GB2491709A - Device for assembling a bunch of flowers - Google Patents

Abstract

A device 10 for assembling a bunch 22 of flowers, comprises a conveyor 16 having a first end 18 and a discharge end 20 situated downstream in the machine direction, for the discharge of an assembled bunch of flowers, the conveyor serves to convey flowers 38 in the direction of the discharge end during the assembly of a bunch of flowers, and a number of loading positions along a longitudinal edge of the conveyor for the placement on the conveyor of a predetermined number of flowers at each loading position, each loading position being provided with a contactless position marking 56, not connected to the conveyor, for the positioning of a flower at a width position on the conveyor which is predetermined for the loading position concerned. Each loading position may be provided with an image recording device and an image displaying device 54 which may be provided with an electronic position marking.

Description

The: Device for assembling a bunch of flowers and use of the same The present invention relates according to a first aspect to a device for assembling a bunch of flowers. A second aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the device for assembling a bunch of flowers.

Devices for assembling a bunch of flowers are known in the trade. A known device comprises a driven endless conveyor belt having a first end and a discharge end for the discharge of an assembled bunch of flowers. During operationç the conveyor belt passes through a number of loading positions which are spaced apart in the machine direction. At the first loading position, a person manually places a flower or other element to be incorporated into a bunch of flowers, such as a sprig of greenery or the like, onto the conveyor belt, or into a holder connected to the conveyor belt. At the following loading positions, one or more flowers or elements are constantly added to the first flower or element, so that a bunch consisting of several flowers is assembled. Usually, the stems of the assembled bunch of flowers are cut to length all at once, provided with a binder, such as tape or elastic, and/or packed in a film cover.

In one embodiment of the known device, a fixed stop, such as a vertically upright strip, is disposed next to a longitudinal edge of the conveyor belt opposite the persons, which stop extends over all loading positions. The person places the top edge of the flower against this stop A drawback of this embodiment is that the flowers conveyed with the conveyor belt come into contact with the stationary stop and hence can get damaged, as well as in the resulting frictional contact.

In another embodiment, the stop positioned in a fixed position comprises a belt which moves at the same speed as the conveyor belt, resulting in virtually no friction between flower and stop during displacement with the conveyor bell. The loading involves, however, a contact moment which can result in damage to the flower. In addition, in the case of lilies and peonies, for example, this contact moment can lead to the flower bud springing open. This is undesirable, since these varieties of flowers should be supplied and presented at the auction with closed flower buds.

The above-described contact harms the quality of the flowers and therefore reduces the eventual price of the assembled bunch of flowers. Another drawback of the known device is that, owing to the stop disposed at a fixed width in relation to the conveyor belt, the flowers all have the same total length and thus the device is unsuitable for assembling a bunch of flowers whereof the individual flowers should have a different length.

If the fixed stop were to be divided into a part-stop which is separate for each loading position, the stops would be able to be disposed only in a fixed sequence of increasing width position (increasing flower length), because otherwise previously loaded flowers would bang against a following stop.

Also known are conveyor belts provided with coloured stripes which extend in the longitudinal direction over the entire belt and are used as position markings, possibly in combination with mirrors hung high above the conveyor belt for the improvement of the viewing angle! A drawback thereof is that the flowers are placed on these stripes, and thus cover the position markings for the loading in downstream loading positions, so that the correct positioning there is made more difficult. In addition, coloured lines applied to the surface of the conveyor become less clearly visible, or even disappear, over time, as a result of wear and dirtying. If used, the mirrors certainly improve the viewing angle, but the work posture resulting therefrom is felt to be unpleasant! The object of the present invention is to at least partially eliminate the said drawbacks. More particularly, one object of the invention is to provide a device in which the risk of damage to the flowers is reduced. Yet another object is to provide a device which is suitable for assembling a bunch of flowers whose flowers have a different length, such as a bouquet of different varieties of flowers and/or elements, wherein the flowers, after having been assembled, can be cut to the desired length all at once. A further object of the invention is to provide a device in which the work posture for the operator or operators is improved.

To this end, the device according to the invention comprises a conveyor having a first end and a discharge end, situated downstream in the machine direction, for the discharge of an assembled bunch of flowers, which conveyor serves to convey flowers in the direction of the discharge end during their assembly, and a number of loading positions along a longitudinal edge of the conveyor for the placement on the conveyor of a predetermined number of flowers at each loading position, each loading position being provided with a contactiess position marking, not connected to the conveyor, for the positioning of a flower at a width position on the conveyor which is predetermined for the loading position concerned.

