NZ516329A - Method of packing products where information about a characteristic of the product is acquired and used to pack the product - Google Patents

Abstract

Method and Apparatus for automated packing of products including: a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to the shape or at least width and height of individual products on a product packing line, a pack supply system arranged to supply packs sequentially as individual products approach the packing apparatus on a conveyor, a pack opener arranged to automatedly take up a pack from the pack supply system as each individual product approaches the pack opener, and to subsequently machine open a mouth of each pack to a variable extent of lift in a direction at approximately right angles to a major plane of the unopened pack and to a variable degree of width opening in a direction approximately in a major plane of the unopened pack, based on information relating to the shape or at least height and width of the product acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

Description

* 5163 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 516329/516330 Date: 21 December 2001 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USE IN PACKING PRODUCTS We, SEALED AIR (NZ) LIMITED, a New Zealand company of Corner Avalon Drive 30 and Foreman Road, Hamilton, New Zealand, do hereby declare this invention to be described in the following statement: 10588-1 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OrvlCE OF N.Z. 2 0 DEC 2U02 & E £5 .1V E U FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to the packing of products in flexible packaging and in particular bags or similar formed from a plastics material, and to the packing of irregularly sized products such as meat cuts in bags or similar.

BACKGROUND Typically in a meat processing plant carcasses are butchered to primal meat cuts which are then individually packed, typically in bags manually by operators on a packing line. The meat cuts on a conveyor will typically vary significantly in size.

In other applications there may be a need to pack products of varying size, or varying numbers of products per pack.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION The invention provides an improved or at least alternative form of apparatus and method for use in packing products such as meat cuts.

In broad terms in one aspect the invention comprises apparatus for packing products including: apparatus for automated packing of products including: a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to the shape or at least width and height of individual products on a product packing line, a pack supply system arranged to supply packs sequentially as individual products approach the packing apparatus on a conveyor, a pack opener arranged to automatedly take up a pack from the pack supply system as each individual product approaches the pack opener, and to subsequently machine open a mouth of each pack to a variable extent of lift in a direction at approximately right angles to a major plane of the unopened pack and to a variable degree of width opening in x-jlif&etirvi intellectual proper"^ OFFICE OF N.Z. mm-, 2 u jul received approximately in a major plane of the unopened pack, based on information relating to the shape or at least height and width of the product acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a method for packing products including: at an upstream product information acquisition stage acquiring information relating to the shape or at least width and height of individual products on a product packing line, machine to supplying packs sequentially as individual products approach the packing apparatus on a conveyor, automatedly taking up on an automated pack opener device a pack from the pack supply 15 system as each individual product approaches the pack opener, and machine opening a mouth of the pack to a variable extent of lift in a direction at approximately right angles to a major plane of the unopened pack and to a variable degree of width opening in a direction approximately in a major plane of the unopened pack, based on information relating to the shape or at least height and width of the product acquired at the upstream product information 20 acquisition stage.

Typically the packs will be bags such as plastic bags or sacks. Typically the packs will be sealed at one end and unsealed at the other. The packs are supplied to the packing apparatus sequentially, as individual products such as meat cuts approach, from a bulk supply such as a 25 stack or rolled stock of packs for example, or alternatively may be made on-line to a standard length, or to the appropriate length tailored to the size of individual meat cuts, by cutting and sealing bags from tube stock for example.

The pack opening means will typically comprise one or more parts which insert into the 30 mouth of each pack and spread the pack to a controlled extent of opening. Fingers inserted into the pack open the pack to a variable extent of lift (the height direction, at approximately right angles to the plane of the unopened pack) combined with a variable degree of width opening, controlled dependent on product size. Alternatively means may grip the pack mouth from the exterior for controlled opening of the pack, rather than inserting into the interior of the mouth of the bag. r— —— intellectual PROPERTY OFFICE Or N.Z. mm-1 3 13 jul 2004 received In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a method for packing products including: acquiring information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packaging line, machine opening the mouth of each pack to a controlled extent based on information relating to one or more characteristics of the products being packed acquired at an upstream product 10 information acquisition stage, and delivering or loading products into the open packs, and delivering or loading products into packs and into a vacuum packaging machine via two or more generally parallel load conveyors, by a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a method for packing products, including: acquiring information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing 20 line, and delivering or loading products into packs and into a vacuum packaging machine via two or more generally parallel load conveyors, by a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises apparatus for packing products comprising: a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to one or 30 more characteristics of products on a product packing line, and a product packing stage, and . intellectual property 164812-1 4 | OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 3 JUL zm neiuen two or more generally parallel conveyors arranged to deliver or load products of different sizes to the packing stage, by a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

