SORTING AND PACKAGING UNIT FOR PRODUCTS SUITABLE TO BE SUSPENDED FROM A HANGING BODY FOR CONVEYANCE, SUCH AS FRUIT CLUSTERS, IN PARTICULAR TABLE GRAPES OR CLUSTER TOMATOES

摘要

P The invention relates to a unit for sorting and packaging products such as bunches of fruit, comprising a conveyor line with an endless chain (1) under which are articulated around a vertical axis a plurality of arms d coupling (12) provided with a coupling member for the traction of plates (16) provided with a product attachment member and deployed along a parallel conveyor track (17) and below the conveyor line. In addition, along this conveyor line are distributed a plurality of work stations each comprising a release track (29) to which the towed platforms are selectively directed by switching means (34, 36), and along from which each of the plates (16) is successively uncoupled by automatic pivoting of the coupling arms (12), brought into a waiting position for loading or unloading, then automatically re-coupled to an arm hitch (12), and therefore re-integrated along the conveyor line. /P