EP0962387A1 - Conditionnement automatique de poissons vivants - Google Patents

Conditionnement automatique de poissons vivants Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0962387A1
EP0962387A1 EP98201836A EP98201836A EP0962387A1 EP 0962387 A1 EP0962387 A1 EP 0962387A1 EP 98201836 A EP98201836 A EP 98201836A EP 98201836 A EP98201836 A EP 98201836A EP 0962387 A1 EP0962387 A1 EP 0962387A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pouch
packaging material
clamping members
container
live
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98201836A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Steven Huybrechts
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.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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 Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to EP98201836A priority Critical patent/EP0962387A1/fr
Publication of EP0962387A1 publication Critical patent/EP0962387A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/044—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles being combined with a filling device
    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
    • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
    • B65B9/213—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles the web having intermittent motion

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to automatic packaging of live creatures such as live fish.
  • Live creatures such as live tropical fish might need to be transported, i.e. from the hatchery to the wholesale dealer and/or from the wholesale dealer to the retail dealer.
  • the job generally comprises the following step:
  • the job asks for some experience in packaging live fish. Indeed, in most cases the person who is catching the fish is not the same person as the one who packages and the packaging job is not performed immediately following the catching of the fish. Hence a situation exists where several cans each comprising a different number of fish are lining for packaging. Cans may comprise a great number of fish. It may thus become very hard to count the fish and to determine the corresponding amount of liquid and oxygen that is to be added to the package.
  • an apparatus for automatically packaging live creatures such as live fish comprising
  • the packaging material has to be a material that can be formed into a air-tight and water-tight pouch.
  • the packaging material is preferably low density polyethylene foil.
  • a single web e.g. drawn from a roll supply.
  • Use of a single web is preferred since it allows to produce a pouch with a minimum of sealed seams so that the risk of leakage is reduced to a minimum.
  • the means for forming the pouch preferably comprise
  • a guiding collar may be provided.
  • Guiding cylinder and container are preferably positioned substantially vertical. In this way gravity ensures that the fish always have the maximum available amount of water at their disposition. Gravity can then also be used to automatically release the fish into the pouch when the bottom or part thereof is opened.
  • the guiding cylinder is arranged so as to enclose the container at least partially.
  • the dimensions of the apparatus, especially the height is kept to a minimum. This makes entering fish into the inlet, which is commonly situated in the upper part of the container, more convenient.
  • Another aspect of the present invention relates to a three-side sealed water-tight pouch for live creatures formed from a web of packaging material folded so as to have one overlapping side comprising live creatures, fluid such as water and gas such as oxygen or air.
  • Still another aspect of this invention relates to a method of packaging live creatures such as live fish comprising the steps of
  • Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a packaging apparatus for automatically packaging live fish, according to the present invention.
  • the apparatus comprises a cylindrical container 4 having an inlet 5 for entering fish and water.
  • the cylindrical container is placed substantially vertical. At the bottom, the cylindrical container is closed by a stop-valve 9.
  • Container 4 is enclosed by a second cylinder 3, further referred to as guiding cylinder.
  • the guiding cylinder is made of perforated steel plate.
  • Packaging material in this particular embodiment being high density polyethylene, is provided in the form of a single web drawn from a supply roll 1.
  • the packaging material is folded around collar 2 and around guiding cylinder 3.
  • the dimensions of the guiding cylinder 3 are chosen so that two opposite sides of the web overlap each other, when the web is folded around the guiding cylinder 3.
  • An elongate vertical seal bar 8 extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of tube 3 is arranged to enable sealing of the overlapping part of the packaging material.
  • Clamping members 7 are arranged along the side of the guiding cylinder to clamp the packaging material to the guiding cylinder 3.
  • Underneath cylinder 3 further clamping members 6 are provided. The function of these clamping members will be explained further on.
  • Clamping members 6 are positioned so that they enclose a pair of parallel, horizontal seal bars 10.
  • a cutting means 11 is positioned in between the two seal bars 10.
  • First fish are catched and brought into the vicinity of the apparatus (see figure 2).
  • the fish are fed together with water into container 4 via inlet 5.
  • control electronics 12 (only schematically shown in figure 3) an indication is given of the dimensions of the pouch that is to be produced.
  • a selection can be made among four formats, each format having the same width but a different length.