In broad terms in another aspect the invention comprises a method for packing products comprising: acquiring information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line, and delivering or loading products of different sizes to a product packing stage, via two or more generally parallel conveyors, a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

Information from the product information acquisition stage on product characteristics such as size is used to deliver or load products by activating selected conveyors for the products. For example in a simple form two parallel conveyors may be provided, one of which delivers or loads smaller products and both of which are activated to run in parallel to deliver or load larger products. The two conveyors may have similar or different widths. In another form three or more parallel conveyors may deliver and load products. The conveyors may be "centred" ie a centre conveyor may be flanked on either side by adjacent conveyors of a similar width which may be smaller or larger in width than the centre conveyor, or may be non-centred.

In a preferred form the conveyors are arranged to load products into the packs or bags by telescoping or moving forward into the packs or bags to an extent dependent upon the size of the product ie further for longer products than for shorter products, again based on product size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

The acquired information relating to the individual products such as individual meat cuts may include any one of dimensional information such as height information, width information, or height, width and length information, volume or shape information, or weight information, or a combination of one or more of any such information. 164812-1 intellectual property OFFICE Or N.Z. t 3 JUL 2004 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The invention is further described with reference to the accompanying figures by way of example and without intending to be limiting, wherein: Fig 1 schematically shows the overall layout of one format of packing apparatus of the invention, Fig 2 schematically shows one form of pack opener, Fig 3 shows another form of pack opener, Fig 4 shows a further form of pack opener, Figs 5A to 5D show operation of the pack opener of Figure 4, Figures 6 to 13 schematically show operation of a further form of pack opener and product loading system, Figs 14 to 17 schematically show in plan view the layout and operation of a preferred form of product loading conveyor system, and Fig 18 shows in more detail in plan view a form of product loading conveyor system, and Fig 19 shows the product loading conveyor system of Fig 18 in the direction of arrow Y of Fig 18.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORMS Referring to Fig 1, packing apparatus of the invention comprises a product information acquisition stage which may be a machine vision system beneath which individual products such as meat cuts M pass along conveyor 2. The machine vision system 10588-1 6 acquires information relating to one or more characteristics of the individual products such as meat cuts passing through the machine vision stage 1 on conveyor 2. As a minimum the machine vision system 1 may acquire simple dimensional information relating to the individual products such as only one of the height or width or another 5 single dimension of each product or meat cut. More preferably the machine vision system is set up to acquire multiple dimension information such as a combination of height and width, or height, width, and length information, or other dimensional information indicative of the size of the meat cuts or the volume or shape of the meat cuts. Weight information may supplement dimensional information acquired by the 10 machine vision stage.

A machine vision stage may comprise a digital camera system which "sees" individual meat cuts and/or a system which directs at least one beam or line from a scanning laser over individual meat cuts with deflection and/or reflection of laser light on the meat cut 15 being seen by a camera system and the resulting information being processed to provide the dimensional and/or volume or shape information in relation to each meat cut. Alternatively the machine vision system may simply be a series of horizontal and vertical beams across the conveyor path at different heights or spacings through which the meat cuts pass, providing information to a control system as to the width and/or 20 height and/or length of the meat cuts based on the number of beams broken by each passing meat cut. Any other machine vision system which enables the acquisition of information as to one or more of product length, width, size, volume, shape or similar may be used.

The acquired information may be supplied direct to individual electronic or programmed controllers for one or more pack openers, or to a common control system for a packing line which also controls other stages of the packing line, and synchronises the arrival of individual products at the bag opening stage. The acquired information is used so that individual packs or bags are opened to an extent which matches each 30 individual product. 10588-1 7 In an alternative form the product information acquisition stage may simply comprise a weighing means such as a weighing conveyor which weighs individual meat cuts and passes the weight information for use by a controller of the pack opening means, to open each bag to a controlled extent depending on individual product weight.

Fig 2 shows one form of pack openers which comprises parts such as fingers 5 which in operation of the packing apparatus insert into the mouth of each pack or bag such as those indicated at B, and move apart to open the bag mouth to a controlled degree of height or lift. Similar parts or fingers (not shown in Fig 2) may move in a lateral or 10 width-wise direction to open the bag to a fixed or controlled degree of lateral opening. The degree of lift may be continuously variable dependent upon the size of the individual product or may be stepped between a number of predetermined levels of opening for products within broad size ranges. For each such a size the bag may be opened or spread laterally to a controlled degree of width which again may be 15 continuously variable dependent on product size, or to fixed steps of width opening. The lift opening fingers and width opening fingers may be controlled by servo motors which adjust the position of the lift and width opening of fingers for each bag, or by small pneumatic cylinders, or by any other suitable mechanical arrangement. The lift and width opening fingers may be mounted for vertical and horizontal movement on 20 peripheral entry frame 6 as shown, or again by any other suitable arrangement.