The device according to the invention comprises a conveyor, such as a belt provided with a suitable drive and having a topmost conveying part for the conveyance of the flowers and a bottommost return part, which belt extends between a first end and a discharge end. At the discharge end, assembled bunches of flowers are discharged one by one, possibly after trimming, binding and/or packaging. If so desired, these operations can also, where necessary, take place elsewhere! During displacement of the conveyor, the conveying portion passes through different loading positions defined on a longitudinal side of the conveyor at a distance apart in the machine direction. During operation, a person is present at each loading position, which person, from a stock of the flower variety or element concerned, respectively places a predetermined number of flowers onto the conveyor. The flower is directed with its stem substantially at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor. In the invention, each loading position is provided with a position marking, which is not connected to the conveyor and which makes no contact with the flower, so that the chance of damage is lessened. The position marking acts, as it were, as a virtual stop parallel to the machine direction, which produces no (frictional) contact with the flowers. The position marking determines the distance between a predefined starting point of the flower, for example the tip of the flower or the bottom side of a flower bud and the longitudinal edge of the conveyor, in this description termed the width position, and therefore the distance between the tip of the flower and a cutting blade of the cutting device, which is usually disposed at a fixed width position in relation to the conveyor. The position marking at each loading position thus determines the length of the flowS concerned.

The device according to the invention also makes it possible to assemble a bunch of flowers of different length, such as a bouquet of several varieties of flowers, in a random sequence, since the position markings form no physical obstacle to the passage of the flowers.

In one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the position marking is a position marking projected from above onto the conveyor, for example a laser line contrasting with the flowers and conveyor, or a shadow line deriving from a strip-shaped object, such as a piece of wire, placed between a light source and the conveyor, parallel to the conveyor. Such a line is also still visible on flowers already placed on the conveyor and is not covered over. The flowers, for example a flower with many leaves, can also, as it were, deform a projected position marking of this type, owing to the viewing angle at which a person looks at the loading area, whereby the positioning can be made more difficult.

In a preferred device according to the invention, each loading position is provided with an image recording device, such as a camera, for recording an image of that loading area on the conveyor which is associated with the loading position, as well as an image displaying device, such as a display screen, for representing the image of the loading area on the conveyor which is recorded with the image recording device. In this embodiment, an image is recorded (semi-) continuously with the image recording device, preferably from a position above the loading area on the conveyor, more preferably from a position perpendicularly above this loading area, which image is represented on the image displaying device, in the case of a projected position marking, the viewing angle hence plays a less significant role and the position marking is clearly visible to the person looking at the image on the image displaying device.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the position of an image displaying device is adjustable, so that this position, such as height, distance, angle of observation, can be adapted to the individual requirements and/or physical characteristics of the operator concerned.

In another preferred device, the image displaying device is itself provided with a position marking, which more preferably is adjustable. In one embodiment thereof, the image displaying device is provided with a physical position marking, which is disposed in front of the screen of the image displaying device, in other words between the operator and the image displaying device. The position marking can also be an electronically generated position marking, which is added to the image recorded with the image recording device. In these embodiments of the device according to the invention, the visibility of the position marking is ensured, regardless of the flowers and the viewing angle.

The device according to the invention can be used to work flowers into a bunch or bouquet, in which the flowers possess the same total length or possess different stern lengths.

The invention also relates to a specific use of a device according to the invention for assembling a bunch of flowers of different stem lengths, in particular a bouquet of flowers of different varieties.

The invention is explained below with reference to the appended drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view of the embodiment represented in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a front view of the embodiment represented in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is an embodiment of an image displaying device usable with a device according to the invention.

Figs. 1-4 show schematically an embodiment of a device 10 for assembling a bunch of flowers according to the invention, which device is included in a total flower packaging line.

