EP0043852B1 - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Packaging machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0043852B1
EP0043852B1 EP81900593A EP81900593A EP0043852B1 EP 0043852 B1 EP0043852 B1 EP 0043852B1 EP 81900593 A EP81900593 A EP 81900593A EP 81900593 A EP81900593 A EP 81900593A EP 0043852 B1 EP0043852 B1 EP 0043852B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
honeycomb
fruit
articles
container
tray
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP81900593A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0043852A4 (en
EP0043852A1 (en
Inventor
John L. Booth
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Booth Manufacturing Co
Original Assignee
Booth Manufacturing Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Booth Manufacturing Co filed Critical Booth Manufacturing Co
Publication of EP0043852A1 publication Critical patent/EP0043852A1/en
Publication of EP0043852A4 publication Critical patent/EP0043852A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0043852B1 publication Critical patent/EP0043852B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/02—Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
    • B65B25/04—Packaging fruit or vegetables
    • B65B25/046—Packaging fruit or vegetables in crates or boxes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/20—Embedding contents in shock-absorbing media, e.g. plastic foam, granular material

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a machine for automatically packaging articles such as fruit within separate compartments in larger containers for damage free handling during shipping.
  • honeycomb has been used for packaging but the use of such material has essentially been as part of a manual operation and this has been a slow and very costly procedure. Essentially this type of packing has been accomplished by manually expanding the honeycomb material and holding the honeycomb in an expanded position while the fruit is manually inserted.
  • the industry has long been looking for a fully automatic, damage preventing, packaging system that is low in cost, operates at a high speed, and is relatively simple in design. The desired aim is to provide total internal protection for the product being packaged. That is to say, the article must be protected from pressures that would act to bruise or crush the product.
  • a machine that can automatically package products in honeycomb capsules at low cost, high speed and efficient manner would be the answer to the industry's needs.
  • honeycomb material provides a very strong configuration and has a very high strength to weight ratio compared to other products on the market.
  • the high column strength of honeycomb results in the loads carried by the honeycomb material being distributed over a series of braced columns. It is this inherent structural geometry that makes honeycombs such desired material for use in packaging.
  • the cells of the honeycomb material act to isolate the articles disposed therein from adjacent articles.
  • the honeycomb material is made up of a relatively high density Kraft paper, but it can, of course, be made of recycled paper, plastic, or other suitable materials.
  • Illustrative of the prior art that discloses a packaging machine capable of automatically packaging articles into an expanded honeycomb and into a container is that shown in the specification of GB-A-2,014,532 published on 30.08.79.
  • articles are moved from an article supply mechanism wherein the articles are nested into a tray containing expanded honeycomb. Located in the tray is a separator sheet on which the expanded honeycomb is located. The honeycomb encapsulated articles are subsequently located on the separator sheet. Thereafter, the expanded honeycomb containing the articles and the separator sheet is placed into a container. After a series of layers are placed in the container, the container is closed.
  • Figure 1 is an overall perspective of the packaging machine 50 illustrating the direction of movement of the boxes or containers 52 to be filled on a conveyor assembly 54 passing through the machine.
  • the fruit loading conveyor assembly 56 moves fruit F into a prescribed nested position to be picked up by the article controlling vacuum housing assembly 60 which is part of the transversely movable major frame assemblage 62.
  • housing assembly 60 Within the major frame assemblage 62 housing assembly 60 is vertically movable to effectuate pick-up and deposition of the fruit into expanded honeycomb and subsequently into a container 52.
  • the housing assembly 60 is disposed transversely spaced from the conveyor 56 on which the fruit is disposed and is shown mounted on guide rails 66 to facilitate movement into position above the fruit loading conveyor 56 and back to the position shown in Figure 1.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates the orientation of the fruit conveyor assembly 56, the article controlling vacuum housing assembly 60, the separator sheet assembly 76, the supply of unexpanded honeycomb 84 and the expander tray 74 which is shown located in position with an expanded section of honeycomb.
  • Figure 3 there is shown a side elevation showing the orientation of the expander tray assembly 74 guillotine mechanism 86, housing assembly 60, container 52 and container control mechanism 90 for retaining the container in position during the loading operation.
