Automatic device for separating products according to external defects, and method for releasing said products

1. An automatic device for separating products on the basis of detected external flaws thereof, that are adapted to be integrated in a processing line of a machine in a fruit processing and packaging plant, the device comprising:

transport elements which transport the products, the transport elements being formed of a set of supporting pads, in which each two successive pairs of supporting pads determine a housing for one said product, and

a mechanism for selective separation and discharge of the products from the transport elements, in which suitable ones of the products are removed onto a first discharge conveyor, and unsuitable, flawed ones of the products are removed onto a second discharge conveyor, the mechanism including a set of retainer elements for radially displacing the products on the first discharge conveyor or the second discharge conveyor in synchronism with movement of the transport elements for the products, upon activation thereof in dependence on a suitable or unsuitable status of the product, the retainer elements movable between:

a first position that permits products which are not flawed to be displaced radially to the first discharge conveyor and

a second position at which the retainer elements support and clamp flawed ones of the products to the transport elements for carrying the flawed ones of the products to a position corresponding to the second discharge conveyor.

2. The device, according to claim 1 , wherein the transport elements include said supporting pads in the form of one of hemispheres and truncated cones with variable sections.

3. The device, according to claim 2 , wherein the supporting pads are made of a rough, foodstuff-quality material.

4. The device, according to claim 1 , wherein the first discharge conveyor for suitable products is arranged at a front of the machine and the second discharge conveyor for unsuitable products is placed transversely at a lower level than the first discharge conveyor.

5. The device, according claim 1 , wherein a set of said retaining elements corresponding with the supporting pads are provided for rotation on a front head of the machine and are located at zones for housing the fruit, each retaining element is activated when the fruit in a position of the respective retaining element has to be rejected, supporting and clamping the fruit to be rejected until it reaches a rejected fruit-discharge position, and not activated when the fruit has to be accepted, allowing it to fall by gravity onto the first discharge conveyor.

6. The device, according to claim 5 , wherein the retaining elements are placed in a distribution assembly, each retaining element having a double cam profile determining a dual route including a first interior circular route, when the fruit is accepted, and an exterior variable route, activated by holding clamps when the fruit is rejected.

7. The device, according to claim 6 , wherein the retaining elements are made up of an extraction guide whose radial rotation position is fixed, and of an extractable body including holding clamps, whose radial position is variable, with a retracted position in which the clamps do not act on the fruit, and an extended position for supporting and clamping the fruit, and the holding clamps press the fruit from one of outside and laterally against the housing made up of the supporting pads through the effect of a spring.

8. The device, according to claim 7 , wherein the holding elements are provided at one end with a hinged portion tending to remain rotated through the effect of the spring in respect of the extractable body when said holding element is located outside the extraction guide, in active position, and forced to remain in an aligned position when said extractable body is inside the extraction guide, in a passive position thereof.

9. The device, according to claim 7 , wherein the extractable body of the retainer elements is provided with a lug which constitutes an item following the cam profile of the distribution assembly, and which, depending on the radial position of said lug in the cam profile, determines the extraction or retraction status of the holding clamps.

10. The device, according to claim 9 , wherein the cam profile comprises an interior circuit and an exterior circuit, and further comprising a guide pawl activated by an electro-mechanical item which goes into a closed position, in which the lug of the extractable body travels through an interior, inactive circuit with no radial displacement, and an open position, in which the lug of the extractable body is forced to follow the exterior circuit with radial displacement and opening of the clamps.

11. The device, according to claim 10 , wherein the distribution assembly comprises a lower arm which defines a displacement stop of the lug, and one of a slot and groove for re-entry of the lugs into the interior circuit.

12. A method for removing products on the basis of external flaws thereof, comprising the steps of:

individual transport of the product in housings made up of pairs of supporting pads, and

separation of one of the products which do not comply with certain parameters by holding said products in their housing by holding clamps during part of outlet travel thereof, preventing the products complying with these parameters from falling by gravity onto a conveyor for collecting the products, and releasing the hold of the products which do not comply with the certain parameters when the product reaches a position of a second conveyor for collecting products which do not comply with those parameters.

13. The device, according to claim 3 , wherein the rough, foodstuff-quality material is rubber.