Typically products such as meat cut M in Fig 2 will approach the pack opener on a conveyor such as conveyor 7 for example. In the pack opener of Fig 2 the entry frame 6 carrying the spreader fingers is pivotally mounted at 8 so that it can pivot between the 25 upper position shown in hard outline and the lower position shown phantom outline. Prior to or as each product approaches, the spreader fingers enter the mouth of and pick up a fresh bag or pack, and the entry frame 6 pivots upwardly (from the position shown in phantom outline to the position shown in hard outline). The spreader fingers are driven apart to open the bag to a controlled extent, based on information provided from 30 the earlier machine vision or similar stage through which the product has passed. The open pack is thus presented to the product which is conveyed to the open bag, which is then caught by exit conveyor 9 which carries the bagged product onward, pulling the 10588-1 8 mouth of the bag from the spreader fingers 5. In Fig 2 different degrees of opening of the bag mouth are shown in phantom outline at different positions of the spreader fingers 5.

The apparatus showing in Fig 3 is similar in operation to that shown in Fig 2 except that the bags are brought down into the product flow from above, rather than from below as in the apparatus of Fig 2. In Fig 3 the same reference numbers indicate the same components as in Fig 2. Again entry frame 6 carries lift and width opening fingers in a similar arrangement to the apparatus of Fig 2. The entry frame 6 is mounted so as to 10 pivotally move in the direction of arrow C from position 10 at which the spreader fingers enter the mouth of and pick up a fresh bag or pack, to the lower position as shown. Prior to or during downward movement the spreader fingers 5 are driven apart to open the bag to a controlled extent, based on information provided from the earlier machine vision or similar stage through which the product has passed. Conveyor 7 has 15 a telescoping forward end 7a which delivers the product through the entry frame 6 and into the open bag as the bag is brought down towards the telescoping conveyor end 7a extending over the exit conveyer 9, so that the product is entered into the bag and the bag is drawn over the product. The conveyor end 7a then withdraws leaving the product in the bag which is then caught by exit conveyor 9 which carries the bagged 20 product onward, pulling the mouth of the bag from the spreader fingers 5, following which the entry frame returns to pick up a fresh bag from bag dispenser point 10.

In the embodiments of Figs 2 and 3 the product items move towards the pack or bag which is stationary or relatively stationary. In an alternative arrangement however the 25 open packs or bag may be moved towards and/or drawn over the stationary or relatively stationary product item. It is also possible that as the product items move, the open bag may be moved to be drawn over the moving product item, so that the pack or bag and product item such as meat cuts are moving towards each other as the product is entered into the bag.

A control system may synchronise the arrival of individual meat cuts with the acquired information relating to the individual meat cuts. Alternatively the product information 10588-1 9 acquisition stage and bagging station may be autonomous, and where bags are opened according to product weight and for example a weighing conveyor may be positioned immediately upstream of the bagging stage. In another arrangement acquired information relating to each product may be sent directly from the machine vision stage 5 to the packing station and retained in a database at the packing station until that meat cut has arrived, and is then used to open the bag to the appropriate extent for that size of product. In a yet more sophisticated arrangement individual meat cuts may be tracked along a packing line so that the system can detect if any individual meat cut is removed from the product stream for any reason, to avoid mis-indexing of the meat cuts and 10 packs, and this may be achieved by detecting and tracking the movement of each meat cut from one conveyor to the next.

In the embodiments of Figs. 2 and 3 the spreader fingers move height-wise (lift) and width-wise to open the mouth of the pack to a rectangular or square shape. This is not 15 essential and the spreader fingers or equivalent may be positioned to open the mouth of the pack to a non-regular shape more adapted to the shape of the product dynamically, as the product is loaded. A further possibility is that the spreader fingers or equivalent may be dynamically opened and closed as the product enters the bag. For example for a hump back-shaped product such as a typical meat cut, the fingers may open the bag to a 20 controlled degree and then as the product is entered into the bag continue opening the bag as the highest part of the product passes through the bag opening, and then begin to close the bag as the tailing portion or the product enters the bag, and optionally near-fully or partially close the bag. For this purpose the spreader fingers may grip the periphery of the bag or pack mouth. For example a 3D image of the product may be 25 acquired at the machine vision stage and a multiple number of spreader fingers moved to duplicate the shape of the product, and open the bag to the shape of the product, as the product is loaded. Other similar variations are possible.