  • Format 3 refers to a pouch which is three times as long as a pouch of format 1.
  • the web of polyethylene material drawn from supply roll 1 is guided by collar 2, (see figure 1) around guiding cylinder 3 until opposite, elongate sides of the web overlap.
  • the polyethylene foil forms a tube. This tube is pulled in downward direction along guiding cylinder 3.
  • At least two sides of the guiding cylinder are provided with a transport belt which, when driven, pull the plastic foil in downward direction.
  • the guiding cylinder 3 might occasionally be wet e.g. as a consequence of the humid surroundings and/or due to spilling of water when feeding fish into the apparatus.
  • a film of water on the guiding cylinder might cause the tube of packaging material to stick to the cylinder. As a consequence, it might be difficult to pull the tube of packaging material in downward direction.
  • clamping members e.g. in the form of two half cylinders surrounding guiding cylinder 3 might be provided to pull the tube of packaging material down.
  • cylinder 3 can be perforated. Since the sticking also occurs at the collar, this collar is preferably also perforated.
  • An alternative embodiment of means for pulling the tube of packaging material in downward direction comprises 4 rollers which are positioned underneath guiding cylinder 3.
  • This embodiment however is to be positioned underneath cylinder 3 and hence enlarges the height of the apparatus.
  • Feeding fish into the inlet of the machine might become more difficult. Furthermore the complex drive of the rolls would increase the cost of the apparatus.
  • means for pulling the tube of packaging material in downward direction comprise clamping members 6 and 7.
  • Clamping members 7 are situated around guiding cylinder 3 and clamping members 6 enclose the horizontal sealing bars 10.
  • FIGS. 4-7 show this embodiment. These figures illustrate the way in which an appropriate length of packaging material is obtained. This will now be explained.
  • the packaging material is pulled downward through co-operation of clamping members 6 and clamping members 7.
  • the sequence of the actions starts with clamping members 6 in start position underneath guiding cylinder 4. The sequence is as follows:
  • the displacement is three times performed.
  • Figure 4 shows the starting position where clamping members 6 are closed and clamping members 7 are open so that the tube of packaging material is clamped between clamping members 6.
  • Vertical sealing bar 8 seals the overlapping side of the tube of packaging material.
  • clamping members 6 are opened while clamping members 7 are closed. Always one pair of clamping members is closed while the other is open.
  • clamping members 7 hold the tube of packaging material and prevent it from further sliding down guiding cylinder 3
  • clamping members 6 are displaced upwardly to their start position (same position as shown in figure 4).
  • clamping members 6 are closed and clamping members 7 are opened again and the downward displacement of clamping members 6 is repeated.
  • This sequence is repeated as many times as required for selected pouch format.
  • Figure 7 illustrates vertical sealing of the overlapping side of the tube of packaging material.
  • the arrows shown in figure 8 indicate the actions that are performed (the sequence of actions having been described higher).
  • valve 9 is opened so that the water and the fish are released from container 4 into the pouch. This is illustrated in figure 10.
  • Means 13 can be provided for spraying water or another fluid into container 4 (see figure 11). These spraying means serve two purposes: (1) spraying of water into the container prohibits that fish are left in the container (and stick e.g. to the inner wall of the container) and (2) water (or another fluid) can be added to the pouch so that a prescribed ratio of fluid/gas is always obtained.
  • a sensor e.g. an hydrostatic sensor can be provided in the bottom of container 4 for sensing the amount of water that was brought into the container together with the fish.
  • Means can be provided for calculating the difference between the amount of water that is sensed and the amount of water that is required in the pouch and for controlling the operation of the spraying means so that water is added to the container until the amount that was sensed corresponds to an envisaged amount.
  • Figure 11 illustrates the situation where the fish are released into the pouch and figure 12 illustrates the situation in which valve 9 is closed again while clamping members 7 still remain closed. At this moment the container 4 can already be filled again with new fish to be packaged.
  • the pouch is pulled vacuum by means of a vacuum pump. (see figure 13)
  • Clamping means 6 are again approached so that they are almost but not entirely closed.
  • This position of the clamping means 6 permits that an amount of oxygen can be blown into the pouch through the opening in between the members 6. (see fig. 15).
  • the horizontal sealing bars 10 can then make a transverse seal in the pouch (see figure 16 and 17).
  • the transverse sealing arrangement comprises a horizontal seal bar which is arranged to make two parallel seals separated about 1 cm from each other. The lower seal closes the pouch that has been filled and the upper seal forms the bottom of a next pouch.
  • clamping members 6 are opened again and the pouch is ejected from the apparatus.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)
EP98201836A 1998-06-03 1998-06-03 Conditionnement automatique de poissons vivants Withdrawn EP0962387A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98201836A EP0962387A1 (fr) 1998-06-03 1998-06-03 Conditionnement automatique de poissons vivants

