FR2998272A1 - Installation unit for transporting and laying down object e.g. fruit or vegetable, during packaging, has controller controlling first and second feed conveyors, and sensors detecting objects transported by first and/or second conveyer - Google Patents

Abstract

The installation unit (100) has a first feed conveyor for supporting and conveying small cages from an unstacking device of a small cage (10) till a packing position in which cells of the small cage are located in a lower part of a laying down position of objects. The first feed conveyor, a second feed conveyor (1) and an actuation of a holding unit (5) are controlled by a controller i.e. programmable controller, in a different manner according to number and/or arrangement of the cells of the small cage. Sensors detects the objects transported by the first and/or second conveyer.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging plant comprising the transport and removal, in a crate, of objects of size and / or calibrated weight, consisting of fruits or vegetables of a shape almost revolution, such as grapefruit, apples, oranges, peaches, tomatoes, apricots, and in particular fruits or vegetables that may have a tail, preferably melons, for depositing them in the cells of a crate, each said cell being suitable receiving and stalling said object in said crate.

The present invention also relates to a method for packaging melons calibrated in cells of a crate using a said installation. Such a transport and removal facility is also called a "melon packer" in that, as the name suggests, it is intended more particularly for packing melons in said crates. In principle, this melon packing operation is carried out from incoming melons calibrated, according to a given size and / or weight, in general the calibration being carried out by a sorting and sizing plant upstream of the packer. according to the present invention. We know melon wrappers in honeycomb crate, including speedpacker® machine from the company RODA-MAF (France). However, the shortcomings of these known machines are that the installation and the process are not completely automated and the intervention of personnel is necessary to, at a given moment, position the melon correctly in the cell of the crate or crate. In addition, in the various known machines, melon gripping devices are implemented whose reliability is not satisfactory and / or which are relatively complex or expensive to produce or implement. Thus in the speedpacker machine, the gripping device is a pneumatic device, ensuring the gripping of the melon by a suction effect which is disturbed by the presence of the tail of the melon and its asperities and / or irregular shapes. The object of the present invention is to provide an installation and a method of packing size and / or calibrated weight, consisting of fruits or vegetables of almost revolution shape and may have a tail, preferably melons, which are entirely automated and capable of packing box melons or crates according to different configurations of alveolus disposal in said crate and for different types of melon calibers. Another object of the present invention is to provide an installation and a process whose reliability is optimal and the sufficient efficiency without requiring human intervention, other than for the adjustment of the parameters of the machine, in particular according to the caliber of the melon and / or the disposal of the cells in a said crate. Another object of the present invention is to provide an installation and a process that can operate continuously, the various steps can be performed concomitantly by reducing to a minimum the possible dead time to meet the constraints of pace required in the packaging lines of fruits and vegetables.

More particularly still, another object of the present invention is to provide an installation and a method which makes it possible to generate and associate two continuous flows of object feed and alveolated box feed, allowing the positioning of the melons in said crate or crate with maximum precision and flexibility.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an installation and a method of packaging fruit and vegetables with the ability to adapt to a change of size of fruit or vegetable in a reduced time. It is recalled, in fact, that, from one caliber to another, the number of melons in a crate or crate packaging will vary and the arrangement of melons in said crate or crate will also vary. The installation and the method must therefore be able to adapt to any type of gauge and any type of disposal of cells, as explained below.

To do this, the present invention provides a transport facility and removal of objects of size and / or calibrated weight consisting of fruits or vegetables of quasi-revolution form, to deposit them in cells of a crate, each said cell being able to receive and wedge a said object, and the different cells of a crate being arranged in a plurality of p parallel lines, preferably p being an integer from 3 to 10, more preferably equal to 3, 4 or 5, each line comprising n cells, preferably n being an integer from 3 to 10, more preferably equal to 3, 4 or 5, said installation comprising: preferably a first alignment and feeding conveyor capable of supporting and conveying in a longitudinal direction said objects, preferably of the same given caliber, arranged in a plurality of p first parallel rows, preferably 3 or 4 first rows, said objects which can be irregularly spaced or in close contact with one another in each first file, and - a second endless conveyor, called a distributor, of which a first end is arranged, or intended to be arranged, at one end of a said first feed conveyor, said second conveyor supporting a plurality of compartments adapted to receive and wedge each a single said calibrated object, said compartments being arranged in the same plurality of p parallel second rows in the same longitudinal direction at its upper part , preferably 3 or 4 second rows, the compartments in each second file being regularly spaced apart, the respective arrangement of the different compartments of the different second rows being compatible with the arrangement of the different lines of cells of a said rack, said second conveyor endless including at his second the end farthest from said first conveyor a path from bottom to top partly circular about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said second conveyor, and - retaining means of said objects, disposed at the end respectively of said first queues of said first conveyor adapted to retain an object of said first queues at the end of said first conveyor or on the contrary allow the transfer of said object to a said empty compartment of said second conveyor, and - means for holding and turning said suitable objects cooperating with said second conveyor and said objects, so as to maintain and move said objects along their upwardly circularly upward movement at said second longitudinal end of said second conveyor, keeping a respective regular disposition of the different said objects, to position a said object t of each of the p second rows in respectively one of the p positions called depositing positions located beneath said second conveyor in which said objects are no longer supported by said compartments, and in which said depositing positions said objects are able to be located at Plumb of said cells of a said crate in packaging position in which said objects can thus be deposited substantially vertically, and preferably a rack unstacking device, and a third supply conveyor capable of supporting and conveying said crates from a crate unloading device, to a position called packaging position in which said cells of said crate are located below said deposition positions so that said cells can receive said objects deposited substantially vertically in said cells from a said position of d epose, the routing of said crates on said third conveyor being set, preferably automatically synchronized, according to the scrolling of said second conveyor and the arrival of said objects in a said removal position so that two said successive calibrated objects a same said second file arriving in the same said removal position can be deposited substantially vertically in two successive adjacent cells of the same line of cells within the crate, and - the scrolling of all said conveyors and the actuation of said retaining means being able to be managed by an automaton, preferably a PLC programmable in a different manner according to the number and / or the disposition of said cells of said crate, more preferably according to the detection by sensors capable of detecting said melons transported by said first and / or second conveyor and said trays carried by a said third conveyor. Said automaton is programmable to adapt to any type of gauge and any type of disposal of cells. In known manner, the endless conveyors ensure, at their ends, a circulation in a vertical plane around two pinions with horizontal axes exposed respectively to the two longitudinal ends of the conveyor, thus, at said second end of the second conveyor, the compartments and the objects it supports initiate a rotation about the axis of the pinion arranged transversely, that is to say perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. Thus, said holding and reversing means make it possible to prevent said objects contained in said compartments from falling, at the level of the trajectory corresponding to the half-turn produced by the second conveyor at said second end around its end drum, avoiding the gravity drop of said object outside said compartment, as said depositing position is not reached. In said removal position, said objects can be deposited in a said cell by simple gravity or by implementing a damping device or fall support, as explained below. Said third conveyor can convey said crates without discontinuing under said removal positions, while, simultaneously, said second conveyor conveys said melons without stopping to said removal position. Said second conveyor is thus animated with a movement synchronized with the movement of said third conveyor 15 for routing the boxes. In a preferred embodiment, the plant is suitable for transporting and depositing articles of sized and / or calibrated weight consisting of fruits or vegetables having a tail, preferably melons and further comprising: said second conveyor comprising or cooperating with means for orienting the tail of the objects, able to orient said tails within said compartments in a given position, preferably substantially in the same inclination given within the different compartments, and 25 - said means for holding and reversing said objects capable of cooperating with said second conveyor and said objects, so as to maintain and move said objects to said depositing positions in which said objects have their said tails in the upper position of said object, preferably all the tails 30 of said objects in said removal positions being oriented according to substantially the same i nclinaison.