As indicated previously, packs or bags may be supplied from a stack or rolled stock or 30 alternatively may be made on-line by cutting and sealing bags from tubes, preferably to a length for each pack or bag tailored to the size of individual products. A range of bag or stock widths may be available in a range of materials such as oxygen barrier 10588-1 materials, export grade packing material, and so forth from which the bags may be selected as directed by the control system. Bags preprinted with different labelling or branding information may also be provided and selected from.

Another preferred embodiment pack opener and it's operation are shown in Figures 4 and 5A to E. The pack opener comprises four parts herein referred to as blades 70 and 71. The lower blades 70 are carried by mounts 72 which slidably move on shafts 73, and upper blades 71 are carried by mounts 74 fixed to the shaft 73. Pneumatic cylinder 75 can move the lower blades 71 vertically in the direction of arrow W in Figures 4 and 10 5. The mounts 72 carrying the lower blades 70 are connected by shaft 76 to which the shaft 77 of the pneumatic cylinder 75 is coupled. Figure 5C (which does not show the operating cylinder 75) shows the lower blades 70 separated from the upper blades 71, and in the lowermost position of the lower blades 70. Figures 5A and 5B show the lower blades 70 in their upper most position. The upper and lower blade pair 70 and 71 15 on one side and the upper and lower blade pair 70 and 71 on the other side of the pack opener can be moved widthwise relative to one another in the direction of arrow Z in Figures 4 and 5 as shown. Referring to Figure 4, the shafts 73 are in turn carried by left and right carriages 78 which are movably mounted on subframe 79. Sub frame 79 also carries three operating cylinders 80 each having a different stroke length, on common 20 shaft 81. The three cylinders together provide eight programmable widthwise positions in the direction of arrow W between the upper and lower blade pairs on either side. In an alternative form there may be four cylinders which may provide for sixteen programmable width positions, or the cylinders may be replaced by a single variable stroke pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, or again in this or other pack openers described 25 herein the cylinders 75 and 80 may be replaced for example rack and pinion drive systems.

Figures 5D and 5E schematically show a range of relative positions to which the blades 70 and 71 may be moved relative to one another. For Figure 5D shows how the pack 30 opener may open the mouth of a pack of a particular width eg a 200mm width plastic bag, to a range of mouth open shapes, between a maximum width-minimum height position, and a maximum height-minimum width position of the blades. Figure 5E 10588-1 11 shows a similar range of positions to which the mouth of a larger bag eg in 300mm width bag, may be opened by the pack opener.

Referring to Figures 5A and 5B, to initially separate the two sides of the mouth of a 5 pack enabling the pack opener blades 70 and 71 to insert into the mouth of the pack, suction cups 82 may be provided above and below the bag mouth which may operate to grip either side of a bag and initially separate the two sides of the bag mouth, enabling the blades 70 and 71 of the pack opener to enter into the mouth of the bag. In Figure 5 A a bag is schematically indicated at B, held by suction cups while the blades 70 and 71 in 10 their minimum width minimum height position insert into the mouth of the bag. Subsequently the left and right blade pair 70 and 71 may move apart widthwise, while the suction cups are released, to release the bag from the suction cups. The suction cups then move fully away from the bag or the bag opener blades carrying the bag may pivot around shaft 83 (see Figures 5A to 5C) to move the bag opener carrying the bag away 15 from the suction cups, and the pack opener blades may then move to one of the positions shown in Figures 5D or 5E to open the pack to enable loading into the pack of the product to be packed, or bringing of the pack over the product to be packed.

Another preferred embodiment pack opener and product loading system and its 20 operation is shown in Figures 6-13. In use meat cuts such as that indicated at M are carried by product supply conveyor 20. Meat cuts are delivered by the product supply conveyor onto elevator plate 21 when it is in it's lowered position as shown in Figure 6, and are then elevated as shown in Figures 7 and 8. Movement of the elevator plate 21 is driven by hydraulic cylinder 22, which is in turn carried by a moving carriage assembly 25 23 which moves in the direction of arrow J in Figure 6 on the machine bed 24. For example the moving carriage assembly 23 may be moveably mounted to the machine bed 24 by wheels 25, and driven by hydraulic cylinder 26. When the product supply conveyor 20 has delivered the product onto the elevator plate 21 the forward telescoping end of the conveyor 20 withdraws.

