Patents Assigned to Unitec S.p.A.
  • Patent number: 11370620
    Abstract: A unit for transferring horticultural products between at least one tank, in which the horticultural products float on a fluid mass, and at least one collection container, including a head provided with a plurality of walls normally arranged vertically. The head is movable between at least one collection position, in which the walls are interposed between respective horticultural products, which float on the fluid mass at a respective predefined section of the tank, and at least one unloading position, in which the walls face and are proximate to the collection container. In an active configuration, the transverse elements protrude transversely from the space occupation of the walls to ensure mechanical interference with the fall of the horticultural products as a consequence of the subsequent lifting of the head and of its transfer toward said unloading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventors: Manuel Amadori, Maria Elena Fantoni, Luca Furieri, Marco Marian, Xhoan Papadhimitri, Andrea Zucchelli
  • Patent number: 11369998
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products includes in series at least: a first station, which has first elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products, and at least one vision system, for the acquisition of information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product. A second station includes second elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one device for weighing each horticultural product in transit, and a third station, which includes third elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products. The first elements, the second elements and the third elements are offset along two respective laterally adjacent trajectories for the advancement of the horticultural products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11331695
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products having in series at least: a first station, which includes first elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one vision system, controlled by an electronic control and management unit, for the acquisition of information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product. The apparatus further includes a second station, including second elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one device for weighing each horticultural product in transit, controlled by the electronic unit, and a third station, including third elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products. The second station includes an intermediate unloading assembly, which can be actuated selectively by the electronic unit for the early release of the horticultural products, handled by the second elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11267020
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products, such as blueberries and the like, includes in series at least one station for loading the horticultural products, at least one preliminary checking station, at least one alignment station, for their subsequent advancement aligned on at least one row, at least one viewing station, for acquiring information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product, such as the color, size, shape, sugar content, defectiveness, and the like, at least one distribution station, for sorting the products into uniform subgroups, as a function of the information acquired by the viewing station, and at least one recirculation apparatus for returning, at least to the viewing station, any horticultural products that have not been sorted by the distribution station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11254508
    Abstract: A discrete conveyance unit for blueberries and similar fruit or vegetable products that can be installed in series along a processing line for blueberries, or similar fruit or vegetable products, includes a central plate, which can be moved cyclically along at least one portion of the line. The unit further includes a plurality of axially symmetrical supporting elements which are coupled to respective opposite lateral edges of the plate. Each adjacent pair of elements defines a respective support and accommodation seat for a corresponding blueberry, or similar fruit or vegetable product, so as to allow its discrete conveyance along the at least one portion of the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11213858
    Abstract: A system for processing fruit or vegetable products of the type of blueberries and the like, includes a first unit, in its turn having in series at least one loading station, at least one pre-sizing station, at least one pre-selection station and at least one first alignment station. The system further includes a second unit, in its turn having in series at least one second alignment station, at least one optical sizing station and at least one distribution station. Each of the first unit and the second unit has dimensions and space occupation compatible with its accommodation and transport in a single container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11180324
    Abstract: An unloading apparatus for horticultural products such as blueberries and the like, which are conveyed along a predefined advancement path by respective movement units includes at least one dispenser of pressurized fluid, which can be activated on command during the transit of each product in order to send a jet of the pressurized fluid toward the product and consequently cause its fall from the respective movement unit. The apparatus also includes at least one deflector screen arranged facing and proximate to the dispenser, on the opposite side with respect to the predefined trajectory in order to intercept the products struck by the jet. The screen is inclined so as to define, between its face directed toward the dispenser and a vertical plane that passes through the dispenser, a work angle one and ninety degrees configured for the optimum downward deflection of the products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10624371
