The present invention relates to a sheet remover with which it is possible to remove protective sheets from a water channel. Such protective sheets are often used in practice for storage, processing and sorting of fruit which is stored and supplied in crates or other containers. The bottom of the box or container is usually provided with such a protective sheet of, for instance, plastic material in the form of a foil or foam. The protective sheets serve to prevent the fruit being damaged. By immersion and/or tilting of the box or container during emptying thereof, such a protective sheet ends up in the water channel.

In practice, it is customary to manually remove protective sheets that move from a holder into a water channel at the start of a sorting process. This is quite labor intensive. In addition, in practice it has been found that protective sheets sometimes remain completely or partially under water, for instance because fruit or other products are positioned on the top side of the protective sheet and, therefore, presses this sheet under water. As a result, it is possible that not all sheets are removed from the water channel, which can lead to problems during the further sorting process.

The object of the present invention is to provide a sheet remover with which protective sheets can be removed from a water channel in a reliable and effective manner, even if such protective sheets have ended up wholly or partly under the water surface.

This object is achieved with the sheet remover of the present invention for removing protective sheets from a water channel, the sheet remover comprising:

- a frame;

- a number of shafts and/or rollers arranged in or on the frame; and

- a number of carrier elements which are movable around the shafts and/or rollers for taking a protective sheet out of the water channel, wherein the carrier elements are configured to move at least partially in the water when in use and, upon contact with a protective sheet, to take the protective sheet from the water canal.

Protective sheets are often provided on the bottom of a container for products, in particular for fruit, vegetables or other products. The protective sheets are usually made of a plastic material, such as a foil or a foam. It will be clear that other materials for protective sheets, such as paper and the like, can also be used.

The sheet remover according to the invention is provided with a frame that can preferably be placed at or on a sorting line or components thereof. The sheet remover can preferably be placed as a module on or in a water channel of a sorting line. The frame can herein be provided with connecting elements to simplify placement on or in the water channel. This also allows the use of the sheet remover in sorting systems already in place. According to the invention, the sheet remover is provided with a number of shafts and/or rollers, including, for example, pulleys and other suitable elements.

Carrier elements are provided for and/or around these elements. Such carrier elements can be designed in various ways, for instance with belts, ropes, chains, optionally provided with separate carriers. The carrier elements are able to take protective sheets from the water and take them with them in a direction out of the water channel. In use, the carrier elements move at least partially in the water that is present in the water channel. This ensures that protective sheets can also be removed from a water channel that have ended up wholly or partially under the water surface, for instance with one or more products thereon.

In a presently preferred embodiment, the carrier elements comprise a number of ropes or belts, whereby, within the scope of the invention, by ropes or belts are also understood other wire shaped elements. Such ropes or belts have the additional advantage that they are relatively easy to move in a water channel and do not unnecessarily damage the products.

In the sheet remover according to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, a reversing roller is further provided, which is configured to reverse the entrained protective sheet, after which the protective sheet releases from, for example, the strings or belts and can be discharged by means of a discharge mechanism. In particular, this reversal of the protective sheet during the removal process has proved to be particularly advantageous and results in a reliable and effective removal process of protective sheets from a water channel. This also applies to protective sheets that have been completely or partially submerged in water, even if products are located on the top side of the protective sheet so that the protective sheet is fully or partially pushed under water. This provides reliable removal of protective sheets from a water channel.

In addition, it is possible with the sheet remover according to the invention to carry out the removal of the protective sheets from a water channel in an automatic manner. This further reduces labor input during a sorting process. It also has the advantage that the number of faults on a sorting line can be reduced, so that the sorting process can proceed unhindered.

By making use of carrier elements, preferably in the form of circumferential ropes or belts, in addition to the effective removal of the sheets, relatively low-noise removal is also made possible. It has been found that such a remover that uses a substantially mechanical removal by moving/running around belts over belts over a number of shafts or rollers produces only a small amount of noise, certainly when compared to other possible applicable principles, for example on the basis of one or more nozzles or manual removal. A further advantage of the sheet remover according to the invention is that it can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner and is therefore suitable for use in practice.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the sheet remover comprises a remover configured to remove products from the sheet remover. By providing a remover, the removal of products such as fruit from the protective sheets is even improved further. This in particular prevents products from being entrained from the water channel in an undesirable manner. The remover can be designed in various ways, for instance as a brush or brush element, bracket, (soft) roller and the like. A brush or brush element has the additional advantage that damage to the products is even further avoided.