An empty pack such as bag B is picked up from a bulk supply as will be further described, the two sides of the bag mouth are separated, and the bag is brought down 10588-1 12 from the position shown in Figure 6 to the position shown in Figure 7 by pivoting pack pickup arm 27 which moves in the direction of arrow F in Figure 6. The pack pickup arm 27 in its upper position shown in Figure 6 picks up a fresh pack and then pivots down while at the same time arm 28 forming part of a pack opener and bag opener 5 carrying pack opening means in the form of figures or spoon plates 29 moves upwardly to the position of Figure 7. The partially open mouth of bag B is entered onto the fingers or spoons 29 of bag 28 as shown. The bag opener arm 28 having received a pack then pivots downwardly as shown in Figure 8. As it does so the fingers or spoons 29 are driven apart to open the mouth of the bag further, and preferably to a desired 10 extent to match the size of the approaching meat cut M, as will be further described. Movement of the bag opener arm 28 and the elevator plate 21 is co-ordinated so that the meat cut is presented to the bag opener arm 28 as it pivots downwardly as shown in Figure 8, and in doing so enters the open mouth of the bag over the meat cut on the elevator plate as shown in Figure 9.

The carriage assembly 23 is then moved forward (by cylinder 26) to the position shown in Figure 10 to carry the meat cut in the open mouth of the bag on the elevator plate, onto the conveyor as shown At about the same time product ejector carriage 30 is moved forward as indicated by arrow K in Figure 6. The product ejector carriage 30 is 20 movably mounted in the machine bed 24 and may be driven by hydraulic cylinder 31 for example. The product ejector carriage carries ejector plate 32 which moves in the direction of arrow I in Figure 6 relative to the product ejector carriage 30, and may be driven by a cylinder 33 carried by the product ejector carriage 30. Referring to Figure 11 cylinder 33 is then actuated to move the ejector plate 32 forward to push the meat cut 25 further into the bag, following which the ejector plate 32 withdraws, and product ejector carriage 30 moves back - see Figure 12 - while at about the same time the fingers or spoons 29 of the bag opener arm 28 close together and then withdraw. At about the same time or prior the product supply conveyor 30 operates to move the next meat cut onto the elevator plate 21 ready to load the next meat cut into a pack and into the next 30 vacuum chamber in the same way. 10588-1 13 The elevator plate 21 in the particular arrangement described lifts the products to the bag opener but an alternative arrangement may omit the elevator plate 21 and related parts and a product conveyor such as the product conveyor 20 may deliver the products directly to the bag opener.

As referred to above the bag opener arm 28 includes fingers or plate-like spoons 29 which insert between the separated sides of the mouth of a pack or bag, and then move apart to open the bag mouth, preferably to a controlled degree of height or lift. Optionally similar fingers may be provided on either side which move in a lateral or 10 width-wise direction to open the bag to a fixed or controlled degree of width opening. The degree of lift may be continuously variable dependent upon the size of each individual product or may be stepped between a number of predetermined levels of opening for products within broad size ranges. For each such a size the bag may be opened or spread laterally to a controlled degree which again may be continuously 15 variable dependent on product size, or to fixed steps of lateral opening. The lift opening fingers or spoons and optionally width opening fingers may be controlled by servo motors which adjust the position of the lift and lateral opening of fingers for each bag, by small pneumatic cylinders, or by any other suitable mechanical arrangement. The extent to which the spreader fingers or spoons 29 are driven apart to open the bag to a 20 controlled extent maybe based on information provided from an earlier machine vision or similar stage through which each product passes.

A control system may control operation of the machine as described above, and may also synchronise the arrival of individual meat cuts with the acquired information 25 relating to the individual meat cuts. In another arrangement acquired information relating to each product may be sent directly from a machine vision stage to the packing and vacuuming station and retained in a database at the packing and vacuuming station until that meat cut has arrived, and is then used to open the bag to the appropriate extent for that size of product. In a yet more sophisticated arrangement individual meat cuts 30 may be tracked along a packing line so that the system can detect if any individual meat cut is removed from the product stream for any reason, to avoid mis-indexing of the 10588-1 14 meat cuts and packs, and this may be achieved by detecting and tracking the movement of each meat cut from one conveyor to the next.

