GB2024144A - A machine for packing chickens in plastics bags - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine for packing chickens in plastics bags, comprises movable grippers (5) for gripping a chicken above its knee joints and for forcing the chicken into a hopper (7) which has a removable bottom (8), so that its thighs lie adjacent its body, means (13) below the hopper for supporting a plastics bag, and means (11) for inflating the supported plastics bag, so that when the bottom of the hopper is removed, the chicken can fall from the hopper into the plastics bag. The machine also includes means for transporting a filled bag and means for gathering together the top of the bag and applying a closure clip thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A machine for packing articles in plastics bags The present invention relates to a machine for packing articles such as chickens and foul in plastics bags In order to insert chickens into plastics bags their legs must be pushed towards the body and lie adjacent to it. This, up to now has been done manually only, the knee joint of the chicken being crossed and inserted into an opening made in the skin of the belly of the chicken. After the bags are filled, they are closed either manually or automatically by means of clips or ties.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a machine whereby the thighs of a chicken, after the legs have been removed, are pressed toward the body of the chicken and then are automatically inserted into plastics bags which are then closed automatically by mechanical means.

The invention consists in a machine for packing articles in plastics bags, the machine comprising a hopper for receiving articles to be packed, the hopper having a removable bottom, means below the hopper for supporting a plastics bag, and means forinflatting a plastics bag supported below the hopper, so that when the botton of the hopper is removed, articles from the hopper can fall into the plastics bag, the machine also including means for transporting a filled bag and means for gathering together the top of the bag and applying a closure clip thereto.

The invention is illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of the machine according to the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view thereof; Figure 3 is an end view thereof; Figure 4 shows in perspective view the plastics bag storage and inflating means; Figure 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing the supporting means for the plastics bag; Figure 6 is a plan view of the transporting clamps forthefilled bag; Figure 7 is a partial plan view of the closing mechanism of the bag; Figure 8 shows an elevation of a closed filled bag.

Referring to Figures 1-3, the chicken packaging machine according to the invention comprises a frame work generally indicated by 1, having two upwardly extending parallel rods 2 on which sleeves 3 are slidable, the sleeves 3 being connected to each other by means of a cross bar 4. On said cross bar 4 two parallel grippers 5, each with jaws 6,6', are mounted, one jaw 6 of each gripper being movable relative to the other one 6', so that said gripper can be closed or opened. The pair of grippers 6,6' are vertically aligned with a stationary hopper 7 pro vided with a bottom 8 adapted to be withdrawn from said hopper by means of a piston 9'. Below said hopper and at one side thereof a supply of flat plastics bags 9 are positioned, being hung from bars 10 by a transverse edge on one wall of each bag which extends above the other wall of the bag.An air nozzle 11 extends above the supply of bags, its nozzle 12 pointing downward toward the outermost bag whereby when air is supplied therethrough it will inflate the outermost bag 9. Below said hopper 7, a pair of curved supporting flaps 13 are pivotally mounted, said flaps in their retracted position extending transversely below bottom 8 of the hopper and in their extended position depending downwardly in such a manner that they engage the side of an inflated bag 9 which lies away from the bars 10 and pull the bag in a direction away from said bard.

The machine so far described works as follows: The chickens are suspended from a supply conveyor 14 by their knee joints, said conveyor being mounted above and adjacent the grippers 5 and supplying the chickens at predetermined intervals to said grippers. A piston 15 actuates the gripper jaw 6, so that when a chicken is in position above hopper 7, it is transferred from conveyor 14 to gripper jaws 6,6', whereafter piston 15 closes the jaws. A piston 16 now lowers sleeves 3 and cross bar 4 towards hopper 7, while the bottom 8 is in position below said hopper. As sleeves 3 slide downward to a position which can be seen in dash-dotted lines in Figure 1, the thighs of the chicken are forced against its body when the chicken touches bottom 8. In this position the flaps 13 extend transversely below bottom 8.Simultaneously, air is supplied through nozzle 12 and inflates a plastics bag 9 below the hopper. The bottom 8 is now withdrawn from the hopper by piston 9' and simultaneously flaps 13 are lowered to support bag 9, i.e. to stretch bag 9 somewhat while the grippers release the knee joint of the chicken, so that the latter, after having been pushed by the grippers falls by gravity into the inflated bag 9. At this moment a number of operations of the machine are coordinated to happen simultaneously. Sleeves 3 and grippers 5 are moved upwardly to receive a new chicken, bottom 8 is slid under hopper 7 and flaps 13 are pivoted into their original position. In order to grasp and transport the filled bags, clamps 17 are provided. These clamps are constituted by two straight bars which are pivoted at 18 to each other and are adapted to clamp between them a filled bag 9.The clamping, i.e. the closing of the clamps 17 against each other is effected buy a piston 18 acting on lugs 20 of clamps 17. The clamps 17 and piston 19 are mounted in a carriage constituted by two pairs of sleeves 21, 21' connected to each'other by cross bars 22, 22' and being adapted to ride on parallel rods 23 mounted horizontally in the frame of the machine. Clamps 17 hold the bag between them and pull it away from the bars 10. The rods 23 extend at right angles to vertical rods 2 and the closed clamps 17 move horizontally.