The device 10 comprises a frame 14, which is movable with the aid of wheels 12. In this frame 14 is disposed a conveyor 16, in this case an endless conveyor belt. The conveyor 16, which moves in the direction indicated with an arrow, extends from a first end 18 to the opposite-situated discharge end 20, where flowers assembled into a bunch 22 are discharged from the device ID. In the represented embodiment, holders 26 for the reception of flowers are provided on the conveyor 16, on a longitudinal edge 24 thereof. Each holder 26 is in this case made up of two rows 28, extending in the longitudinal direction of the device 16, of material strips 30, which material strips adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction of the device and point up into a point and are connected to the conveyor belt, for example by means of gluing or hot welding. The material strips and the conveyor belt thus delimit V-shaped holders 26. Each holder defines a loading area of the conveyor 16. Along the longitudinal edge 24, a number of (in this case 4) loading stations 32 are defined, where an operator 34, from a stock 36 (indicated schematically), places a flower 38 (represented only at 1st. loading station) or a number of flowers in a holder 26. It will be appreciated that, at the second and following loading stations, the holder 26 filled in the first loading station is filled up with more flowers in order to assemble a bunch of flowers. Downstream of the loading stations 32 are successively disposed a cutting device 40, disposed at a fixed position, for the trimming of the stem ends of the flowers of an assembled bunch of flowers, a leaf removing device 42, for the (partial) removal of leaves from the assembled bunch of flowers, and a binding device 44, for the binding together of the assembled bunch of flowers.

The bunches 22 of flowers which are thus obtained are transferred at the discharge end 20 of the conveyor 16 onto a further conveyor 46, where the bunches of flowers are also packed, for example packaged or placed in buckets of water.

In order to place the flowers 38 correctly onto the conveyor 16 or into a holder 26, each loading station 32 is provided with an image recording device 50 for taking shots of the associated loading area (in this case a part of the surface of the conveyor 16 and the particular holder 26). The image recording device 50, such as a video camera, supported by a stand 52, is disposed above the conveyor 16 and takes shots from above. Fastened to the stand 52 is an image displaying device 54, such as a display screen, preferably set at the eye level of the operator concerned and further adapted to his or her wishes, on which an image taken with the image recording device 50 is shown. As can clearly be seen from Fig. 4, in front of the image displaying device 54 is fastened a position marking 56, the position of which in relation to the shown image can be adjusted. For example, the position marking 56 is a strip, tube or rod, which is fastened on both sides in runners displaceable in the vertical direction of the image displaying device 54. For this purpose, a scale indication 58, for example a centimetre graduation, is also provided in the represented embodiment.

During operation, a predetermined reference point of the flower 38, for example the tip, is placed on the conveyor 16 such that on the represented image this reference point touches the position marking 56 which runs parallel to the machine direction. Because there is no physical contact between the flower 38 and the position marking 56, no damage to the flower consequently arises.

In the represented embodiment, all position markings 56 at each loading station 32 are disposed at the same height. It will be appreciated that the position markings can be easily disposed at a height which varies for the flowers concerned, so that a bunch of flowers, the tips of which are not at one and the same height and which, after the cutting operation in the cutting device 40, will have different lengths, are able to be assembled. This is of importance, above all, in the assembly of bouquets of different flowers and elements. Moreover, there will be no deviations from these lengths in bunches of flowers which are successively assembled,

Claims (11)

1. CLAIMS1. Device (10) for assembling a bunch (22) of flowers, comprising a conveyor (16) having a first end (18) and a discharge end (20), situated downstream in the machine direction, for the discharge of an assembled bunch of flowers, which conveyor serves to convey flowers (38) in the direction of the discharge end during the assembly of a bunch of flowers, and a number of loading positions along a longitudinal edge of the conveyor for the placement on the conveyor of a predetermined number of flowers at each loading position, each loading position being provided with a contactless position marking (56), not connected to the conveyor, for the positioning of a flower at a width position on the conveyor which is predetermined for the loading position concerned.
2. 2. Device according to Claim 1, wherein the position marking (56) is a position marking projected onto the conveyor.
3. 3. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each loading position is provided with an image recording device (50) for recording an image of that loading area on the conveyor which is associated with the loading position, as well as an image displaying device (54) for representing the image of the loading area on the conveyor which is recorded with the image recording device.
4. 4. Device according to Claim 3, wherein the image displaying device (54) is provided with a physical position marking (56), which is disposed in front of the screen of the image displaying device.
5. 5. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 1-3, wherein the image displaying device (54) is provided with an electronic position marking.
6. 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the position of a position marking (56) is adjustable.
7. 7. Device according to one of the preceding Claims 3-6, wherein the position of an image displaying device (54) is adjustable.
8. 8. Use of a device (10) according to one of the preceding claims for assembling a bunch (22) of flowers (38) of different stem lengths.
9. 9. Use according to claim 8 for different flower varieties.
10. I 0. Device substantially as hereinbefore described.
11. II. Use of a device substantially as hereinbefore described.