More preferably, said installation further comprises: - means for retaining said objects, arranged at the end respectively of said first files of said first conveyor adapted to retain a first object of said first files at the end of said first conveyor and automatically operable to allow the transfer of said first object to a said empty compartment of said second conveyor and able to automatically retain a second said object arriving at the end of said first files of said first conveyor after transfer of said first object and to allow the passage of said second object that to allow the transfer of said second object in a said next compartment determined empty of said second conveyor, preferably capable of transferring said second object into said depositing position in line with a second crate according to the first crate in which said first object was just before deposit ee, and - preferably, means for transferring said objects, arranged at the end of said first conveyor capable of allowing the transfer of a first object from each said first line to the end of said first conveyor to a said compartment empty of a said second corresponding file of said second conveyor after actuation of said retaining means. In a particular embodiment, the installation according to the invention comprises the following characteristics, according to which: said second distribution conveyor comprises a belt conveyor, said compartments being constituted by first perforations made in at least a first band; the size and shape of said first perforations being able to hold said objects partly above and partly below the upper part of said first band before it passes at said second end of the second conveyor, and - said means holding and reversing said calibrated objects comprise a band of a fourth endless conveyor, called second band whose scrolling is synchronized with that of said first band, said second band being guided by a guide structure in the form of arches according to a partly circular parallel trajectory and more and radius that the partly circular path of the first band of the second conveyor at its said second end, so that the portion of said objects located above said first band in the substantially horizontal upper portion of the second conveyor before its said second end can be applied against and held by said second band to a said removal position in which said object is no longer supported in the lower part of said object. It will be understood that said first conveyor belt, provided with said first perforations, can convey the melons in said first perforations, the arrangement of said first perforations on said first band corresponding to the future arrangement of the melons in the blister pack, that is to say say at the disposal of the cells in said crate. Before said removal position, the first conveyor belt makes a half-turn around an end drum and the melons positioned on said first band follow the rotational movement and then realize a 180 ° rotation about the axis. drum. The second tape or counter tape has a synchronized movement with the first conveyor belt and allows the melons to be held during their 180 ° rotation, without these being subjected to the laws of gravity which should make them roll and then fall towards the down from the beginning of said rotation. Once the rotation is completed, the objects are found just above said crate, in said removal position, and it is at this moment that the counter-band or second band diverges and releases the melon, which can thus fall freely. in the box at the position reserved for him.

More particularly, said means for orienting the tails comprises friction means for said objects, preferably located below said first band, capable of orienting the tails in the part of said object situated under said first band, preferably inclined in a direction substantially of 30 to 60 °, preferably about 45 °, relative to the perpendicular direction ZZ 'to said longitudinal direction XX', X1X1 'of said first band and said second conveyor, preferably a vertical direction ZZ'. More particularly, said means for orienting the tails comprises a longitudinal fixed flat support parallel to the upper part of said first band of said second conveyor and located below said first band at a height h, the size and shape of the contour of said first perforations. being able to retain the rear face and a part of the lateral faces of said object against the rear part and respectively the lateral parts of the contour of said first perforation, and the height h and the shape and the dimension of the contour of the first perforation on the before being able to allow a rotation of said object resting on said fixed flat support so that said tail can pass through said first perforation between said object and the front limit of the contour of the first perforation until said tail can be held in the lower position of the said object by and below the rear limit of a contour of said first perforation of said first band, when said tail is initially in an upper position above said upper portion of the first band. It is understood that the first perforations do not support said objects if they are smaller than the first perforations but said objects are supported by said lower fixed flat support. However, because of the advance of said first band pushing melon wedged in said perforation, this thrust in the longitudinal direction rolls the melon, whose base is frictionally retained on said fixed flat support. In other words, said means for orienting the tails act by rotating the melon then blocking said tail below said first band behind said first perforation, thereby ensuring a substantially constant orientation .

More particularly, as a function of the height h and the dimensions of the melon and said first perforations, a so-called inclination of the tail in the upper part of the melon, once packaged in the crate, is obtained at an angle of 30 to 60 °. preferably about 45 ° to the vertical. This inclination is advantageous because it allows said tail does not exceed the upper edges of the side walls of the crate and therefore allows a subsequent stack of crates without damaging said tails. In an advantageous embodiment, said first perforations of said first band comprise a shape symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal axis X1X1 'with a contour of which a rear part is of substantially semicircular shape and the front part of the outline is located in before a semicircular virtual limit symmetrical with said semi-circular rear portion with respect to an axis Y1Y1 'passing through the middle of the first perforation in its longitudinal direction X1X1' and extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the direction longitudinal of said second conveyor defines a front surface greater than the rear surface delimited by said semi-circular rear portion of the contour of said first perforation.

It will be understood that, in the present application, the terms "forward" and "backward" refer to the direction of travel back and forth of said conveyors concerned. Thus, when the second conveyor circulates in its upper part from right to left, the rear part is on the right and the front part is on the left, while the third conveyor circulates in the opposite direction, from left to right, below said second conveyor , with the front part of the box being on the right and the rear part of the box on the left, since said third conveyor circulates from left to right. More particularly, said first perforations of said first band comprise a dimension L1 in the axial longitudinal direction X1X1 'of said first perforation greater than that of said objects in said axial longitudinal direction, preferably greater than 10 cm and a dimension D1 in the perpendicular horizontal transverse direction Y1Y1 'to said axial longitudinal direction of said first perforation, less than the dimension of said objects in said transverse direction. Even more particularly, a first perforation with L1 = 11.5 cm, D1 = 10.5 cm with h = 2 to 5 cm, is suitable for melons of different sizes with D = 10 to 20 cm, preferably 12-18. CM. According to another particular characteristic of the installation, said means for retaining said objects at the end of said first conveyor comprise a plurality of stops, each stop being actuable automatically by an actuator between a retaining position able to retain a said object at the end of said first conveyor and a release position adapted to allow the transfer of said object to the end of said first conveyor to a said empty compartment of said second conveyor, said actuator being preferably a pneumatic cylinder 5. According to Another particular characteristic of the installation, said transfer means comprise a plurality of p guiding structures respectively at the end of each said first line comprising a slope inclined descending portion extending at least from the end of said first conveyor to a sloping upward slope first web of said second conveyor at said first end thereof, said upwardly inclined portion of said first web continuing through an upper first web portion of said second substantially horizontal conveyor, preferably slightly inclined with respect to the sloped horizontal descendant, and said first band comprises first transverse elements of separation between two said first successive perforations. The transfer of said object on a rising portion of said first band makes it possible, first of all, to wedge and pull said object against a said first transverse separation member, before it undergoes a rotation once it has arrived in said upper portion substantially. horizontal of said first band, preferably sloping slightly downward, so as to wedge in a said first perforation at this level. It is understood that, the space between two so-called first successive transverse separation elements being less than twice the dimension of a said calibrated object in the longitudinal direction of said first band, a single object can be wedged against each said first transverse element of seperation. According to another particular characteristic, said second band comprises second perforations whose arrangement includes a provision of the first perforations of said first band.

This feature makes it possible to improve the maintenance of said objects during their circular path and reversal. According to another preferred feature of the present invention, said first band of said second conveyor comprises a plurality of p parallel and juxtaposed independent small bands, each said small band comprising a single said second row of said compartments. This characteristic is particularly advantageous for adapting the installation for the removal of melons in different types of cell arrangements within a said crate. Indeed, it is easily possible to shift said first perforations of two small strips juxtaposed parallel, so as to create a staggered arrangement, in particular by a shift of half a step forward of the first perforations of said small central strip by compared to those of the two small lateral bands. It is understood that each said small band cooperates independently with a said retaining means to ensure a transfer of said objects compatible with the offset of the different small independent juxtaposed strips. According to another advantageous characteristic, said third conveyor comprises or is capable of cooperating with means 10 for damping the fall of said objects from said depositing positions into said cells of said crate in said packaging position. More particularly, said drop damping means comprise means capable of lifting a plate forming said cells disposed within a said crate when or before said crate arrives in said packaging position. More particularly still, said falling object damping means comprise a fifth endless conveyor carrying raising elements extending in elevation, the running of said fifth conveyor being adapted to be synchronized with that of said third conveyor so as to able to convey said lifting elements from below said crates and through perforations of the bottom of the crate, then lift a tray forming cells above said bottom of the crate, said crate being transported by said third conveyor flowing horizontally at the level of said packing position, said fifth conveyor traveling on an upward slope during said raising of said tray, then in a horizontal slope opposite said packaging position of the crate, then on a downward inclined slope to gradually lower said tray at the bottom of the crate, once said alveolus filled with such objects.