  • Figs. 4-9 illustrate in schematic and side elevation views the apparatus and sequencing of the fruit conveyor assembly 56 for orienting and nesting the fruit thereon so they can be picked up therefrom and properly located in expanded honeycomb material for subsequent deposition into a container.
  • fruit is directed by the conveyor 94 (operated in a conventional manner) in rows 96a, 96b, and 96c between stationary plates 98 into an end section 100 of the conveyor where it is located to the side of the loading station 70.
  • the three rows of fruit move forwardly until the end ones thereof hit staggered stop mechanisms 102 which are combination switch and stop mechanisms.
  • staggered stop mechanisms 102 which are combination switch and stop mechanisms.
  • These stops 102 are fixed in position relative to the main frame 103 supporting the conveyor (see Fig. 7). When this occurs the fruit is in the position shown in Figure 4 wherein the fruit in the rows are staggered relative to each other with the intermediate row 96b being located between the fruit disposed in the rows 96a, 96c disposed outward therefrom.
  • the rows are staggered 4-3-4.
  • the pivotally mounted cup arrangements 106 which are similarly oriented engage the end fruit in the rows leading to the end conveyor section 100 to hold back the fruit within the rows on the main portion of the conveyor.
  • the cups 106 of the cup arrangement are mounted on a rod 110 and are moved between the positions shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 9 at the proper timing sequence by suitably provided mechanisms, not shown.
  • the rod 110 is mounted in supports 111 affixed to the frame 103 and the operation thereof is effected through a piston rod 112 of a cylinder assembly (not shown) and a link 113 connected to the rod 110.
  • separating plates 114 which are mounted on a retractable frame structure 116 so that it can be moved out of the way as shown in Fig. 5.
  • Suitable operating mechanism including a piston assembly connected to the main frame 103 moves the plates 114 between the positions shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
  • the plates 114 are retracted in the manner shown in Figure 5 the fruit are now in condition to be moved into the nested position shown in Figure 6.
  • the nesting of the fruit is accomplished by moving the side plates 120 inwardly by the actuation of cylinders 122 located on opposite sides of the conveyor 94 which are suitably fixed in position relative to a bell crank mechanism 126 which are in turn secured to a frame structure (see Fig. 5).
  • Fig. 5 What is shown on one side of Fig. 5 is duplicated on the other side.
  • the piston rods 124 extending therefrom are connected through bell crank mechanisms 126 to the side plates 120 which bell cranks when moved move the plates 120 toward each other to place the fruit into the nested position shown in Figure 6. In this prescribed nested position the fruit are accurately positioned relative to the honeycomb cells when they are subsequently deposited into the expanded honeycomb.
  • the article controlling vacuum housing assembly 60 that is subsequently to be used to pick up the fruit is spaced from the fruit but is later moved to a position above the fruit as shown in dotted line and then dropped down thereto to the position shown in Figure 7.
  • the housing assembly 60 is secured to the frame assemblage 62 which is transversely movable on guide rails 66 secured to frame 130 by the action of a suitably controlled piston assembly 132 (see Fig. 22).
  • the housing assembly 60 is vertically movable on rods 136 and is raised and lowered by the action of piston assembly 140 (see Fig. 1).
  • the housing assembly 60 contains a vacuum housing 142 which is energized by an air control mechanism to be described later to provide a vacuum in the housing with the result that the fruit will be retained in position in the suction cups 144 and will be carried with the housing assembly 60 when it is retracted.
  • the cups 144 are arranged to pick up the fruit in their nested position and deposit them in the honeycomb cells.
  • the housing assembly After lifting the fruit from the conveyor 94 the housing assembly is moved transversely by the piston assembly 132 into a position where it can deposit the fruit into an expanded honeycomb material located on an expander tray assembly 74.
  • FIG. 13 there is shown a tray 150 holding sections of compressed honeycomb 84.
  • a precut section 154 of the honeycomb is forced out of the tray 150 by a guillotine knife 156 secured to a bracket 158 that is slidably mounted in a slot 160 of a frame plate 162.
