This invention relates to an apparatus for separating substantially spherical articles from irregular shaped articles such as field peas (which are substantially spherical) from chick peas (which are non-spherical or irregular in shape) .

Following harvesting of peas, it is necessary to separate field peas from chick peas. Generally chick peas are required and the field peas are undesirable. In order to provide good ςπiality product, it is therefore necessary to separate the field peas from the chick peas. Whilst some systems have been proposed for separating field peas from chick peas, the systems have only operated with varying degrees of success.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine which provides better separation of spherical articles such as field peas from irregular shaped articles such as chick peas.

The invention may be said to reside in an apparatus for separating spherical articles from irregular shaped articles, including: a moving means having an extent in a first direction, the moving x-ιeans having a feed end and a discharge end separated from one another in the first direction, the moving means being inclined so that the feed end is, in use, above the discharge end; driving means for driving the moving means in a separation direction which is transverse to the first direction; a guide member extending between the feed end and discharge end of the moving means; and wherein articles to be separated are delivered to the feed end of the moving means so that the spherical

articles roll from the feed end to the discharge end and are guided by the guide means during movement from the feed end to the discharge end and wherein irregular shaped articles move with the moving means in the said separation direction prior to reaching the discharge end to thereby separate the spherical articles from the irregular shaped articles.

Since the irregular shaped articles move in the separation direction away from the guide means before reaching the discharge end, they can be separately collected. The spherical articles can also be separately collected as they reach the discharge end to thereby separate the spherical articles from the irregular shaped articles. The irregular shaped articles move in the separation direction with the moving means due to their irregular shape which provides less tendency for them to roll down the incline from the feed end to the discharge end. The irregular shaped articles are less prone to roll and therefore can be conveyed by the moving means in the separation direction to a separate delivery location.

Preferably the moving means comprises at least one elongate roller.

Preferably the roller is provided with a non-slip or non- shiny surface. In one embodiment, the roller can be provided with a velvet cover.

Preferably the guide means is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the elongate roller.

Preferably the guide means comprises a plurality of trays, each of which is separately movable by a moving mechanism to alter the inclination of the guide means relative to the longitudinal axis of the roller.

Preferably the apparatus includes a plurality of rollers arranged in side by side relationship.

Preferably the apparatus also includes a delivery mechanism for evenly distributing articles to each of the rollers.

Preferably the delivery mechanism comprises a hopper for receiving articles, a paddle in the hopper for rotation about an axis to distribute the articles within the hopper and a plurality of feed chutes extending from the hopper and spaced about the hopper for receiving articles and delivering the articles to respective rollers.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a view along the line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view along the line III-III of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a detailed view of part of the embodiment of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a delivery mechanism used in the preferred embodiment;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the mechanism of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an end view of a further embodiment of the invention showing an array of separators;

Figure 8 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 7; and Figure 9 is an end view showing the drive system for the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is specifically intended to separate field peas from chick peas. Field

peas are generally spherical in configuration, whereas chick peas are more irregularly shaped and have a generally square or box-like appearance. As will be explained in more detail hereinafter, the field peas therefore have a tendency to roll whereas the chickpeas have less tendency to roll and will have a tendency to remain stationary or to roll at a very slow and irregular rate when placed on an incline.

With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the apparatus generally comprises a support frame or mechanism 10, which supports a plurality of elongate rollers 12. Whilst two such rollers 12 are shown in Figure 1, the apparatus could include six or more rollers located in side by side relationship with respect to one another.

The rollers 12 are elongate and in one preferred embodiment, of length approximately three metres and diameter approximately 350 millimetres. The rollers 12 are provided with a generally non-slip or non-shiny coating, such as a velvet cover.

As is best shown in Figure 3, the rollers 12 are inclined with respect to the horizontal so that a feed end 14 is located above a discharge end 16. A motor and reduction gearbox schematically represented by reference numeral 20, drives one of the rollers 12. The other roller 12 may be in contact with the driven roller 12 so that it is driven by the driven roller 12. Alternatively, each of the rollers 12 can be provided with a separate motor or each separately driven by a suitable gear chain or the like from a single motor.