The present invention also provides a method for packaging melons calibrated in cells of a crate, each said cell being adapted to receive and wedge a said object, and the different cells of a crate being arranged in a plurality of 5 lines parallel, preferably p being an integer from 3 to 10, more preferably equal to 3, 4 or 5, each line comprising n cells, preferably n being an integer of 3 to 10, more preferably 3, 4 or 5, a method in which an installation according to the invention is implemented, said method comprising the following 10 steps in which: a) melons are conveyed in said first rows on said first conveyor, said objects being able to be irregularly spaced or clamped against each other in each line until they accumulate in contact one behind the other at the end of said first conveyor, b) actuating at least one retaining means at the end of said first conveyor to authorize the transfer of a said melon into a said compartment of said second conveyor, c) transferring at least one said melon into a said compartment 20 of said second conveyor, d) conveying said melon on a substantially horizontal upper portion of said second conveyor to said second end); e) orienting said tails within compartments in a given position, preferably substantially in the same inclination given within the different compartments with said means for orienting the tail of the melons, and f) conveying said melon arriving at said second end of the second conveyor to a said position of removal below said second conveyor, maintaining it in said compartment and turning it 180 ° with said holding and reversing means cooperating with said second conveyor and said melons at said second longitudinal end of said second conveyor, so as to maintain, move and return said melons along a partly circular path, keeping the respective regular disposition of the various melons, until each said melon is positioned as and as the said second conveyor is moved in one of the depositing positions located beneath the said second conveyor, depositing positions in which the said melons are no longer supported by the said compartments and are in line with the said cells of one of the said conveyors. cagette in which said melons are then deposited substantially vertically, and g) concomitantly with one of the steps a) to f), crates are transported empty by said third conveyor from a destacking device to arrive at a packing position in which p said cells are in line with said p removal positions, when said melons arrive at said depositing positions, and i) depositing the melons from said depositing positions in said cells of a crate in said packing position, said melons having their said tails in the upper position of said melon, preferably inclined an angle of 30 to 60 °, more preferably 45 °, with respect to the vertical, preferably all the tails of said melons in said laying positions being oriented substantially at the same inclination, and j) the said rack filled with melons deposited in said cells from said packaging position to an evacuation position towards the discharge end of said third conveyor, and k) the scrolling of all said conveyors and the actuations said retaining means being managed by an automaton, preferably a programmable controller in a different manner depending on the melon size and / or the number and arrangement of said cells of said crate, and / or as a function of the detection or not by sensors of said melons transported by said first conveyor and / or said second conveyor and the detection of crates transported by said third conveyor.

According to other advantageous particular features of the method according to the invention: in step b), the retaining means are actuated in the release position to allow the transfer of a second said object arriving at the end of each so-called first file of said first conveyor after transfer of said first object and allowing the passage of said second object only to allow the transfer of said second object in a said next compartment determined empty of said second conveyor, preferably leaving the next first compartment empty and allowing transfer to a second subsequent compartment, and - in step c), said second conveyor comprises a first band, said compartments being constituted by first perforations of the first band, and said melon is retained on said first band by first transverse separating elements in the form of cleats arranged between two first perforations successive onsets for conveying said melon by pulling it along an inclined portion rising from said first band of said second conveyor to a substantially horizontal upper portion of the first band to the second end of said second conveyor.

According to other particular characteristics of the process according to the invention: in step b), when n melons have been transferred into n successive compartments of the same said second row of compartments of said second conveyor, operating means are actuated in the retaining position for a longer time, then actuating said retaining means in the release position so as to allow the transfer of said next melon into the second empty compartment according to the previous compartment in which a said melon has been transferred, and in step g), the successive crates on said third conveyor arrive in said packaging position spaced from the following crate and the preceding crate by the same distance, preferably with the aid of second transverse separation elements, said distance being such that the first cell at the rear of a cell line of said box is spaced from the last cell at the front 10 of the line of the following crate in the same alignment, according to the same pitch as the pitch between two successive cells of the same line in a crate and not even two said first successive perforations of the same second file of said first band. More particularly, according to other particular features of the process according to the invention: said rack comprises pxn cells arranged in staggered rows, the cells being regularly spaced at one and the same pitch in each of the p cell lines, the cells of a given line being staggered in said longitudinal direction of the crate one-half a step from the nearest compartment of a juxtaposed line, and - in step b), retaining means is actuated so as not to releasing said object at the end of a said first given line of said first conveyor only when the object already transferred from the end of a first adjacent file juxtaposed from said first conveyor to a said compartment of said second conveyor has been conveyed a half step, and - in step d), said melons are conveyed disposed on a plurality of p small parallel independent bands and juxtaposed, c each said small strip comprising a single said second row of 30 of said compartments, the compartments of each small strip being spaced at the same pitch and offset by half a step in said longitudinal direction relative to the nearest compartment of a small juxtaposed band. Other advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent in the light of the detailed description which follows, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10, in which: FIG. 1 represents a schematic view of a plant 100 according to FIG. FIG. 2A shows a more detailed cross-sectional side view of a plant 100 according to the invention, FIG. 2B represents a top view of the installation 100 according to the invention, FIG. FIG. 2C shows a perspective view of an installation 100 according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a view from above of a first strip 20 of the second conveyor, provided with said first perforations of non-entirely circular shapes; FIG. 4 is a sectional view XZ perpendicular to the plane of said first strip at a said first perforation 21 containing a said substantially spherical object, such as a melon 8 resting on a fixed flat support 7 with its p or a stem 8a oriented in the lower locking position c2, - Figures 5A to 5F are views of the installation at a retaining means 5 in different actuating positions of the junction between the end of the first conveyor and the second conveyor; FIG. 6A is a diagrammatic sectional side view of the gear elements of a rotation drum at said second end of a said second conveyor, when the first perforations 21 of the different small belts 20 1, 20-2, 20-3 are aligned in the transverse direction Y1Y1 ', as shown in FIG. 6B in plan view, FIG. 6C is a schematic sectional side view of the gear elements of a FIG. rotation drum at said second end of a said second conveyor, when said first perforations of said small strips 20-1, 20-2, 20-3 are offset staggered, as shown in Figure 6D in top view, - the figur e 7A is a sectional side view of the installation at said device for holding and turning said objects at their rotation at said second end of the second conveyor, FIG. 7B being a more detailed view with a melon at the level of 8A, 8B, 8C and 8D are top views of a plate 9b comprising cells 9a in different staggered arrangements (FIG. 8A, FIG. 8C and FIG. 8D) or aligned in both of them. longitudinal and transverse directions (FIG. 8B); FIG. 9 is a view of a crate 9 whose bottom 9-1 is perforated 9-2; FIG. 10 is a sectional side view of an installation provided with means for lifting the cells in said packaging position by means of a fifth conveyor 50. The melon packaging installation 100 shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 is arranged in continuity with an installation of calibration of melons 101, which allows feeding melons calibrated according to a given caliber a first alignment and feeding conveyor 1 according to the invention, described below. It is understood that, if the calibration installation incorporates a melon alignment device, the packaging installation 100 according to the present invention will not require the implementation of a said first alignment and feeding conveyor 1. If the calibrator 101 delivers, at different ends of said calibrator, different calibers of melons, it will be possible to implement a plurality of packaging installations 100 associated with the same calibrator 101. The packaging installation 100 may be set differently, as described below, depending on the difference of the calibres concerned. In Figure 9, there is shown a rack whose standard dimensions are typically 40 x 60 cm. This crate 9 is able to contain trays 9b blistered with the different types of arrangements of the cells 9a, as shown in Figures 8A to 8D. The cells are circular XY section. Classically for melon sizes of diameter D from 12 to 18 cm, the melons are arranged in three rows or lines 9-1, 9-2 and 9-3 parallel in the longitudinal direction XX ', each row 9-i, with i = 1 to p, comprising three, four or five melons. The cells 9a are, in general, arranged in staggered rows, as in FIGS. 8A, 8C and 8D, that is to say that the cells 9a of the central line 9-2 are offset in the direction XX 'of a half pitch relative to the cells of the lateral lines 9-1 and 9-3, said cells of the lateral lines 9-1, 9-3 being aligned with each other in the direction YY 'but not aligned with the cells of the central line 9- 2. Along each line 9-1 to 9-3, the cells 9a are spaced, in the longitudinal XX 'direction of the crate, in a same pitch P. Similarly, the various lines 9-1 to 93 of cells 9a are spaced, in the transverse direction YY ', of the same pitch P1, substantially identical to the width of the small strips 20-1 to 20-3 and preferably identical to the pitch P between the different cells of the same line in the direction XX '. The raised portions 9c of the tray relative to the recesses of the cells, spacing and delimiting said cells, allow the melons of a said caliber, within said cells, to be juxtaposed without there being however contact between the adjacent melons. The first supply and alignment conveyor 1, as shown in FIG. 2C, comprises three tracks running parallel in the longitudinal direction XX 'of the installation, and juxtaposed, delimited by lateral guides 1b. The width, in the transverse direction YY ', of each track is such that each track can receive only one melon in the direction YY'. Thus, the first conveyor 1 can receive three first parallel rows 1-1, 1-2 and 1-3 of melons 8, said first files 1-1 to 1-3 extending, in the longitudinal direction XX ', since a first end ld, on the side of the calibrator 101, to a second end la, located just upstream of a second distribution conveyor 2 described below. Each track supporting said first files 1-1 to 1-3 is constituted by a plurality of rotating rollers 1c extending in the transverse direction YY ', regularly spaced in the direction XX' and rotated about themselves, around their axis parallel to the transverse direction YY ', when said first conveyor is driven in the direction XX'. The motorization of the first conveyor 1 drives the multitude of free rollers 1c, on which the melons rest, so that, when the retaining means 5 are in the retaining position El described hereinafter, said rollers 1c can turn on them same melons can accumulate at the end 1a while remaining in situ, without interrupting the motorization of the first conveyor 1, the free rollers rolling on themselves below the melons while the following melons continue to accumulate. According to another known embodiment, the tracks may consist of a conveyor belt. In one embodiment, the slides 1b include means which allow melons to accumulate, at the end 1a of each lane of the lanes 1-1 to 1-3, squeezed against each other and behind each other in each lane. In the embodiment described in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the packaging installation 100 according to the invention comprises, at the end 5a of each line 1-1 to 1-3, a retaining means 5-1. at 5-3 which is automatically managed to transfer the melons 8 arriving at the end of each line 1-1 to 1-3, optimally so that said melons are transferred into compartments 21 of the second conveyor 2, taking into account the provision of said compartments 21 of said second conveyor 2, as described below. In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 7 and 10, the second endless conveyor, called distributor, 2 is arranged in continuity, in the longitudinal direction XX ', of the first conveyor 1. The second conveyor 2 comprises a so-called first strip 20 consisting of three said small independent bands 20-1, 20-2 and 20-3, extending in the direction XX ", arranged parallel to each other juxtaposed against each other in the direction YY '. 1 to 20-3 comprises perforations 21, regularly spaced in the direction XX 'in the same pitch P as the cells 9a of each line 9-1 to 9-3 described above. staggered cells, as shown in FIGS. 8A, 8C and 8D, the small central strip 20-2 is adjusted so that its said first perforations 21 are offset in the XX 'direction by a half step in relation to at first s perforations 21 of the two small side strips 20-1 and 20-3, which are aligned in the direction YY ', so that the arrangement of all the first perforations 20-1 on the first strip 20 correspond to the disposal of the cells of the crate in which said melons must be packaged. To achieve this shift, at least one end drum 2b of said second conveyor 2 comprises a plurality of meshing elements 2b-1, 2b-2 driven in rotation by the same drive shaft 2d extending in the transverse direction. YY ', with two lateral elements 2b-1 and a central element 2b-2, each meshing element 2b-1, 2b-2 comprising peripheral pins 2c cooperating with perforations, respectively on the underside of separation elements 23 between two first perforations 21 of each of the small strips 20-1 to 20-3. In the present case, here, four pins are arranged in a cross, so that two successive pins arranged at 90 ° are always meshed with orifices of successive elements 23 of each band to perform the rotation in a half-turn of the first band 20 around the drum 2b from a substantially horizontal upper portion 20b to a substantially horizontal lower portion 20d around the drum of said second end 2b of the second conveyor 2. By angularly shifting the pins 2c of the central meshing element 2b- 2 with respect to the pins 2c of the two lateral meshing elements 2b-1 at an angle of 45 °, the first perforations 21 of the small central strip 20-2 are shifted by half a step in the direction XX 'relative to at the first perforations 21 of the two small lateral strips 20-1 and 20-3.