  • a cylinder assembly 164 also secured to the frame plate 162 includes an extending piston rod 166 that is connected to the bracket 1 58.
  • the rod 166 is lowered to move the knife 156 downwardly to force a section of compressed honeycomb 154 into the expander tray assembly 74.
  • the compressed honeycomb section 1 54 has been performed and cut to pro - vide the desired configuration.
  • the expander tray assembly 74 is designed to receive a section of compressed honeycomb 154 which honeycomb 170 is expanded in the expander tray assembly to provide the open cells for receiving grapefruit.
  • Figure 14 shows the position of the various components of the expander tray when the components thereof are moved to expand a honeycomb section minus a honeycomb section.
  • Figure 15 shows the compressed honeycomb section 154 located in position in the expander tray 174 and
  • Figure 16 shows the compressed honeycomb in the expanded position.
  • the expander tray 174 is suitably connected to a piston rod 176 on a cylinder assembly 178 which piston rod 176 when extended moves the expander tray from the position adjacent the loading station 70 where it expands a section of honeycomb into position beneath the housing assembly 60 for receiving fruit therefrom.
  • the expander tray is slidably mounted on guide rods 179.
  • the compressed honeycomb 154 is initially located in the expander tray 174 as shown in Figure 15 and is maintained in the position shown in Figure 15 by a plurality of suction cup assemblies 180, 182.
  • These assemblies consist of a fixed plate 183 and rod 184 having located thereon two suction cups 186, 188 which extend through a slot 189 in plate 183 which in Figs. 15 and 16 abuts the right-hand end of the compressed honeycomb section 154 and a longitudinally movable plate 191 and rod 190 having two suction cup assemblies 192, 194, including suction cups 196, 198 which extend through slot 200 in plate 191 and engages the left-hand side of the honeycomb (Figs. 15 and 16).
  • the left-hand rod 190 and plate 191 assembly is moved to the left to the position shown in Figure 16 to effectuate expansion of the compressed honeycomb into the open cell position.
  • suction cups 186, 196 mounted opposite each other on the rods 184, 190, respectively, must be capable of inward movement during the expansion process. It remains to note before describing this mechanism that suction is provided and released from the the cups in a conventional manner and the details of this are not important to an understanding of the present invention. Also, the movement of the rod 190 to the left is accomplished in the illustrated embodiment by connecting the plate 191 to a piston rod 202 that is part of the cylinder assembly 204 (see Fig. 14).
  • the piston rod 202 In the compressed condition of the honeycomb, the piston rod 202 is retracted to the left by the cylinder assembly 204 and in the expanded condition of the honeycomb as shown in Fig. 16, it is extended outwardly to the right and has moved the plate 191 and rod 190 to the right (these directions relate to the perspective illustrated in Fig. 14).
  • the particular illustrated mechanism for effecting the proper movement of the movable cups 186, 196 located on the rods 184, 190, is shown in Figure 15.
  • the cups 186, 196 are biased to their outermost position through the action of tension springs 205 that are connected between the fixed members 1 92a, 180a of the assemblies 192 and 180 respectively and the movable sections 192b and 180b respectively. In this manner the assemblies are biased to be positions shown in Fig. 15.
  • tension springs 205 that are connected between the fixed members 1 92a, 180a of the assemblies 192 and 180 respectively and the movable sections 192b and 180b respectively.
  • the assemblies are biased to be positions shown in Fig. 15.
  • the honeycomb When the honeycomb is expanded as shown in Fig. 16 the movement of honeycomb will carry with it the cups 186, 196 against the action of these relatively light springs.
  • light springs 206 are provided to permit minor reciprocating movement of all the cup assemblies to compensate for variations in the honeycomb.
  • the housing assembly 60 includes a vacuum housing 142 that is schematically illustrated in Figures 20, 21 and 23 and is operated through the action of a cylinder assembly 140 which is shown in the upper middle portion of Figure 1.
