyor extending above the liquid level in the holder for discharging the products in rows; and a feed conveyor of V-shaped cross-section, the discharge end of which connects onto a front end of the discharge conveyor and which extends at an inclination from this front end to below the liquid level in the liquid holder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for emptying a container filled with products such as agricultural or horticultural products by immersing the container in a basin filled with liquid, causing the products to flow out of the container and lifting the emptied container out of the basin, wherein the container is tilted in the basin and lifted out of the basin in a curved path. In this manner products which do not float, or hardly so, can be offloaded quickly and efficiently without danger of damage. The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing this method. Such an apparatus is provided according to the invention with a basin filled with liquid and means for immersing the filled container in the basin and lifting the container therefrom after offloading of the products, which immersing and lifting means are adapted to perform a combined tilting and translation movement along a curved path during offloading of the products.

Abstract: The packaging of agricultural or horticultural produce requires much manual work, particularly when the stalks of fruits such as apples are all made to point in the same direction and/or when the most attractively colored side is properly presented. The invention relates to and provides a method which can be performed automatically wherein at least one camera recorded images of products are made and the products are packed subject to the recorded images.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for handling agricultural or horticultural products, for instance tomatoes or apples, wherein the products are transported in at least one reservoir filled with water substantially at a transporting level determined by the water surface in accordance with at least one transport path in the direction from a supply to a discharge.In order to reduce the required transporting space the method according to the invention has the feature that in order to buffer products the upper level of at least one product mass is carried by a level adjusting buffering device to a level other than the transporting level.The invention also relates to an apparatus for performing this method.

Abstract: In a product grading apparatus in which the articles are conveyed in trays which are allowed to tilt downwardly at a discharge station to deposit an article onto an inclined chute leading to a support underlying the path of travel of the trays, each tray is provided with a flexible strip which trails down the chute and intercepts an article discharged by a tray and gently guides it to and onto the support.