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP98201836A EP0962387A1 (fr) 1998-06-03 1998-06-03 Conditionnement automatique de poissons vivants

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0962387A1 true EP0962387A1 (fr) 1999-12-08

Family

ID=8233779

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98201836A Withdrawn EP0962387A1 (fr) 1998-06-03 1998-06-03 Conditionnement automatique de poissons vivants

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0962387A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9565839B2 (en) 2013-07-22 2017-02-14 Pioneer Pet Products, Llc Support arrangement for soft sided aquarium
CN113650882A (zh) * 2021-08-18 2021-11-16 江西省水产科学研究所 一种鲜活水产品智能包装机
CN114258886A (zh) * 2021-11-18 2022-04-01 侯小松 定制对象运输部件选择平台及方法

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2949882A (en) * 1958-06-27 1960-08-23 Jr George L Thomas Live fish package
US3579945A (en) * 1968-08-22 1971-05-25 Fr Hesser Maschienfabrik Ag Apparatus for reducing the atmospheric oxygen content of fluent solid pourable materials by gas exchange
DE2355957A1 (de) * 1973-11-09 1975-05-15 Seeberger Kg Maschinen Und Ger Verfahren und vorrichtung zum formen, fuellen und verschliessen von schlauchbeuteln fuer fluessige und pastenfoermige fuellgueter
US3886714A (en) * 1973-08-14 1975-06-03 Prepac Sarl Machine for making and filling sachets
US4043098A (en) * 1976-08-26 1977-08-23 Package Machinery Company Vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine with improved back-up bar for longitudinal sealing
US4964259A (en) * 1989-08-02 1990-10-23 Borden, Inc. Form-fill-seal deflation method and apparatus

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2949882A (en) * 1958-06-27 1960-08-23 Jr George L Thomas Live fish package
US3579945A (en) * 1968-08-22 1971-05-25 Fr Hesser Maschienfabrik Ag Apparatus for reducing the atmospheric oxygen content of fluent solid pourable materials by gas exchange
US3886714A (en) * 1973-08-14 1975-06-03 Prepac Sarl Machine for making and filling sachets
DE2355957A1 (de) * 1973-11-09 1975-05-15 Seeberger Kg Maschinen Und Ger Verfahren und vorrichtung zum formen, fuellen und verschliessen von schlauchbeuteln fuer fluessige und pastenfoermige fuellgueter
US4043098A (en) * 1976-08-26 1977-08-23 Package Machinery Company Vertical form, fill and seal packaging machine with improved back-up bar for longitudinal sealing
US4964259A (en) * 1989-08-02 1990-10-23 Borden, Inc. Form-fill-seal deflation method and apparatus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US9565839B2 (en) 2013-07-22 2017-02-14 Pioneer Pet Products, Llc Support arrangement for soft sided aquarium
CN113650882A (zh) * 2021-08-18 2021-11-16 江西省水产科学研究所 一种鲜活水产品智能包装机
CN114258886A (zh) * 2021-11-18 2022-04-01 侯小松 定制对象运输部件选择平台及方法

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