The first end 2a of the first endless conveyor 2 is disposed below the end 1a of the first conveyor 1. In one embodiment, the second conveyor 2a comprises a first part 20a, arranged on an inclined slope rising in the direction of advancement of said second conveyor.

In one embodiment, the packaging plant according to the invention comprises, at the level of the transfer between the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 2, a plurality of guide structures 61 to 6-3, consisting of lateral slides. guiding and able to support the melons 8 during their transfer from the end 1a of each 1-1 to 1-3 to the end of each small strip 20-1 to 203, below the end la. The small strips 20-1 to 20-3 each comprise transverse separation elements 23, extending above each small strip and arranged in the middle between said first successive perforations 21. During said rising phase of the rising portion 20a of the second conveyor 2, the melons 8, once transferred to the small strips 20-1 to 20-3, abut against the elements 23 and are thus towed and conveyed on a rising slope until at the substantially horizontal upper part 20b, preferably inclined slightly inclined as shown in Figure 2A, at which the melons may, by a slight forward rotation, be positioned in the first perforations 21.

At this level, the tails 8a of the various melons are randomly oriented in different directions D3 of inclination i3 with respect to the vertical, D3 being the virtual line passing through the base 8d of the tail 8a and the center C of the melon. In FIGS. 6A and 6B, the first perforations 21 of the various small strips 20-1 to 20-3 are aligned in the transverse direction Y1Y1 'and the meshing elements 2b-1, 2b-2 are also arranged in such a way that the peripheral pins 2c are angularly arranged in an identical manner. On the other hand, in FIGS. 6C and 6D, which correspond to a staggered arrangement, the pins 2c of the central element 2b-2 are offset by 45 ° relative to the pins of the lateral elements 2b-1. The retaining means 5-1 to 5-3 each comprise a pivoting stop 5a actuated in rotation by a jack 5b, between a retaining position El and a release position E2. The pivoting stopper 5a and the jack 5b are carried by a bracket 5c, so that the axis of rotation of the pivoting stopper 5a is parallel to YY 'and disposed above one of the transfer means 6-1 to 6-3. In the low retaining position El, the stop 5a retains the end melon 8-1, as shown in FIG. 5A, and prevents it from being transferred to the second conveyor 2. In the release position E2, the pivoting stop 5a is actuated in upward rotation, as shown in Figure 5B, allowing the transfer of the first bowler 8-1 to the rising portion 20a of said first strip 20. The length of the first section rising slope 20a, since the lower end of the downward portion 6a of the guide structure 6 vertically above the rising portion 20a to the upper portion 20b substantially corresponds to the distance P between two successive separating members 23. Thus, a second bowler 8-2, disposed above and against a first bowler 8-1 at the downwardly sloping portion 6a of a transfer means 6, can be inserted into the next space between two transverse separation elements 23 as soon as the first melon 8-1 arrives at the upper part 20b of the first band 20, without the pivoting stop 5a having to be actuated and therefore remains in the release position E2, as shown in Figures 5B and 5C. The guide structures 6 (6-1 to 6-3) mainly comprise downwardly sloping guide elements 6a but are advantageously completed by upwardly sloping guiding elements 6b flanking each initial rising portion 20a of said first webs 20a. 1 to 20-3 and also terminating in substantially horizontal lateral slide portions 6c, flanking each small strip 20-1 to 20-3 at the beginning of the horizontal upper portions 20b of the second conveyor 2. This portion 6c permits stabilizing and adjusting the position of the melons in this melon setting phase in its first perforation 1, during which said melon can be rotated. In FIGS. 5D to 5F, it is shown that the pivoting stopper 5a can be actuated in the holding position E1, so that, after the passage of four successive melons 8-1 to 8-4, arranged in four successive first perforations 21, the fifth bowler 8-5 is transferred into a perforation 21 only after passing an empty intermediate perforation 21. This is necessary when the crates fed by the third conveyor, described below, are spaced one after the other by a distance such as the distance between the center of the last cell, at the rear of a line d 9-1 to 9-3 cells of a filled crate 9 comprising four cavities per line 9-1 to 9-3, and that of the first cell of a 9-1 to 9-3 alveolar cell line. an empty following crate placed in continuity with the cell lines of the preceding filled crate, is the double of the pitch P between two successive cells of the same line 9-1 to 9-3 of a crate 9. When the small belts 20-2 central are arranged with first perforations 21 offset by a half-step relative to the first perforations 21 of the small lateral strips 20-1 and 20-3 as shown in Figure 6D, the rotational actuation of the pivoting stops 5a central retaining means 5-2 is shifted in time with respect to the ac rotation of the pivoting stops 5a of the lateral retaining means 5-1 and 5-3.