Packs or bags may be supplied from a stack or rolled stock or alternatively may be 5 made on-line by cutting and sealing bags from tubes. A range of bag or stock widths may be available in a range of materials such as oxygen barrier materials, export grade packing material, and so forth from which the bags may be selected as directed by the control system. Bags preprinted with different labelling or branding information may also be provided and selected from. Referring again to Figure 6, in a preferred form 10 bags may be supplied from bag magazines 40, each of which contains rolls of prefabricated bags of different sizes and/or types of bags with various properties eg different oxygen barrier or puncture properties or printed labelling information. Alternatively one or more of the bag magazines 40 may be replaced by one or more on line bag making machines (as are known in the art). As each meat cut approaches or is 15 being loaded, the machine control system causes one of the bag magazines to present a bag to bag delivery conveyor 41, of the appropriate size and/or type for the particular meat cut. Bag delivery conveyor 41 passes around rollers 42, and picks up the bag from the selected bag magazine 40 and delivers it closed mouth first to the position of bag B in Figure 6 ready for pick up by the pack pickup arm 27. The bags may pass below 20 printer 43 and have information printed on the bag relating for example to the specific meat cut to be packaged eg weight or type information where the bags have already been pre-printed with more generic information such as branding information for example. To separate the two sides of the mouth of the bag ready for pick up by the bag pick up arm 27, one or more suction cups above and below the bag mouth may grip 25 either side of the waiting bag and then move slightly apart to separate the two sides of the bag mouth. A series of suction cups or a longitudinally extending suction bar may be provided above and below the bag mouth. The control system moves the suction cups towards the bag mouth on either side and applies suction at the appropriate time, and releases the suction when the bag has been picked up by the pack pickup arm 27, to 30 allow the pack pickup arm 27 to pivot downwardly to enter the bag mouth onto the fingers or spoons 29 of the bag opener arm 28. Alternative arrangements for initially separating the bag mouth may be used however. 10588-1 Figures 14 to 17 show in plan view the layout and operation of a preferred form of product loading conveyor system. Such a product loading conveyor system maybe used as the conveyor 7 which delivers products to the pack openers of Figures 2, 3 or 4 for 5 example, or as the product conveyor 20 or equivalent which delivers products to the pack opener of Figures 6 to 13.

Referring to Figs 14 to 17, products of different sizes such as meat cuts M are loaded at a packing station 50 on parallel spaced conveyors 51. The meat cuts after packaging are carried away from packing station 50 on exit conveyor 52.

Any one or more of the two or more conveyors 51 may be activated by a control system, dependent on the product size. For example when smaller meat cuts are identified by the machine vision system they are directed to a centre conveyor and only the centre conveyor is activated, as shown in Fig 14. A pack opener (not shown in Figures 14 to 17) 50 may present a smaller pack or a pack which is opened to a lesser extent, into which the smaller meat cut M on the centre conveyor is delivered. The packing station may align the packs with the centre conveyor. When the machine vision system identifies a meat cut of intermediate size such as indicated at M in Fig 15, more of the input conveyors 50 are activated to load that meat cut. Referring to Fig 16, when the machine vision stage identifies a yet larger meat cut M, all five of the input conveyors are activated to load the meat cuts in to a bag. The two or more conveyors need not necessarily be arranged in a "centred" configuration in which smaller meat cuts are delivered to the centre conveyor. For example in an alternative configuration cuts can be aligned to one side with one, two, or more conveyors being activated based on the size of the cut. Fig 17 shows conveyors to one side activated to load an intermediate size meat cut in a non-centred system.

Figures 15 to 17 show five parallel conveyors including two conveyors on either side 30 which are of lesser width than a centre conveyor. An alternative in a simplest arrangement the conveyor system may consist of two conveyors having similar widths or wherein one conveyor is wider than the other conveyor. Three conveyors of similar 10588-1 16 widths or comprising a centre conveyor flanked on either side by one or more other conveyors of lesser width and so forth.

Referring back to Fig 3, this as previously described shows one preferred arrangement 5 of a telescoping input conveyor system of the invention that may be used to load meat cuts M into open packs or bags B. The forward end(s) of the one or more parallel load conveyor(s) (dependent on product size) may telescope into the pack which is presented to the meat cut, and then withdraw, depositing the meat cut within the pack, which is then carried away from the packing station on an exit conveyor. Operation of the input 10 conveyors is controlled such that where smaller meat cuts are conveyed by a single one of the input conveyors, the open mouth of the pack is aligned with that input conveyor, which telescopically deposits the meat cut into the open pack. Where the meat cut and pack are larger, two or more of the input conveyors telescope together to deposit the meat cut into the open pack as described above, and the open pack is positioned laterally 15 relative to the direction of forward movement of the input conveyors so that the pack is aligned with the input conveyors loading the meat cut. In a preferred form the conveyors are arranged to deliver products into the packs or bags by telescoping or moving forward into the packs or bags to an extent dependent upon the size of the product ie further for longer products than for shorter products, again based on product 20 size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