The rollers 12 are therefore driven in a direction of arrows A shown in Figure 1, which represents a separation direction for the irregularly shaped chick peas. The separation direction A is a direction transverse to the

elongate extent of the rollers from the feed end 14 to the discharge end 16 represented by arrow B in Figure 1.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, because the rollers are shown in contact with one another, and one of the rollers drives the other, the rollers rotate in opposite directions so that the separation direction A for each roller is in an opposite direction, but still transfers to the elongate extent of the rollers represented by arrow B.

The frame 10 includes a plurality of cross members 24 which extend transversely across and above the rollers 12 as is best shown in Figure 2. Each cross member 24 is provided with an arcuate slot 26. The arcuate slot 26 extends generally parallel to the surface of the respective roller 12.

As is best shown in Figure 2, a rod 28 extends through the slots associated with each roller 12 and carries a guide member 30. The guide member 30 is formed from a plurality of trays 30', which are more clearly shown in Figure 4. Each tray 30' includes an upper box section 32 which is secured to the rod 28, a generally vertical section 34 and an inclined section 36. The tray 30' adjacent the feed end 14 and the middle tray 30' are provided with overlapped sections 36a, which are an extension of the inclined portion 36 so that when the trays 30' are located adjacent one another as is shown in Figures 1 and 3, the overlap portion 36a overlaps the adjacent tray 30' so that there are no gaps between trays 30' adjacent the rollers 12. The tray 30' adjacent the discharge end 16, is not provided with an overlap portion 36a. Rather, this tray 30' is provided with a cutout 33 (as is best shown in Figure 1) . The purpose of the cutout 33 will be described in further detail hereinafter.

As is also best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the guide member

formed of the trays 30' is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rollers 12. Preferably the guide 30 commences at the feed end 14 at a position below the highest point of the roller 12 (for example at a position of approximately 10 o' clock if the direction of arrow A is always taken as a clockwise direction) and finishes at the discharge end 16 at a position close to the uppermost point of the roller 12 (for example, a position just before 12 o' clock if the direction of arrow A is always taken as a clockwise direction) .

As is clearly shown in Figure 3, although the guide 30 is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rollers 12, the portion of the guide at the feed end 14 is still above the end of the guide 30 at the discharge end 16 so that the guide forms a downward slope from the feed end 14 to the discharge end 16.

Each tray 30' is provided with an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the tray 30' and therefore the inclination of the guide 30 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rollers 12. The adjustment mechanisms comprise levers 40, which are coupled to the rod 38 at each end of each tray, as is best shown in Figures 2 and 4. Each lever 40 is pivotally connected to a control lever 42, which in turn is pivotally connected to a respective cross member 24. By pivoting the levers 42 in the direction of double headed arrow C, the rod 28 is moved back and forward in arcuate slot 26 in the direction of double headed arrow D to therefore adjust the position of the respective tray 30' relative to the rollers 12 and to therefore adjust the inclination of the guide 30 relative to the roller 12.

In order to separate field peas from chick peas, the peas are delivered to the rollers 12 at the feed end 14, through feed chutes 50 and 52. If more rollers 12 are included,

then of course, additional feed chutes are provided. The spherical field peas quickly roll down the inclined guide 30 from the feed end 14 to the discharge end 16 without being carried to any significant extent in the separation direction generally indicated by arrow A with movement of the rollers 12. When the field peas arrive at the discharge end 16, they pass through cutout 33 in the tray 30' adjacent the feed end 16 and fall under the influence of gravity against the rotational direction of the rollers 12 into discharge chute 60 for collection.

The chick peas, which are irregular in shape and have less tendency to roll, are carried forward in the separation direction indicated by arrow A with the movement of the rollers 12 so that they are delivered to the sides 13 of the rollers 12 before they reach the discharge end 14 and fall from the sides 13 under the influence of gravity where they are separately collected.

If the apparatus includes a plurality of rollers 12 such as six or more, it is desired to ensure even distribution of peas to the various rollers for maximum efficiency. In order to achieve even distribution, a delivery mechanism 70, shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be included in the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4.