    Abstract: apparatus for dispensing mixed beverages obtained by mixing fresh vegetable products that were previously cut into small pieces, ground and frozen before being inserted into the apparatus and kept frozen until they are ready to be used. This apparatus comprises a beverage pickup compartment accessible from outside, a plurality of distinct and separate containers suitable to contain a specific quantity of frozen product, and to selectively distribute a definite quantity of the product contained therein in a mixing station, in which said containers are associated with a respective collecting means to containers toward a respective path that includes said mixing station and a thawing station; the latter is suitable to be positioned either upstream or downstream of said station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10549317
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products, such as blueberries and the like, includes in series at least one station for loading the horticultural products, at least one preliminary checking station, at least one alignment station, for their subsequent advancement aligned on at least one row, at least one viewing station, for acquiring information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product, such as the color, size, shape, sugar content, defectiveness, and the like, at least one distribution station for sorting the products into uniform subgroups as a function of the information acquired by the viewing station, and at least one recirculation apparatus for returning, at least to the viewing station, any horticultural products that have not been sorted by the distribution station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10549318
    Abstract: An assembly for processing fruit and vegetable products includes a plurality of units for containing fruit and vegetable products (A), which can move in sequence along a conveyance line. The assembly includes at least one vision element, arranged along the line and intended at least to check the actual number (N) of containment units on which each product (A) lies and is conveyed along the line, with such actual number (N) being able to depend randomly or otherwise on the size, shape, arrangement and/or method of loading on the line of the respective product (A). Downstream of the element there are at least one first device for weighing a first predefined number (n1) of consecutive containment units and at least one second device for weighing a second predefined number (n2) of consecutive containment units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10421103
    Abstract: An assembly for handling fruit and vegetable products includes first containment units for fruit and vegetable products that can move along a first conveyance and/or control line. The assembly further includes second containment units for horticultural products that can move along a second conveyance and/or control line, which is laterally adjacent and proximate to the first line. The assembly includes a plurality of elements for transferring the horticultural products; such elements are distributed at least along a part of the first line and are selectively actuatable by an electronic management and control unit, for the transfer of each product from a first unit to a respective second unit in a portion chosen from a plurality of different portions of the first line, upon the occurrence of a predefined condition of mutual alignment between the horticultural product to be transferred, which is conveyed by the first unit, and a second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10392145
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to realize an apparatus for automatically and precisely filling single containers in succession with a pre-defined amount of products; each container is filled with two distinct loads of products, wherein the first load is determined according to its weight roughly measured, and the second load is determined numerically based on the difference between said first load and a pre-defined conventional weight; the apparatus comprises a first conveyor, a second conveyor loaded automatically with the products transported by the first conveyor, a third conveyor which is loaded with the agricultural products transported by the second conveyor and that transfers the products poured and present onto it inside a succession of single containers, weighing means able of weighing the total weight of the products on the whole present on the second conveyor, wherein the third conveyor is able of transferring the products poured and present on it in a succession of single containers; there is arra
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10392200
    Abstract: An apparatus for dividing horticultural products, propelled by a fluid for transport from an intake region connected to an upstream station to an evacuation region connected to a downstream station. The apparatus includes a supporting frame for a contoured floor, which is arranged so that a first edge is at said intake region and is arranged so that a second edge, arranged opposite the first edge, is at the evacuation region. The contoured floor includes a plurality of lanes interposed in a parallel arrangement between the regions and have a substantially V-shaped transverse cross-section so as to produce the progressive conveyance and alignment of the horticultural products in transit along the bottom of each lane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10264812
    Abstract: An apparatus for separation of agricultural products, which are normally joined to each other by a stem or the like, includes a conveyor for carrying agricultural products; a plurality of cutting modules positioned above the conveyor, each having a plurality of blades spaced along a rotating shaft, the shafts of the respective cutting modules being parallel to one another and orthogonal to the direction of movement of the conveyor; a positioning ramp associated with each blade; and a mechanism for simultaneously adjusting the height of the cutting modules above the conveyor to thereby enable the apparatus to effectively process agricultural products of varying sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10252297