Figures 18 and 19 show a conveyor system of the invention comprising five parallel conveyors. Referring to Figure 18, any one or more of the lesser width conveyors 100 25 may be pivoted upwardly to the position of the conveyor indicated at U in Figure 19, by mechanism 101 activated by operating cylinder 103 which operates about the primary shaft 102 of the conveyor system. In this embodiment, where the meat cut and pack are of maximum size, all of the five conveyors may be in the lower position indicated at L in Figure 19 to convey the meat cut, into an open pack for example. Where the meat cut 30 is of lesser size, one or more of the conveyors 100 may be caused to pivot out of the way to the upper position U so that the meat cut will be carried by a lesser number of the conveyors. A control system may control which combination of conveyors is used 10588-1 17 ie which remains at position L and which pivots to position U, dependent upon the size of the product, again based on product size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

The foregoing describes the invention including the preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated in the scope hereof as defined in the accompanying claims. 10588-1 18

Claims (53)

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for automated packing of products including: a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to the shape or at least width and height of individual products on a product packing line, a pack supply system arranged to supply packs sequentially as individual products approach the packing apparatus on a conveyor, a pack opener arranged to automatedly take up a pack from the pack supply system as each individual product approaches the pack opener, and to subsequently machine open a mouth of each pack to a variable extent of lift in a direction at approximately right angles to a major plane of the unopened pack and to a variable degree of width opening in a direction approximately in a major plane of the unopened pack, based on information relating to the shape or at least height and width of the product acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pack opener is arranged to move repeatedly between a position out of the product stream in which the pack opener or parts thereof take up a pack from the pack supply system and a position in the product stream for receiving a product in the pack after opening of the mouth thereof.

3. Apparatus according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the pack opener includes one or more parts which insert into the mouth of each pack and move to open the pack.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the parts which insert into the mouth of each pack comprise fingers which insert into the mouth of each pack.

5. Apparatus according to either one of claims 3 and 4 including suction grippers arranged to grip the pack from the exterior on either side of a major plane of the pack at iMTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 19 I 3 JUL 2004 RECEIVED the mouth of the pack to initially open the pack to allow said part(s) or finger(s) to insert into the mouth of the pack.

6. Apparatus according to either one of claims 1 and 2 wherein the pack opener is arranged to grip the packs from the exterior on either side of a major plane of the pack at the mouth of the pack.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the pack opener includes suction grippers arranged to grip the pack from the exterior on either side of a major plane of the pack at the mouth of the pack.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein said pack supply system is arranged to make the packs on-line to a length tailored to the size of individual products by cutting and sealing bags from tubular stock.

9. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said pack supply system is arranged to supply on-line bags of two or more widths, to a width selected for the size of individual products.

10. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the packs are plastic bags or sacks.

11. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 also including two or more generally parallel conveyors arranged to deliver products of different sizes to the pack opener or load products of different sizes into the packs, by a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 comprising two parallel conveyors one of which is arranged to carry smaller products to the product packing stage both of which are activated to run in parallel to carry larger products to the packing stage. 164812-1 20 INTELLECTUAL property OFFICE of n.z. 13 jul RECEiVMu

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the two conveyors have similar widths.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein one conveyor is wider than the other conveyor.

15. Apparatus according to claim 11 including three or more generally parallel conveyors including a centre conveyor flanked on either side by one or more other conveyors.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor are of a similar width to the centre conveyor.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor have a lesser width than the centre conveyor.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 17 wherein the conveyors are arranged to deliver products into the packs by telescoping or moving forward into the packs to an extent dependent upon the size of the product, based on product size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

19. A method for automated packing of products including: at an upstream product information acquisition stage acquiring information relating to the shape or at least width and height of individual products on a product packing line, machine supplying packs sequentially as individual products approach the packing apparatus on a conveyor, automatedly taking up on an automated pack opener device a pack from the pack supply system as each individual product approaches the pack opener, and machine opening a mouth of the pack to an extent of lift in a direction at approximately right angles to a major plane of the unopened pack and width opening in a direction approximately in a 164812-1 21 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 1 3 JUL 2004 received major plane of the unopened pack, based on information relating to the shape or at least height and width of the product acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

20. A method according to claim 19 including moving the pack opener repeatedly between a position out of the product stream in which the pack opener or parts thereof take up a pack from the pack supply system and a position in the product stream for receiving a product in the pack after opening of the mouth thereof.