The installation can be programmed to adjust the actuation commands of the pivoting stops 5a according to the arrangement of the cells 9a in the crates 9 and therefore according to the sizes of melons to be packaged, as well as the conveyor speed of the conveyors 2, 3 and 4.

FIG. 3 shows the optimal shape and size of the first perforations 21 which, in combination with fixed, rigid, metal, flat supports 7 arranged axially in the longitudinal direction XX ', below the small strips 20-1 to 20-3, at a height h, to orient the tails 8a of the melons 8 in a direction D2 of the same inclination α of approximately 45 ° with respect to the vertical, as described below. Each small strip 20-1 to 20-3 comprises a line 21-1 to 21-3 of first perforations 21 regularly spaced at a same pitch P in a longitudinal direction X1X1 'of said first perforations 30 21 parallel to the longitudinal direction XX' of said second conveyor.

The contour 22 of said first perforations 21 comprises a rear profile 22b of semicircular shape, delimiting a rear surface Si, while the front surface S2 of the front part of the first perforation 21 has a front contour 22a farther from the center M of the virtual circular profile 22-1. And, the lateral portions 22c comprise a rectilinear part tangent to the virtual semicircular limit 22-1. And the front portion 22a of the contour 22 comprises a rectilinear portion disposed transversely (Y1Y1 ') and beyond the semicircular virtual boundary 22-1 in the direction X1X1'. The flat metal supports are arranged below the strips 20-1 to 20-3, at a distance h = 2 to 5 cm. More particularly, a perforation with L1 = 11.5 cm, D1 = 10.5 cm with h = 2 cm, is suitable for suitably wedging melons of different sizes corresponding to diameters D of 12 to 18 cm. Ll is greater than D1 the diameter of the semicircular portions S1 and 22-1. In FIG. 4, it is shown that the length L 1 of the perforations 21 in the longitudinal direction X 1 X 1 'and the distance h between the support 7 and the band 20 are such that a space 21 a remains free between the melon 8 and the front limit 22 a Thus, the advance of the band 20 pushes the bowler 8 which rotates forward on itself, from an initial position where the tail 8a is in the high position C1 in an inclination [3. from the virtual line D3, to a position where the tail 8a of the melon is jammed on the underside of the strip 20 against the rear contour 22b of the perforation 21 at an inclination of the virtual line D2 passing through the virtual center C and the base 8d of the tail 8a of the melon at an angle substantially of 45 ° with respect to the vertical in the locking position C2 of the tail 8a. The rotation of the melon is made possible due to the frictional forces at the contact of the melon with the lower flat support 7 on which it rests, on the one hand, and on the other hand, because the space 21a to the front of the perforation 21 allows the passage of the tail 8a in the space 21a during the rotation of the bowler 8 on itself forwards.

When the melons 8 arrive at the second end 2-2 of the second conveyor 2, just before reaching the part of the first band 20 following a semicircular path 20c around the rotation drum 2b, all the melons 8 have their tails arranged in the same orientation a said blocking position C2 described above, that is to say that the tails 8a are in the lower position of the melon, below the first band 20. At this stage, holding means and turning 4 melons cooperate with the melons and the second conveyor 2, at its second end 2-2, as follows. The holding and turning device 4 comprises a frame 4c which supports a conveyor, called the fourth conveyor, consisting of a band, called second band 40, actuated in endless rotation around at least one upper drum 4a, disposed above the second end 2-2 of the second conveyor, and a lower drum 4b disposed below the second end 2-2 of the second conveyor. The frame 4c supports a hoop-shaped guide structure 4d disposed opposite the second end 2-2 of the second conveyor and against which the strip 40 bears. The arrangement of the drums 4a and 4b, as well as the shape and arrangement of the hoops 4d, allows the band 40 to follow a substantially semicircular trajectory, parallel to the semicircular trajectory of the part 20c of the first band 20 making a U-turn. at the end 2-2 of the second conveyor 2. The second band 40, in its partly circular path, abuts against the melons 8 conveyed along the partly circular circular turn path of the first band 20c. The second band 40 acts as a cons-band sandwiching the melons 8 between said first band 20 and said second band 40 at the end circular portion 20c of the first band 20. It is the same motor 15 which can drive the drum 2b, at the second end 2-2 of the second conveyor 2, and the drums 4a and 4b of the second band 40 by a pinion / chain system. A reduction ratio allows the synchronization of the scrolling of the second band 40 relative to the first band 20, so that the two bands 20 and 40 have the same angular velocity in said portion partly circular of their trajectory. To prevent the sliding of the second band 40 and thus ensure good synchronization, the drive of the second band 40 is also done by meshing of pins (not shown). On the other hand, in order to prevent the melons 8 from slipping against the second band 40, the second band 40 advantageously comprises second perforations 41, which here may be circular, which second perforations 41 are also arranged on the surface of the second band 40 , so as to be able to wedge the melons transported by the first band 20, both in staggered arrangement and arranged aligned in the direction YY ', as discussed above.