The delivery mechanism 70 generally includes a hopper 72 which is preferably circular in plan view (Figure 6) and rectangular in cross-section (Figure 5) . The hopper 72 has six discharge outlets 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 and 84 arranged about its periphery. The number of discharge outlets 74 to 84 is intended to match the number of rollers 12 in the apparatus. Thus, if there are more than six rollers or less than six rollers, the number of discharge outlets will correspond to the number of rollers. The discharge outlets 74 to 84 are connected to the feed chutes associated with the rollers 12. For example, the discharge

outlet 84 may be connected to the feed chute 50 shown in Figure 1 and the discharge outlet 74 to the feed chute 52 shown in Figure 1. The other discharge outlets, such as the discharge outlet 76 will be connected to separate feed chutes such as a feed chute 53 which is intended to convey peas to additional rollers not shown in Figure 1.

The hopper 70 includes a shovel shaped paddle 90 which has side walls 92. The paddle 90 is mounted on a shaft 94 which is driven by a motor and gearbox arrangement or pulley system 100. Peas are poured generally centrally into the hopper 70 and rotation of the paddle 90 generally evenly distributes the peas to the discharge openings 74 to 84 for even distribution to the respective feed chutes 50 and 52 etc so that the peas are evenly distributed to the various rollers 12.

In the alternative embodiments (not shown) , the rollers 12 could be replaced by wide continuous belts which are inclined from one side to the other so that spherical peas can roll down the incline and chick peas conveyed by the moving belts to the end of the belt. A guide 30 would be associated with each belt in a similar manner to that shown in Figures 1 to 4.

The rollers 12 are preferably inclined to the horizontal at an angle of about 9°. However, depending on the nature of the articles to be separated, the incline could be greater or smaller.

Preferably the paddle 90 rotates at a speed of approximately 150 rpm.

Preferably the rollers 12 rotate at a speed of approximately 7 to 18 rpm.

Figures 7 to 9 show a second embodiment of the invention.

A support frame 150 is provided which has corner frame posts 152 and side frame struts 154. An array of rollers 12' are arranged within the frame 150 and are supported for rotation in the same manner as previously described. In the embodiment of Figure 7, twenty rollers are arranged in the array.

The frame 150 is completed by upper cross members 157 and side cross members 159. The rollers 12' are journalled in suitable bearings or bushes or the like (not shown) which are coupled to the frame member 150 and supported by the frame member 150.

Arranged below the rollers and supported across frame members 156 and 158 is a collection trough 160. The trough 160 has a lower channel 122 in which an auger 170 is arranged for delivering the chick peas which are moved transversely by the rollers 12' and which fall from the rollers into the hopper 160 to one end of the hopper 164 for collection.

Each of the rollers 12' includes a guide identical to the guide 30 described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The guide is omitted from the drawings in Figures 7 to 9 for ease of illustration.

Figure 9 shows the drive arrangement for the embodiment of Figures 7 and 8. A motor 165 provides drive to a reduction system 171 which in turn drives a sprocket 172. The sprocket 172 is coupled to the auger 170 for rotating the auger 170. Drive is taken from a small sprocket 174 coupled to the auger 170 by chain 176 which passes around a reduction sprocket 178 which applies drive to rollers 12' labelled in Figure 9 by suitable sprockets (not shown) coupled to the rollers 12'. The remaining rollers 12' are provided with a small sprocket 180 as shown in Figure 9 and a plurality of chains 182 are arranged around various ones

of the small sprockets 180 so that drive is transmitted to each of the rollers 12' in the array of rollers. Thereby, all of the rollers are rotated. A plurality of adjustable reduction and tension sprockets 190 are provided to tension the chains 182 and also to provide suitable reduction gearing so that the rollers 12' are rotated at the desired speed.

Figure 8 shows the rollers 12' in a generally horizontal arrangement. As previously described, the rollers are inclined during operation and in order to incline the rollers a jack (not shown) is arranged to alter the inclination of the discharge end 16' of the roller array so that the discharge end is below the feed end 14'. The jack merely lowers the discharge end 16' of the entire frame 50 to incline the rollers 12' .

Rather than have a single motor 165 driving the entire array of rollers 12', a number of motors (not shown) could be provided to drive various groups of rollers 12' . For example, one motor could be used to drive four of the rollers 12' thereby utilising five motors in the array.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiment described by way of example hereinabove.