  • the operation of the cylinders to raise and lower the vacuum housing in the prescribed time sequence as well as transversely move the frame assemblage 62 and associated vacuum housing 60 relative to the fruit conveyor assembly will be described in detail when discussing the electrical circuitry, but for the purposes of this present explanation its operation will be described with reference to the switching mechanisms which bring about the prescribed vertical and transverse movement of the article controlling housing assembly and vacuum box housing at the prescribed times.
  • a motor Located on the frame structure of the machine shown in Fig. 1 are a motor, a compressor, blower assembly, and a vacuum pump which are not illustrated since their location and construction are conventional.
  • the blower assembly 210 is shown in more detail in Figure 17 and in conjunction with the piston operated valve 212 shown in its two operative positions in Figures 18 and 19 acts to draw air through the vacuum housing 142 to retain the fruit in the cups 144 by the differential pressure acting thereon and to positively release the fruit from the cups by blowing air through the housing.
  • the flow arrows in Figure 17 show the sucking action by the blower 210.
  • the vacuum pump is for providing suction to the various suction cup assemblies used in conjunction with the separator sheets and expander tray and the compressor is for providing air under pressure for operating the various cylinders.
  • the vacuum housing 142 has secured to its lower end the plurality of cups 144 equal to the number of grapefruit to be raised, which cups contact the grapefruit and lift them up to a raised position (see Figure 8).
  • the valve 212 is in the position shown in Figure 18 in which the inlet 214 to the blower 210 is connected to the housing 142 to suck air through the housing and hold the fruit in place while the outlet 216 of the blower is connected to atmosphere.
  • the fruit holding action results from the venturi effect created by the air flow around the fruit and through the cups 144 into the vacuum housing, which results in a positive differential pressure acting against the fruit to hold them in their respective cups while the vacuum housing is being raised.
  • sensors 220 are also depending from the vacuum housing for reasons which will be discussed hereinafter.
  • FIGs. 10-12 show the operation of the vacuum housing to (1) deposit fruit in the honeycomb and (2) raise the fruit and honeycomb.
  • the fruit conveyor assembly 54 After the fruit has been raised from the fruit conveyor assembly 54 it is moved over to the expander tray 174 at which time it is placed into the expanded honeycomb cells in the expander tray 174.
  • the suction cup assemblies When the sensor 220 hits the bottom of the tray the suction cup assemblies are actuated to release the honeycomb and the filled honeycomb is lifted up. The expander tray is then retracted and the fruit and associated honeycomb material is moved downwardly into the box container.
  • the sensor 220 When it reaches the proper location in the container, the sensor 220 is actuated which results in the valves 212 being moved to the position shown in Figure 19 in which the inlet to the blower in connected to atmosphere and the outlet is connected to the housing 142 which positively directs atmospheric air into the housing, thus eliminating the pressure differential across the cups 144 tending to hold the fruit therein and direct a positive air pressure against the fruit to release them from the vacuum housing.
  • Figures 20 and 21 show the positioning of the vacuum housing 142 relative to the container 52 after the expander tray has been removed but before the housing is moved downwardly into the container.
  • Figure 21 shows the cylinder being extended to position the vacuum housing into the container at which time the sensor 220 hits the bottom of the container and results in the action previously mentioned with air being directed against the fruit to leave the fruit and expander fruit and honeycomb material disposed in the container. The actuation of the sensor 220 further results in reactivation of the cylinder 140 which retracts the vacuum housing to the full upright position.
  • the separator sheets 78 that are provided separate the layers of filled expanded honeycomb.
  • the sheets are located in a stack 80 disposed above the box conveyor assembly 54.
  • the separator sheets are individually raised by four suction cups 224 that are connected to a platen 226.
  • the platen is connected to the end of arms slidably supported by the main frame assemblage 62.
  • the rods are operated by cylinders not illustrated. Suction is provided to the cups in a conventional manner, not shown.
  • the cylinders are operated in the desired sequence so that the cups 224 act to grip the top separator sheet 78 and lift it into the raised position so that when the vacuum housing is moved transversely to pick up another group of fruit the sheet is moved into position over the open container and at that time the platen is moved to drop into the container and when it is located in position a suitably disposed sensing mechanism 228 (Fig. 23) will act to release the suction so that the separator sheet will be located within the container when the housing withdraws.