The carrier elements, such as ropes or belts, are preferably provided at such a mutual distance that a product can move between such adjacent driving elements, such as ropes or belts, and can move further in the desired direction in the water channel. Such a mutual distance is, for example, twice the maximum diameter of the products concerned. It will be clear that other mutual distances are also possible, partly depending on the dimensions of the protective sheets. By providing several carrier elements next to each other at the said mutual distance, a good support of the protective sheets from the water channel is made possible, such that they can be effectively removed from the water channel. This prevents, for example, the protective sheet from slipping back or sliding back into the water channel. In addition, this further enhances the reliability of the sheet remover according to the invention.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the sheet remover is provided with a discharge mechanism, for instance a discharge belt or shearing device, with which a protective sheet with the reversing roller can be discharged.

By providing a discharge mechanism, protective sheets carried along from the water channel can be effectively discharged by the sheet remover. In a currently preferred embodiment, a discharge belt is provided substantially in a transverse direction to the direction of flow through the water channel, such that an entrained protective sheet is relatively easy to discharge. An additional advantage is that in this way the protective sheets are fully, or at least partially, automatically removable and disposable.

In an advantageous embodiment according to the invention, at least one of the shafts and/or rollers is arranged on or near a bottom of the water channel.

By arranging at least one of the shafts and/or rollers on or near the bottom of the water channel, it is achieved that the ropes or belts also run close to the bottom of the water channel. The shaft and/or roller arranged at or near the bottom of the water channel can be located in the water channel, in and/or on the bottom, or under the bottom of the water channel with the carrier elements being carried through the bottom of the water channel, or combinations thereof. Because the entraining elements subsequently move out of the water channel in an at least slightly upward direction, any protective sheets are carried along from the water channel. In such an embodiment, protective sheets which have even fallen completely under water can be carried along in an effective manner and still be removed from the water channel. The reliability of the sheet remover according to the invention is thus increased still further. In a further advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the sheet remover comprises a detector configured to detect a protective sheet and/or products in the water channel.

By providing such a detector for detecting a protective sheet and/or products in the water channel, it can be effectively detected whether the sheet remover should take action to remove any protective sheets from the water channel. This makes it possible to activate the sheet remover if necessary or desired so that the sheet remover is prevented from being active when it is not needed.

Preferably, for activating/controlling the sheet remover, a controller is operatively connected to such a detector, such that the actuation of the sheet remover is possible in an automatic and effective manner. In addition, or as an alternative, the controller can also be operatively connected to a so-called dumper, with which it is possible to bring containers with products into a water channel in a fully or partially automated manner.

The use of the activation of the sheet remover is hereby linked to the (possible) presence of protective sheets in the water channel, so that the sheet remover does not have to operate unnecessarily.

In a further advantageous embodiment according to the invention, the sheet remover comprises a tensioning mechanism for tensioning the carrier elements, such as the ropes or belts.

By providing a tensioning mechanism, the operation of the sheet remover according to the invention can also be effectively maintained over time. For instance, it is possible to use the tensioning mechanism after some time to keep the carrier elements, such as ropes or belts, at the desired tension, so that the sheets can be effectively carried away from the water channel. If desired, it is possible to adapt the tension on the carrier elements to the relevant products in the water channel and/or the type or type of protective sheets used.

The invention further relates to a sorting line for sorting products, such as vegetables or fruit, comprising a skin remover in an embodiment as described above.

Such a sorting line provides similar effects and advantages as described for the sheet remover.

The invention further also relates to a method for removing protective sheets from a water channel, the method comprising the steps of:

- providing a sheet remover or providing a sorting line thereof in an aforementioned embodiment;

- emptying a container with products into a water channel or water basin; and

- removing one or more protective sheets from the water channel with the sheet remover.

Such method provides similar effects and advantages as described for the sheet remover and/or sorting line.

It has been found that protective sheets can be removed from a water channel in an effective and efficient manner with the method according to the invention. A protective sheet that has been carried along is preferably turned over with a reversing roller so that it can be removed effectively from the strings or belts. Preferably, such a protective sheet is placed on a discharge mechanism after reversal, for example a discharge belt, such that the protective sheet is discharged.