To do this, the second band 40 comprises the same maximum number of second perforations 41a as the number of small bands 20-1 to 20-3, namely three perforations 41a side by side, aligned in a direction YY ', according to the same spacing in the transverse direction YY 'that the first perforations 21 of the first band 20 or the cells 9a of the crate 9. In addition, because the second band 40 performs a trajectory at a greater radius than the first band 20 in the semicircular portion 20a, it is possible, on the same band 40, to add perforations 41b arranged in smaller number in the transverse direction YY 'between two series of perforations 41a disposed in greater numbers in the YY direction. . More precisely, for three second rows of perforations 21-1 to 21-3 of the first band 20, the second band 40 will comprise a first series of three perforations 41a aligned in the transverse direction Y1Y1 ', followed, in the direction XX', a single central perforation 41b vis-à-vis the central perforation of the three perforations 41a. This arrangement of the second perforations 41 makes it possible, by adjusting the running speed of the second band 40, to adapt to provisions of the staggered cells of FIGS. 8A, 8C and 8D, or an arrangement of aligned cells according to FIG. 8B. . In a first case, a second central perforation 41a will remain empty with the second perforation 41b occupied, while, in a second variant, the second perforation 41b will remain empty and the three perforations 41a will be occupied by a melon 8. In all variants, regularly, a row of three perforations 41a will remain unoccupied to take into account the space between two consecutive crates 9, as previously discussed The positioning of the lower drum 4b, around which the second band 40 returns to the upper drum 4a, allows when the second band 40 diverges at the lower drum 4b of the second band 40, the melon is no longer supported on the underside of its lower part now located below the first band portion 20b. The melon in the removal position can thus fall by gravity to be deposited in a cell 9A of a crate 9, in packing position B1, as described below. The melon 8 arrives in said depositing position A, after having made a substantially 180 ° rotation about the axis of the drum 2b at the end 2-2 of the conveyor 2, and is thus with its tail 8a now partly upper melon, inclined 45 ° forward with respect to the vertical inclination it retains in the crate after its removal in the crate. The packaging installation 100 according to the present invention finally comprises a third conveyor 3, arranged in the longitudinal direction XX 'of the installation, below the second conveyor 2 and the fourth conveyor 4. This third conveyor 3 continuously transports the crates 9 from a device denominated unstacker 10, essentially comprising a tower-shaped frame, wherein the crates are stacked on each other and unstacked at the lower end of the tower to be positioned at a first end 3a of the third conveyor 3 The crates 9 are arranged one behind the other, aligned in the longitudinal direction XX ', spaced apart from each other by a second cross member-shaped separation member 30a. The distance d between the two consecutive crates, delimited by the width of the cleat 30a, is such that the last cell of a front crate is spaced from the first cell of a next crate, disposed behind, a distance corresponding to 2 x P. The scrolling of the third conveyor 3 is automatically managed by the programmable controller of the installation 100, as follows. When enough melons 8 are accumulated on the first accumulator conveyor 1, at its end 1a, blocked by the pivoting stops 5a in said holding position El, and that sufficient crates 9 are present in the automatic unstacker 10, the automat allows launching the operation of the retaining device 5, the second conveyor 2 and the holding and turning device 4, as described above, and the third conveyor 3, as described below. Thus, the crates 9 are depilated on the third conveyor 3. If necessary, the trays 9b are placed inside the crates 9 before the crate 9 arrives in the packaging position B1, in which it has the cells 9a. in line with the melons 8 in said depositing position A, as and when they arrive in said depositing position A. The melons 8 arrive in said depositing position A and the crates 9 circulate synchronously to always present the cells 9a successive different successive crates, in line with the melons arriving in said depositing position A. When there is no more crate 9 in the unstacker 10, the controller 11 detects it automatically with the help of a sensor and command to reload the unstacker and / or control to interrupt the operating cycle of the packaging installation 100. The controller 11 controls the locking of the pivoting stops 5a, sufficiently far in advance for any melon n 'arrival e in the A depositing position, when the unstacker 10 and the third conveyor 3 will no longer be able to transport a crate 9 in said packaging position B1, with a cell 9a in line with a said depositing position A. Similarly, when there is more or not enough melons accumulated at the end 1a of the first supply conveyor, a sensor 12 detects the 5 and the controller 11 controls the stop of the supply in crate 9 by the third conveyor in due time. Furthermore, as previously described, the automaton manages the operation of the various conveyors, so as not to present melons 8 in said depositing position A when a crate, in said packaging position, is filled, the last melons, namely the third melons (Figure 8D) or the fourth melons (Figures 8A and 8B) or the fifth melons (Figure 8C), being deposited in the last cells of lines 9-1 to 9-3 of a crate 9 Thus, the required space between said last melon of the first filled crate 9 and the first melon (s) of the same lines of a second second crate as described above is generated. In one embodiment, the speed of movement of the third conveyor 3 of crate 9 is constant, regardless of the size of the melons and therefore whatever the arrangement of the cells on the trays 9a of cells in the crates 9. In In this case, the program of the controller managing the installation 100 will only record different instructions for managing the actuation of the pivoting stops 5a and the running speeds of the second conveyor 2 and fourth conveyor 4, as described below. For example, to change from a twelve-melon pattern 12Q into three lines of four staggered melons, as shown in FIG. 8A, to a 12L gauge corresponding to an arrangement in which the melons are aligned, as described in FIG. In FIG. 8B, the operator will have to modify a single parameter on the control panel concerning the opening delay of the pivoting stops 5a, at the level of the transfer zone between the first conveyor 1 and the second conveyor 2. For the caliber 12Q, a delay offset must delay the actuation of the pivoting stopper 5a of the lateral retention means 5-1 and 5-3 relative to that of the central retaining means 5-2, corresponding to the scrolling half a step of small lateral strips 20-1 and 20-3 with respect to the central strip 20-2. For the 12L caliber, the value of the relative delay offset is reduced to zero, the three retaining means 5-1 to 5-3 opening and closing all at the same time. To pass from a 12Q caliber to 12L, it is also necessary to perform the spatial shift of said small strips 20-1 to 20-3, more precisely the offset of the small central strip 20-2 with respect to the two small lateral strips 20-1. and 20-3, this offset being effected at the drive drum 2b at the end 20-2 of the second conveyor 2 as described above.

If one wishes to go from a caliber 12Q (figure 8A) to a caliber 15Q (figure 8C) with fifteen melons in staggered rows, that is to say three lines of five melons with the center line shifted by a half -No forward, the offset of the first perforations 21 of the first band 20 remains the same. The operator only needs to select the 12Q caliber on the control panel, that is, the PLC 11 program will automatically calibrate itself by changing two variables, namely the basic speed of the first conveyor belt. 20 and the second conveyor belt 40, on the one hand, and on the other hand, the timing of the pivoting stops 5a between two crates. To pass from a 12Q caliber to a 15Q caliber, the speed of the conveyor belts 20 and 40 is thus increased by acting on the supply frequency of the common motor, via a frequency converter, and by passing through five melons instead of four before the closing of the pivoting stops 5a in said retaining position E2, as previously described in connection with Figures 5D and 5E. The frequency variation of the common motor 15 of the first conveyor belt 20 and second conveyor belt 40, described above, is also managed to ensure the regulation of the flow of melons arriving at the dispense position A, as a function of the flow of the crates arriving. in packing position B at fixed speed. The packaging installation 100 has a bin position sensor 14 on the third conveyor and a melon position sensor 13 on the first conveyor belt 20. The machine 11 constantly compares the indications given. by these two sensors 13 and 14, so as to regulate the respective speed of the second and fourth conveyors with respect to the speed of the third conveyor, to ensure the proper synchronization of the melons arriving at the depositing position A and crates in said position d packaging B1. When changing the size of the melons to be packaged, the operator must also take care to modify the type of tray 9b of cells appropriate for the concerned caliber of the melons. FIG. 10 shows a lifting device capable of lifting the honeycomb trays 9b inside said crate so that they are in the upper position of said crate when it arrives in the packing position B1 , so as to dampen or reduce the fall distance of the melons from their said depositing position A into a cell 9a. In one embodiment, the trays 9b can be placed initially in the crates 9 in an elevated position inside the crate 9, so as not to rest initially on the bottom 9-1 of the crate and down on the bottom 9-1 of the crate, 25 only under the effect of the weight of the melon 8 arriving in the cell 9a. In a preferred embodiment, a device as shown in FIG. 10 is implemented. This device comprises a fifth conveyor 50 carrying lifting elements 50a, extending in height, in the form of a rod, preferably spaced apart according to 30 same pitch that said cells, and able to pass through perforations 9-2 in the bottom 9-1 of the crate. The third conveyor 3 and fifth conveyor 50 run at the same speed and are driven by the same motor in the same longitudinal direction XX '. The trajectory of the fifth conveyor has a first portion inclined upward slope 50-1, then a substantially horizontal central portion 50-2 vis-à-vis and below the portion of the third conveyor corresponding to said packaging position B1, and, finally, a third portion downhill 50-3 in the longitudinal direction XX '. In the initial rising portion 50-1, the rods 50a gradually return into all the perforations 9-2, so that, in the horizontal position 50-2, the rods 50a have passed through all the perforations 9-2 of the same plate 9b , which is thus raised to just below the upper rim of the side walls of the crate 9, thereby reducing the fall height of the melon 8 from its said depositing position A to a said cell 9a.

Suitably, the third conveyor 3 comprises two parallel chains driven by the same motor shaft, said two chains supporting the crates, on the one hand, and the cleats 30a, on the other hand. The rods 50a transported by the fifth conveyor, below the third conveyor, can pass into the empty space between the two chains of the third conveyor, to pass through the perforations 9-2 of the bottom 9-1 of the crates 9. Once the melons 8 loaded in the crates 9 in said packaging position B1, the crates can be evacuated in said evacuation position B2 to a crate evacuation device 102, at the end 3b of the third conveyor 3. Before that, the part descending 50-3 of the fifth conveyor allows the progressive descent of the rods 50a and the smooth progressive descent of the tray of cells 9b until said cells 9a rest on the bottom 9-1 of the crate 9, at said position evacuation B2.