  • Bracket mechanism 230 that has a funnel-shaped frame section 232 which has depending therefrom a plurality of contacting members 234.
  • the bracket assembly 230 has end portions 236 that are slidably disposed on a fixed rod member 238.
  • a piston assembly 240 is operable to move the assembly 230 up and down between the positions shown in Figures 3 and 24. Accordingly when the box has been placed in position at the loading station the mechanism is lowered into contact with the box to retain it is position during the loading operation.
  • Figures 25 and 26 show the construction of the cup assemblies 144 secured to the vacuum housing 142. These cups are mounted on tubular member 145 and are spring-biased by spring 146 against a depending flange portion 147. It can be seen by referring to Figure 26 that when a fruit is in place on the cup, the cup 144 is partially extended and is moved upwardly against the action of the spring 146.
  • Figure 27 shows part of the electrical control system of the instant invention.
  • Each of the lines is referenced by a line number shown in the right-hand margin of the Figure.
  • the relays and limit switches are shown in their normal switching or operating condition when the carriage (previously referred to as frame assemblage) is in its extreme rear position.
  • the term "rear position” is when the housing assembly 60 is located in the loading station over the box to be filled.
  • the "front position” is when the housing assembly is over the fruit conveyor.
  • Limit switch 4 in line 1 is a fruit platen (previously referred to as article controlling vacuum housing assembly 60) safety switch, normally closed, but which opens when the fruit platen is in a lower position, to disallow the carriage to move between front and rear positions when the fruit platen is lowered.
  • Limit switch 8 in line 1 is a separator platen safety switch, normally closed, which disallows the carriage to move transversely when the separator platen is in the lower position, and operates similarly to limit switch 4.
  • the cross-over relay contacts shown in lines 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10 are shown in the position, i.e., either normally open or normally closed, that they assume when the carriage has reached the extreme rear starting position. These contacts remain in this position until the carriage reaches the extreme forward position, whereupon all of the relay contacts are reversed, in response to a cross-over relay sensitive to carriage front and rearward movement, which is not shown in Figure 27.
  • This cross-over relay arrangement allows certain operations to occur or not occur depending upon whether the carriage is about to move in a forward position or about to move in a rearward position.
  • the cross-over relay contacts in line 1, line 4, line 7 and line 10 are shown in the normally closed position which allow the valves connected in those lines to operate in response to other control signals or relay contacts, but since the cross-over relay contacts in lines 2, 6 and 8 are open, the valve switching functions in these respective lines will not occur since these relay contacts will continue to remain open until the carriage reaches the frontmost position and reverses the condition of these contacts.
  • the separator vacuum relay contacts in lines 1 and 8 are shown in the normally closed position, and are reponsive to the carriage being in the loading position, so that the separator vacuum valve 14 in line 8 can be turned off only at the proper time.
  • Limit switch 1 in line 3 closes in response to the carriage transverse system being positioned the loading position.
  • Limit switch 20 has contacts in lines 1 and 6 which are normally closed and contacts in line 10 which are normally open and remain in that normal position until the expander tray is beneath the fruit platen, whereupon their respective contacts reverse, thereby disallowing certain functions to occur, such as the carriage to move frontward or rearward, or the separator platen to go downward, or the fruit suction valves to go off.
  • Proximity relays contacts on line 9 are normally open when the fruit platen is in the upward position, but close when the fruit platen is in the extreme lower position, in response to the sensing mechanism 220 sensing that the fruit platen should cease its downward movement.
  • limit switch 3 will normally be closed at this time in response to the carriage being in the frontmost position. However if the limit switch contacts 3 have yet failed to close, the contacts of limit switch 13 (line 5) will close in response to the fruit being properly nested and being ready to be picked up. Thus, the switching of valve 2 (line 4) will cause the fruit platen to start its downward movement. At the same time valve member 4 in line 5 will be energized and the fruit suction cups will be supplied with vacuum.
  • sensing mechanism 220 When the fruit platen reaches a low position on its downward movement, so that the cups fully receive the fruit, sensing mechanism 220 will cause the proximity relay contacts in line 9 to close.