21. A method according to claim 20 including also opening each pack by inserting one or more parts of the pack opener into the mouth of each pack and moving said part(s) to open the pack.

22. A method according to claim 21 including gripping the pack from the exterior on either side of a major plane of the pack at the mouth of the pack via suction grippers, to initially open the pack to allow said part(s) to insert into the mouth of the pack.

23. A method according to either one of claims 19 and 20 including gripping the pack from the exterior on either side of a major plane of the pack at the mouth of the pack.

24. A method according to claim 23 including gripping the pack via suction grippers from the exterior on either side of a major plane of the pack at the mouth of the pack.

25. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 24 including making the packs on-line to a length tailored to the size of individual products by cutting and sealing bags from tubular stock.

26. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 25 including supplying online bags of two or more widths, to a width selected for the size of individual products. 164812-1 22 SNTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF NX 1 3 jul 2004 RECEIVED

27. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 26 wherein the packs are plastic bags or sacks.

28. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 27 also including the step of delivering products of different sizes to the pack opener or loading products of different sizes into packs, via two or more generally parallel conveyors, a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

29. A method according to claim 28 including delivering or loading smaller products by one conveyor and larger products by two parallel conveyors.

30. A method according to claim 29 wherein the two conveyors have similar widths.

31. A method according to claim 30 wherein one conveyor is wider than the other conveyor.

32. A method according to claim 31 including delivering or loading the products by one or more of three or more generally parallel conveyors including a centre conveyor flanked on either side by one or more other conveyors.

33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor are of a similar width to the centre conveyor.

34. A method according to claim 32 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor have a lesser width than the centre conveyor.

35. A method according to any one of claims 28 to 34 wherein the conveyors are arranged to deliver products into packs or bags by telescoping or moving forward into the packs or bags to an extent dependent upon the size of the product, based on product size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage. 164812-1 23 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY office OF N.z. H JUL RECEiVSD

36. Apparatus for packing products comprising: a product information acquisition stage arranged to acquire information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line, and a product packing stage, and two or more generally parallel conveyors arranged to deliver or load products of different sizes to the packing stage, by a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36 comprising two parallel conveyors one of the which is arranged to carry smaller products to the product packing stage both of which are activated to run in parallel to carry larger products to the packing stage.

38. Apparatus according to claim 37 wherein the two conveyors have similar widths.

39. Apparatus according to claim 37 wherein one conveyor is wider than the other conveyor.

40. Apparatus according to claim 38 including three or more generally parallel conveyors including a centre conveyor flanked on either side by one or more other conveyors.

41. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor are of a similar width to the centre conveyor.

42. Apparatus according to claim 40 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor have a lesser width than the centre conveyor. 164812-1 24 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE of N.Z. 13 jul » RECEIVED

43. Apparatus according to any one of claims 36 to 41 wherein the conveyors are arranged to deliver products into packs or bags by telescoping or moving forward into the packs or bags to an extent dependent upon the size of the product, based on product size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

44. A method for packing products comprising: acquiring information relating to one or more characteristics of products on a product packing line, and delivering or loading products of different sizes to a product packing stage, via two or more generally parallel conveyors, a lesser number of the conveyors for smaller products and a greater number of the conveyors for larger products.

45. A method according to claim 44 including delivering or loading smaller products by one conveyor and larger products by two parallel conveyors.

46. A method according to claim 45 wherein the two conveyors have similar widths.

47. A method according to claim 45 wherein one conveyor is wider than the other conveyor.

48. A method according to claim 44 including delivering or loading the products by one or more of three or more generally parallel conveyors including a centre conveyor flanked on either side by one or more other conveyors.

49. A method according to claim 48 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor are of a similar width to the centre conveyor.

50. A method according to claim 48 wherein the conveyors on either side of the centre conveyor have a lesser width than the centre conveyor. 164812-1 25 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE Or N.Z. 13 JUL RECEIVED

51. A method according to any one of claims 44 to 50 wherein the conveyors are arranged to deliver products into packs or bags by telescoping or moving forward into the packs or bags to an extent dependent upon the size of the product, based on product size information previously acquired at the upstream product information acquisition stage.

52. Apparatus for automated packing of products substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings.

53. A method for automated packing of products substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the accompanying drawings. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OFFICE OF N.Z. 164812-1 26 11 jul aim received