    Abstract: An apparatus for selecting horticultural products includes an intake section leading to at least one passage lane defined by a pair of mutually close stems rotatably supported by a support and movement assembly and are interposed longitudinally between the intake section and a discharge section. between the pair of stems, kept inclined downward from the intake section to the discharge section, a longitudinal slot is disposed that can be crossed exclusively by debris and horticultural products having dimensions that are smaller than the width of the slot. The assembly includes a drive unit meshing with an end portion of each stem proximate to the intake section and elements for the free support of an end portion of each stem proximate to the discharge section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10093490
    Abstract: Method for the transportation and weighting of each of a continuous succession of agricultural products comprising a singling device with a plurality of pockets linearly arranged and on a rectilinear motion in translation along a parallel direction to the alignment line of the pockets, wherein the products are grasped in a drawing station by means of a first transferring means provided with gripping devices (grippers) opening downside and transferred to a release station wherein they are placed onto a second transferring means, wherein said gripping devices grasp in succession the products arranged on said singling device and wherein during the transportation onto the first transferring said products are singly weighed; said gripping means and the respective products are subjected to, in said first transferring means, a translation and to sequential and ordered distribution along two or more distinct and parallel alignment axes; said second transferring means comprises a plurality of movable conveyors paralle
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Publication number: 20170347690
    Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing mixed beverages obtained by mixing fresh vegetable products that were previously cut into small pieces, ground and frozen before being inserted into the apparatus and kept frozen until they are ready to be used. This apparatus comprises a beverage pickup compartment accessible from outside, a plurality of distinct and separate containers suitable to contain a specific quantity of frozen product, and to selectively distribute a definite quantity of the product contained therein in a mixing station, in which said containers are associated with a respective collecting means to containers toward a respective path that includes said mixing station and a thawing station; the latter is suitable to be positioned either upstream or downstream of said station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 7, 2017
    Applicant: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca BENEDETTI
  • Publication number: 20170247198
    Abstract: Method for the transportation and weighting of each of a continuous succession of agricultural products comprising a singling device with a plurality of pockets linearly arranged and on a rectilinear motion in translation along a parallel direction to the alignment line of the pockets, wherein the products are grasped in a drawing station by means of a first transferring means provided with gripping devices (grippers) opening downside and transferred to a release station wherein they are placed onto a second transferring means, wherein said gripping devices grasp in succession the products arranged on said singling device and wherein during the transportation onto the first transferring said products are singly weighed; said gripping means and the respective products are subjected to, in said first transferring means, a translation and to sequential and ordered distribution along two or more distinct and parallel alignment axes; said second transferring means comprises a plurality of movable conveyors paralle
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: UNITEC S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luca BENEDETTI
  • Publication number: 20170240308
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to realize an apparatus for automatically and precisely filling single containers in succession with a pre-defined amount of products; each container is filled with two distinct loads of products, wherein the first load is determined according to its weight roughly measured, and the second load is determined numerically based on the difference between said first load and a pre-defined conventional weight; the apparatus comprises a first conveyor, a second conveyor loaded automatically with the products transported by the first conveyor, a third conveyor which is loaded with the agricultural products transported by the second conveyor and that transfers the products poured and present onto it inside a succession of single containers, weighing means able of weighing the total weight of the products on the whole present on the second conveyor, wherein the third conveyor is able of transferring the products poured and present on it in a succession of single containers; there is arra
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: UNITEC S.p.A.
    Inventor: Luca BENEDETTI
  • Publication number: 20170233201
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to improve the efficiency of an apparatus for palletizing which serves a plurality of conveyors transporting respective successions of cases, realising a storage means on the unloading area of each conveyor, so that during the period of storage of the cases coming from the same conveyor, the palletizer is transferred in correspondence of another conveyor wherein the respective storage has already been completed, so as to use a sole palletizer for a plurality of distinct conveyors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca BENEDETTI