  • the timer relay contacts in line 9 will be closed and after a certain time delay (provided by the delay timer in line 9), the fruit platen will begin its upward movement, since at that time valve 2 (line 9) will be switched.
  • the delay timer provides for complete reception and vacuum holding of the fruit in each respective associated cup before the fruit platen begins its upward movement. Otherwise, an immediate upward movement of the fruit platen might result in some of the fruit not being fully received and held in the associated cup.
  • suction-off valve switch 4 (line 10) is not energized because limit switch 20 contacts in line 10 are not closed. As described above, these contacts close only when the fruit platen is positioned to deposit the fruit.
  • limit switch 4 (line 1) closes and limit switch 9 (line 1) also closes.
  • cross-over relay causes all of its associated contacts to reverse, so that the contacts in lines 2, 6 and 8 are connected to closed but the contacts in lines 1, 4, 7 and 10 assume an open position. Since the cross-over relay contacts in line 2 are connected, valve 3 (line 2) is energized and the carriage proceeds to move traversely to the rear position.
  • limit switch 1 contacts (line 3) close and the expander tray 74 is provided a honeycomb section immediately beneath the fruit platen. When the honeycomb is expanded and positioned to receive the fruit, valve 2 (line 4) is switched so that the fruit platen moves downward.
  • sensing mechanism 220 causes the proximate relay contacts (line 9) to close.
  • the delay timer will then cause the fruit platen to remain in this lower position for a specified time to insure that the honeycomb is fully received by the fruit.
  • valve 2 (line 9) switches so that the fruit platen will then begin its upward movement with the honeycomb attached.
  • limit switch 5 (line 2) closes.
  • the expander tray valve (line 3) switches and the expander tray returns to its retracted position out from beneath the fruit platen.
  • sensing mechanism 220 causes the proximate relay contacts (line 9) to close.
  • Limit switch 20 contacts (line 10) close and valve 4 (line 10) opens so that the suction on the fruit terminates, allowing the fruit and honeycomb to remain in the box.
  • the delay timer prevents valve 2 (line 9) from raising the fruit platen until the specified time period dictated by the delay timer elapses. At that time, the fruit platen begins its upward movement until it reaches an uppermost raised position, whereupon momentary switch 9 (line 1) closes. The cross-over relay contacts are again reversed to their normal closed position, and the carriage then moves forward to the fruit supply station.
  • a separator platen receives separator sheets 78 from a sheet stack 80 by suction cup assemblies 223 and deposits them in the box.
  • the downward movement of the separator platen is controlled by switching of valve 5 (line 6) and the upward moveemnt of the separator platen is controlled by reverse switching of valve 5 (line 7).
  • the separator platen experiences upward and downward movement concurrently with the fruit platen. However, when the fruit platen is being loaded with fruit, the separator platen is depositing a separator sheet, and when the fruit platen is depositing fruit in the box, a separator platen is being supplied with a separator sheet.
  • the separator platen has a separator vacuum controlled by a valve switch in line 14 and another switch not shown in Fig. 27 and works similarly to the fruit platen suction valve in lines 5 and 10. The aforementioned sequence of steps occurs until the requisite layers of fruit are placed in the box, after which the box guide means is withdrawn from the box and the box is moved by the conveyor out of the loading station and another box is moved therein.
  • a container 52 is moved into position in a loading station by the conveyor 54 to receive separate layers of fruit.
  • the bracket mechanism is lowered to retain the box in the proper position.
  • the method of operation of this novel packaging machine is as follows.
  • the fruit F is disposed in rows 96A, B and C, and is moved by the conveyor 56 into position against the staggered stop mechanisms 102.
  • the conveyor is stopped and the cup assemblies 106 are engaged to restrict the movement of additional fruit into the end section 100 of the conveyor.
  • the retractable frame structure 116 is retracted carrying with it the separating plates 114, so that there is no separation between the rows of fruit. Since the rows are staggered after the retractable frame is removed inward movement of the side plates 120 moves the fruit into a nested position to be picked up and disposed in the expanded honeycomb.