When the cells are at the bottom 9-1 of the crate 9, the tails 9a of the various melons are all oriented in the upper part of the melons, without exceeding the upper edge of the side walls of the crate 9, at the same inclination a, corresponding to the inclination of the tails 9a in said removal position.

Claims (17)

REVENDICATIONS1. Transport installation and removal (100) of objects of size and / or calibrated weight consisting of fruits or vegetables of quasi-revolution form (8), for depositing them in cells (9a) of a crate (9) ), each said cell being adapted to receive and wedge a said object, and the different cells of a rack being arranged in a plurality of p parallel lines (9-1,9-2,9-3), preferably p being an integer of 3 to 10, more preferably 3, 4 or 5, each line (9-1,9-2,9-3) comprising n cells, preferably n being an integer of 3 to 10 still preferably equal to 3, 4 or 5, said installation comprising: - preferably, a first alignment and supply conveyor (1) adapted to support and convey in a longitudinal direction (XX ') said objects, preferably of the same given caliber 15, arranged in a plurality of p first parallel rows (1-1, 1-2, 1-3), preferably 3 or First 4 rows, said objects being able to be irregularly spaced or in close contact with each other in each first file, and - a second endless conveyor (2), a first end (2-1) of which is arranged or intended for being disposed at one end (1a) of a said first supply conveyor (1), said second conveyor supporting a plurality of compartments (21) adapted to receive and wedge each a single said calibrated object, said compartments being arranged according to a same plurality of p second 25 parallel rows (21-1, 21-2, 21-3) in the same longitudinal direction (XX ', X1X1') at its upper part (20b), preferably 3 or 4 second rows , the compartments (21) in each second file being evenly spaced, the respective arrangement of the different compartments (21) of the different second rows being compatible with the arrangement of the different lines (9-1, 9-2, 9 -3) cells (9b) of a said crate, said second endless conveyor (2) comprising at its second end (2-2) farthest from said first conveyor a path from bottom to top partly circular (20c) around a horizontal axis (2b, YY ') perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (XX') of said second conveyor, and - retaining means (5, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3) of said objects, arranged at the end (1a) respectively of said first rows (1-1, 1-2, 1-3) of said first conveyor (1), able to retain an object (8, 8-1) of said first rows (1-1 , 1-2, 1-3) at the end of said first conveyor or on the contrary allow the transfer of said object to a said empty compartment (21) of said second conveyor (2), and - holding and reversing means ( 4) said objects, adapted to cooperate with said second conveyor (2) and said objects, so as to maintain and move said objects along their upward movement from bottom to top ie circular (20c) at said second longitudinal end (2-2) of said second conveyor, keeping a respective regular disposition of the various said objects, until positioning a said object of each of p second lines in respectively one of the p positions, called depositing positions (A), located beneath said second conveyor in which said objects are no longer supported by said compartments and in which depositing positions said objects are able to be in line with said cells (9a) d a said rack in packaging position (B1) in which said objects can thus be deposited substantially vertically, and - preferably, a rack unstacking device (10), and - a third supply conveyor (3) fit supporting and conveying said crates from a crate unloading device (10) to a position called packaging position (B1) in which the cells (9a) of said crate are located below said deposition positions (A) so that said cells can receive said objects deposited substantially vertically in said cells from a said removal position, the conveying said crates on said third conveyor being set, preferably automatically synchronized, as a function of the scrolling of said second conveyor (2) and the arrival of said objects in a said removal position so that two said successive calibrated objects of the same said second file arriving in the same said removal position can be deposited substantially vertically in two successive adjacent cells of the same line of cells within the crate, and - the scrolling of all said conveyors (1, 2, 3, 4, 50) and the actuation of said retaining means (5) being able to be managed by a PLC (11), preferably a PLC program mable differently according to the number and / or the disposition of said cells of said cagette, more preferably according to the detection by sensors (12, 13, 14) able to detect said melons transported by said first and / or or second conveyor (1, 2) and said crates carried by a third conveyor (3). 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it is suitable for transporting and depositing (100) objects of size and / or calibrated weight consisting of fruits or vegetables having a tail, preferably melons ( 8), and it further comprises: - a said second conveyor (2) comprising or cooperating with means for orienting (7) the tail (8a) objects capable of orienting said tails within said compartments (21) in a given position (C1), preferably substantially in the same given inclination (a) within the various compartments (21), and - said means for holding and turning (4) said objects able to cooperate with said second conveyor (2). ) and said objects, so as to maintain and move said objects to said depositing positions (A) in which said objects have their said tails (8a) in the upper position (C2) of said object, preferably all the tails of said objectsin said removal positions being oriented substantially at the same inclination (a). 3. Installation according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises: - retaining means (5, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3) of said objects, arranged at the end (1a) respectively said first rows (1-1, 1-2, 1-3) of said first conveyor (1) adapted to retain a first object (8, 8-4) of said first rows (1-1, 1-2, 1-3 ) at the end of said first conveyor and operable automatically to allow the transfer of said first object to a said empty compartment (21) of said second conveyor (2) and able to automatically retain a second said object (8, 8-5) arriving at the end of said first files of said first conveyor after transfer of said first object and authorizing the passage of said second object only to allow the transfer of said second object into a said determined next compartment empty of said second conveyor, preferably able to transfer said second object in said laying position in line with a second crate according to the first crate in which said first object has been just before being deposited, and - preferably, transfer means (6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3) of said objects, arranged at the end (1a) of said first conveyor adapted to allow the transfer of a first object from each said first line (1-1, 1-2, 1-3) to the end (1a) of said first conveyor to a said compartment (21) empty of a said second line (21-1, 21-2, 21-3) corresponding to said second conveyor after actuation of said retaining means (5). 4. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: - said second distribution conveyor (2) comprises a belt conveyor, said compartments being constituted by first perforations (21) made in at least one first band (20, 20-1, 20-2, 20-3), the size and shape of said first perforations being adapted to receive said objects partly above (8c) and partly below (8d) of the upper portion (20b) of said first strip (20) before passing it at said second end (2-2) of the second conveyor, and - said holding and reversing means (4) of said sized objects comprise a strip (40) a fourth endless conveyor (4), called the second band (40) whose scrolling is synchronized with that of said first band (20), said second band being guided by a guide structure in the form of arches (4d) according to a trajectory partially circu parallel and greater radius than the partly circular path (20c) of the first band of the second conveyor at its said second end, so that the portion of said objects situated above said first band in the upper part substantially horizontal (20b) of the second conveyor before said second end (2-2) can be applied against and held by said second strip (40) to a said removal position (A) in which said object is no longer supported at the bottom of said object. 5. Installation according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that said means (7) orientation of the tails comprise means for friction of said objects, preferably located below said first band, able to orient the tails in the part of the said object located below (C2) said first band, preferably inclined (a) in a direction (D2) substantially from 30 to 60 °, preferably about 45 °, relative to the direction perpendicular (ZZ ') to said longitudinal direction ( XX ', X1X1') of said first band (20) and said second conveyor (2), preferably a vertical direction (ZZ '). 6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that said means (7) for orienting the tails comprise a fixed longitudinal flat support parallel to the upper part (20b) of said first band (20) of said second conveyor and located below said first at a height h, the size and the shape of the contour (22) of said first perforations (21) being able to retain the rear face and a part of the lateral faces of said object against the rear part (22b) and respectively of the lateral parts ( 22c) of the contour of said first perforation, and the height h and the shape and size of the contour of the first perforation on the front (22a) being able to allow rotation of said object resting on said fixed flat support (7) of whereby said tail can pass through said first perforation between (21a), said object and the front limit (22a) of the contour of the first perforation until said it can be retained in the lower position of said object by and below (C2) the rear limit (22b) of the contour of said first perforation of said first band, when said tail is initially in the upper position (C1) above said upper portion (20b) of the first band. 7. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said retaining means (5, 5-1, 5-2, 5-3) of said objects at the end (1a) of said first conveyor (1 ) comprise a plurality of stops (5a), each stop being operable automatically by an actuator (5b) between a retaining position (El), able to hold a said object at the end of said first conveyor, and a position of release (E2), able to authorize the transfer of said object to the end of said first conveyor to a said empty compartment of said second conveyor, said actuator being preferably a jack (5b). 