In a possible embodiment according to the invention, the method comprises activating the sheet remover with a controller and a drive when emptying a container or holder with products.

In a further or combined embodiment, the method comprises detecting a protective sheet or product with a detector. This makes it possible to activate the sheet remover if desired and/or necessary, such that unnecessary operation of the sheet remover is avoided. This benefits, among other things, the lifespan of the sheet remover.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiment thereof, wherein reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 : a view of the sheet remover according to the invention; and

FIG. 2: a (partial) view of a sorting line provided with a sheet remover according to the invention.

Sheet remover 2 (figure 1) is provided with frame 4 which can be arranged via connections 6 in, on, or between elements of a sorting line, in particular in water channel 8 thereof. Water channel 8 is provided with bottom 10 and two side walls 12 in which water can be brought up to height H.

In the illustrated embodiment, reversal shaft, or another one or more reversing elements 14, are provided on or on bottom 10 of water channel 8. Ropes or belts 16, which function as carrier elements, rotate around shaft or elements 14. In this illustrated embodiment, five endless ropes or belts 16 are provided which are successively guided from return elements 14 via a reversing roller 17 applied in the illustrated embodiment on shaft 18, then via shaft 20 with pulleys or rollers 22, and shaft 24 with pulleys or rollers 26, towards shaft 28 in direction A. In the illustrated embodiment, shaft 20 is provided with drive 32 for running ropes or belts 16. It will be understood that, in addition or as an alternative, drive 32 can also engage other shafts. It is also possible to adapt the number of shafts 14, 18, 20, 24, 28 to specific dimensions of sheet remover 2, water channel 8 and/or the type and dimensions of the products to be processed.

In the illustrated embodiment, sheet remover 2 is furthermore provided with brush 34 which is arranged on brush shaft 36 in order to thereby avoid undesirable carrying of products. In the illustrated embodiment, brush shaft 36 coincides with shaft 28, and brush 34 functions as a roller element for rotating ropes or belts 16. It will be clear that it is also possible to provide shafts 28, 36 separately.

If desired, it is possible for the surfaces of brush 34 and reversing roller 17 to be in contact with each other when in use, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. Optionally, tensioning means 38 is furthermore provided, schematically shown in the illustrated embodiment, with which, if desired, reversing roller 16 can be displaced over a tensioning distance in order to adjust the tension in ropes 16 therewith. In the illustrated embodiment, strings 16 are provided at a mutual distance d, such that products can move between strings 16.

Sorting line 40 is provided with water channel 8 in which, in the illustrated embodiment, sheet remover 2 is arranged in an integrated manner (figure 2). Sorting line 40 is further provided with dumper frame 42 with which products in holder 44 can be supplied to water channel 8. Protective sheets 46 can be removed in a relatively simple manner from water channel 8 by means of sheet remover 2, and in the illustrated embodiment these are subsequently discharged in a substantially lateral direction with discharge belt 48 driven by drive 49. Detector 50 is optionally provided, which is operatively connected to drives. 32, 49, possibly via a separate controller (not shown).

Products supplied with holder 44 are brought into water channel 8 by means of dumper 42. Here, protective sheets 46 also end up in water channel 8. Optionally, sheet remover 2 is activated by dumper 42 and/or by means of detector 50. By movement of strings 16 in direction A, protective sheets 46 are picked up from water channel 8 and removed from water channel 8 by means of reversing roller 17, such that protective sheet 46 is turned over and falls off ropes or belts 16 and lands on discharge belt 48. Discharge belt 48 discharges protective sheet 46 in a substantially lateral direction so that products can continue undisturbed and can move through space d in water channel 8 to enable further sorting of these products. Tension in strings 16 is preferably adapted to the respective application, whereby optionally use can be made of tensioning means 38 which can engage on one or more shafts of sheet remover 2. Any products that are carried upwards with protective sheet 46 are in the illustrated embodiment returned with brush 36 and brought back into the water of water channel 8 so that they move further in the sorting process.

The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The requested rights are determined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications can be achieved. For example, it is possible to dispense with reversing roller 17 and to remove protective sheets 46, for example, with a shearing mechanism from carrier elements 16.