  • the article controlling vacuum housing assembly 60 is then moved into position above the fruit and dropped downwardly thereon to grip the fruit and remove it from the conveyor end section.
  • Gripping occurs by the action of introducing a vacuum into the housing, with the result that the fruit will be disposed in the cups connected to the vacuum housing and retained therein. Following this, the housing is raised to remove the fruit from the conveyor and the major frame assemblage 62 on which the housing is located is moved transversely to move the housing into the loading station where the container is to be loaded.
  • a section of honeycomb Adjacent to the loading station a section of honeycomb is cut from the honeycomb supply and directed into the expander tray assembly 74. With the compressed honeycomb in the expander tray, suction cup assemblies 180, 182, 192, 194 are energized to grip the compressed honeycomb and thereafter the cup assemblies 192, 194 are moved to expand the honeycomb into a condution to receive the fruit. After this occurs, the expander tray is moved into the loading station beneath the housing assembly for receiving the fruit therefrom.
  • the housing and fruit are lowered into the expander tray until the fruit are deposited in the cells of the honeycomb.
  • a sensing mechanism engages the bottom of the expander tray the vacuum housing is retracted to withdraw the fruit and expanded honeycomb out of the expander tray.
  • the expander tray is then moved out of the loading station and the housing is moved downwardly to deposit the fruit and honeycomb into the box 52.
  • the vacuum housing is retracted.
  • the major frame assemblage 62 is moved transversely to pick up another quantity of fruit.
  • a separator sheet 78 is picked up from the sheet stack 80 by suction cup assemblies 224.
  • a piston is actuated to place the separator sheet on top of the layer of fruit in the box and then withdrawn therefrom.
  • the aforementioned sequence of steps occurs until the requisite layers of fruit are placed in the box, after which the box guide means is withdrawn from the box and the box is moved by the conveyor out of the loading station and another box is moved therein.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
EP81900593A 1980-01-21 1981-01-14 Packaging machine Expired EP0043852B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11362580A 1980-01-21 1980-01-21
US113625 1980-01-21

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0043852A1 EP0043852A1 (en) 1982-01-20
EP0043852A4 EP0043852A4 (en) 1982-05-26
EP0043852B1 true EP0043852B1 (en) 1985-01-02

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EP81900593A Expired EP0043852B1 (en) 1980-01-21 1981-01-14 Packaging machine

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EP (1) EP0043852B1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
JP (1) JPS57500019A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
CA (1) CA1159799A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
IL (1) IL61916A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)
WO (1) WO1981002145A1 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html)

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2168669A (en) * 1984-10-27 1986-06-25 Dufaylite Dev Ltd Packaging of articles
CN113120291A (zh) * 2021-06-02 2021-07-16 荆门市荆双井农业发展有限公司 一种用于西瓜包装的自动化包装机及其使用方法

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FR1433523A (fr) * 1965-02-17 1966-04-01 Saint Gobain Procédé et dispositif pour l'empaquetage des flacons et similaires
US3465495A (en) * 1965-08-16 1969-09-09 Sunkist Growers Inc Apparatus for boxing layers of articles such as fruit and the like
GB1314057A (en) * 1970-08-20 1973-04-18 Dufaylite Dev Ltd Packaging with honeycomb material
US3848519A (en) * 1973-05-14 1974-11-19 R Ganz Packaging machine
CH605255A5 (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) * 1975-10-27 1978-09-29 Sapal Plieuses Automatiques
FR2357424A1 (fr) * 1976-07-09 1978-02-03 Dufaylite Dev Ltd Appareil pour l'empaquetage d'articles tels que des fruits
US4233802A (en) * 1979-01-25 1980-11-18 International Honeycomb Corporation Packaging machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS57500019A (GUID-C5D7CC26-194C-43D0-91A1-9AE8C70A9BFF.html) 1982-01-07
IL61916A0 (en) 1981-02-27
EP0043852A4 (en) 1982-05-26
EP0043852A1 (en) 1982-01-20
IL61916A (en) 1983-07-31
WO1981002145A1 (en) 1981-08-06
CA1159799A (en) 1984-01-03

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