8. Installation according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said transfer means (6) comprise a plurality of p guiding structures (6-1, 6-2, 6-3) respectively at the end. each said first line (1-1, 1-2-3) comprising an inclined downward sloping portion (6a) extending at least from the end (1a) of said first conveyor to above an inclined slope portion (20a) of the first band of said second conveyor at said first end (2-1, 2a), said upwardly inclined portion (20a) of said first band continuing through an upper portion (20b) first band of said second substantially horizontal conveyor, preferably slightly inclined with respect to the descending horizontal, and said first band comprises first transverse separation elements (23) between two said first successive perforations (21). 9. Installation according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that said first perforations of said first band comprise a shape symmetrical with respect to a median longitudinal axis (X1X1 ') with a contour (22) of which a rear part ( 22b) is of substantially semicircular shape and the front portion (22a) of the contour is located in front of a semi-circular virtual boundary (22-1) symmetrical with said semi-circular rear portion (22b) with respect to a axis (Y1Y1 ') passing through the middle (M) of the first perforation in its longitudinal direction (X1X1') and extending in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of said second conveyor, delimiting a front surface (51) greater than the rear surface (S2) delimited by said semi-circular rear portion (22b) of the contour of said first perforation. 10. Installation according to one of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that said second strip (40) comprises second perforations (41) whose arrangement includes a provision 25 of the first perforations (21) of said first strip (20) . 11. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said first band of said second conveyor comprises a plurality of p small strips (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) independent parallel and juxtaposed, each said small band 30 comprising a single said second line (21-1, 21-2, 21-3) of said compartments (21). 12. Installation according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that said third conveyor (3) comprises or is adapted to cooperate with damping means of the fall (50, 50a) of said objects from said removal positions (A) into said cells (9a) of said crate in said packaging position (B1). 13. Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that said means for damping the fall of the objects comprise a fifth endless conveyor (50) carrying raising elements extending in elevation (50a), the scrolling of said fifth conveyor being able to be synchronized with that of said third conveyor (3) so as to be able to convey said lifting elements (50a) from below said crates and through perforations (9-2) of the bottom (9-1) of the crate, then lifting a tray (9b) forming cells (9a) above said bottom (91) of the crate, said crate being transported by said third conveyor flowing horizontally at said packaging position (B1), said fifth conveyor flowing rising slope (50-1) during said lifting of said tray, then horizontal slope (50-2) opposite said packaging position of the crate, and then inclined downward slope (50-3) for progressively lowering said tray (9b) to the bottom (9-2) of the crate, once said cells filled with said objects. 14. A method of packaging melons calibrated in cells (9a) of a crate (9), each said cell being adapted to receive and wedge a said object, and the various cells of a crate being arranged in a plurality of p parallel lines (9-1, 9-2, 9-3), preferably p being an integer from 3 to 10, more preferably equal to 3, 4 or 5, each line (9-1, 9-2, 9-3) comprising n cells, preferably n being an integer from 3 to 10, more preferably equal to 3, 4 or 5, in which process a plant according to one of claims 1 to 13 is carried out, process comprising the following steps in which: a) melons (8) are conveyed in said first rows (1-1, 12, 1-3) on said first conveyor (1), said objects being able to be irregularly spaced or clamped together; against each other in each queue until accumulating in contact one behind the other at the extremity e (1a) of said first conveyor (1), b) at least one retaining means (5) is actuated at the end (1a) of said first conveyor to allow the transfer of said melon 10 into said compartment (21). ) of said second conveyor (2), c) transferring (6) at least one said melon in said compartment (21) of said second conveyor (2), d) said melon is conveyed on a substantially horizontal upper portion (20b) of said second conveyor to its said second end (2-2), e) said tails (8a) are oriented within the compartments (21) in a given position (C2), preferably substantially in the same given inclination (a). ) within the various compartments with said means (7) for orienting the tail (8a) of the melons, and f) conveying said melon arriving at said second end (2-2) of the second conveyor to a said one depositing position (A) below said second conveyor, maintaining it in said compartment (21) and turning it 180 ° with said holding and reversing means (4) cooperating with said second conveyor 25 and said melons at said second longitudinal end of said second conveyor, so as to hold, move and return said melons along a partially circular path (20c), keeping the respective regular disposition of the various said melons, until positioning each said melon as the scroll 30 of said second conveyor in one of the p removal positions (A) located below said second conveyor, depositing positions in which said melons are no longer supported by said compartments and are in line with said cells of a said crate in which said melons are then deposited substantially vertically, and g) concomitantly with the one of the steps a) to f), crates (9) are conveyed empty by said third conveyor (3) from a device de-pilling (10) to arrive at a packaging position (B1) in which p said pits are in line with said p depositing positions, when said melons arrive at said depositing positions, and i) the melons are deposited from said depositing positions in said cells (9a) of a crate in said packaging position, said melons having their said tails in the upper position (8c, C1) of said melon, preferably inclined at an angle (a) of 30 at 60 °, more preferably 45 °, with respect to the vertical, preferably all the tails of said melons in said depositing positions being oriented substantially at the same inclination, and j) discharging said crate filled with melons deposited in 20 said cells from said packaging position (B1) to an evacuation position (B2) towards the discharge end (3b) of said third conveyor, and k) scrolling of all said conveyors (1, 2, 3, 4 , 50) and the act ions of said retaining means (5) being managed by an automaton, preferably a programmable automaton (11) differently according to the melon caliber and / or according to the number and arrangement of said cells of said crate, and / or function of the detection or not by sensors (12, 13, 14) of said melons conveyed by said first conveyor (1) and / or said second conveyor (2) and the detection of crates transported by said third conveyor (3) . 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that: in step b), retaining means (5) are actuated in release position (E2) to allow the transfer of a second said object (8, 8-5) arriving at the end (1a) of each said first row of said first conveyor after transfer of said first object (8, 8-1) and allowing the passage of said second object only to allow the transfer of said second object in a said next compartment determined empty (21) of said second conveyor, preferably leaving the next first compartment empty and allowing the transfer to a next second compartment, and - in step c), said second conveyor comprises a first band (20), said compartments being constituted by first perforations (21) of the first band, and said melon is retained on said first band by first transverse members (23) in the form of cleats arranged s between two successive first perforations (21) making it possible to convey said melon by pulling it along an upwardly inclined portion (20a) of said first band of said second conveyor to a substantially horizontal upper portion (20b) of the first band to the second end (2-2) of said second conveyor (2). 16. A method according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that: in step b), when n melons have been transferred into n successive compartments of the same said second queue (21-1, 21-2, 25); 21-3) of compartments of said second conveyor, the retaining means (5) are actuated in the retaining position (El) for a longer period, and said retaining means are actuated in the release position (E2) so as to allow transferring said next melon into the second empty compartment according to the previous compartment 30 in which a said melon has been transferred, and- in step g), the successive crates on said third conveyor (3) arrive in said packaging position (I31) spaced from the following crate and preceding crate the same distance (d), preferably with the aid of second transverse separation elements (30a), said distance (d) being such that the first cell to the back of a line of cells of said box is spaced from the last cell at the front of the line of the following crate in the same alignment, in a same step (P) as the pitch (P) between two successive cells of the same line in a crate and not even two first said first perforations (21) of the same second file of said first band. 17. Method according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that: - said crate comprises pxn cells arranged in staggered rows, the n cells being evenly spaced in a same pitch (P) in each of the p cell lines (9-1,9-2,9-3), the cells of a given line being shifted in said longitudinal direction (XX ') of the crate by half a step (P / 2) with respect to the most close to a juxtaposed line, and 20 - in step b), there is actuated retaining means (5) so as not to release a said object at the end (1a) of a said first given line of said first conveyor only when the object already transferred from the end of a first adjacent file juxtaposed from said first conveyor to a said compartment of said second conveyor has been conveyed a half step, and - in step d), said melons are fed over a plurality of p small independent bands (20-1,20-2,20-3) parallel and juxtaposed, each said small strip comprising a single said second row of said compartments, the compartments of each small strip being spaced at the same pitch and offset by half a step (P / 2) in said longitudinal direction (X1X1 ' ) relative to the nearest compartment of a small juxtaposed strip.