Below the guide rods 23. a stationary guide 24 is provided, which guide extends horizontally at an angle to the rods for the travel of said clamps in such a position, that the open end of said guide catches the top of the plastics bag below the closed clamps 17 (see Figure 7).

In cooperation with said guide the inner end of which is formed as an anvil 25 for a purpose which will become clear hereinafter, a drive member 26 is provided which is aligned with guide 24 and moves relative thereto, its front end being adapted to remove a clip 27 from a supply of clips (not shown).

These clips 27 are in their open position and as they are moved by said drive member into guide 24 gather the bags 9 therein below the clamps 17 in which the top of the bag is still retained. The drive member 26, which is moved by a piston (not shown) forces a clip 27 against anvil 25 whereby said clip is made to surround the bag 9 near its top. Simultaneously, clamps 17 are opened by piston 19to release the top of the bag 9 and drive member 26 moves back so that the packed closed bag can fall downwards where it is collected (not shown).

The operation of the various pistons and the various parts of the machine are synchronized and controlled by any known means.

Preferably electronic switches are provided where required and are actuated by the moving parts of the machine.

The movement of the various mechanism described above may be effected by pneumatic or hydraulic means or by any other suitable mechanism.

It is of course, understood, that the bag-filling means above described can be combined with any known closing means, if desired. The closing and tying of a closed bag may also be effected manually, if desired.

Furthermore, although the invention has been described for packing chickens, it is to be understood that other products which may not require grippers for feeding them into the hopper, may be packaged by the machine according to the invention.

Claims (1)

1. A machine for packing articles in plastics bags, the machine comprising a hopper for receiving articles to be packed, the hopper having a removable bottom, means below the hopper for supporting a plastics bag, and means for inflating a plastics bag supported below the hopper, so that when the bottom of the hopper is removed, articles from the hopper can fall into the plastics bag, the machine also including means for transporting filled bag and means for gathering together the top of the bag and applying a closure clip thereto.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pair of parallel bars are arranged below the hopper to support a supply of plastics bags, the inflating means being positioned above said bars and being arranged to inflate the outermost bag supported on said bars.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the supporting means include curved flaps pivotally mounted atthe bottom of said hopper for movement between a position where they extend across the bottom of the hopper and a position where they extend downwards from below the hopper and pull an inflatted plastics bag into position below the hopper.

4. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein filled plastics bags are transported by two straight bars pivoted to each other and which swing into a position where they lie parallel to each other and clamp a filled bag between them, the bars bein movable towards and away from said hopper.

5. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the means for gathering the top of a filled bag comprise stationary guides along which the top edge of the filled bag is drawn towards an anvil, an opposing member between the guides then being adapted to drive a clip towards the top of the bag, to gather the bag, and against the anvil to close the clip and secure the top of the bag.

6. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the movement of the parts is effected by pneumatic, hydrauiic or suitable mechanical means.

7. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the control and synchronisation of the movement of the parts is effected electronically.

8. A machine as claimed in any preceding claim for packing chickens in plastics bags, the machine including grippers for gripping a chicken above its knee joints and forcing it into the hopper so that the thighs of the chicken lie adjacent its body, the machine being arranged so that the bottom of the hopper is withdrawn as the grippers are opened to release the chicken which then falls into a bag below.

9. A machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

New claims or amendments to claims filed on 8th March 1979 Superseded claim 1 New or amended claims:

1. A machine for packaging chickens in plastic bags, comprising movable grippers for gripping a chicken above its knee joints, a stationary, rigid hopper with a bottom adapted to be withdrawn, the grippers being arranged to force the chicken into said hopper, so that its thighs lie adjacent its body, inflating means for inflating a plastic bag, one side of which is supported by a pair of bars, supporting means belowthe hopper for supporting an inflated plastic bag, so that a chicken forced into the hopper can drop into the bag as the bottom of the hopper is withdrawn and the grippers are opened, transporting clamps for the filled bag, and means for gathering the top of the bag and applying a clip thereto.

Claim 8 deleted and claim 9 renumbered.