NZ523819A

NZ523819A - Packing apparatus for settling gravity loaded discrete articles within a container

Info

Publication number: NZ523819A
Application number: NZ52381900A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Garry Cooper; Wade Flanagan
Original assignee: Carter Holt Harvey Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-18
Filing date: 2000-05-18
Publication date: 2005-12-23

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for settling gravity loaded discrete articles within a container are disclosed. The articles are poured into the top inlet of a hopper 9 positioned over an indexing conveyor 10. Containers are located on the conveyor between upstands 12, and are located beneath the hopper while the articles are being poured. The hopper has flexing sidewalls which aid the pouring of the articles. Following filling the box is shaken in vertical and lateral directions by motion of the conveyor to aid settling. (62) Divided out of 504664

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 5238 1 9 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 No: 504664/504690 Date: 18 May 2000/19 May 2000 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION 'Packing and Settling Apparatus' CARTER HOLT HARVEY LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 640 Great South Road, Manukau City, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: -2- The present invention relates to packing and settling apparatus. Frequently there is a need to decant or otherwise pour out individual products for loading into smaller containers. One such instance is the pouring of unshucked mussels or other bivalves (hereafter "mussels") from, for example, a bag into individual smaller cartons. Here a typical chute blocking problem is likely to arise. In the past it has been necessary to provide some external input whereby induced vibrations (eg; an eccentric weight or ultrasound) will lead to a free pour situation. Accordingly irrespective of whether or not individual items are being decanted there is a need to provide for a smooth free flowing thereof into a container. There is also a desirability, whether in conjunction with any such apparatus or during the performance of any such method, to ensure also that any pack that is being filled by such items is sufficiently compacted so as to be able to be closed with the articles compacted therein. In the past it is frequently a case that individual items (such as unshucked mussels) have been placed into a paperboard or other container to a level greater than that to which they might settle and thereafter with appropriate shaking, banging or the like of the container the content has been encouraged to settle and compact to an acceptable level. There is therefore a need whether in conjunction with an overall mechanised device or otherwise to provide means whereby a container such as a carton, box or the like can be presented to a filling zone or station and without direct human intervention appropriate settling of the filling content encouraged. The present in one aspect relates to an alternative to actively induce vibration hoppers which surprisingly merely requires passive flexure (single or multi modal) in response to a pouring of articles into a hopper. The present invention in another aspect relates to a mechanised means and thus related apparatus and methods whereby a loading of discrete articles into a container (eg; carton, box or the like) leads to such fill being encouraged to settle to a desired (possibly pre-determined) (level preferably to enable closure). In a first aspect the present invention consists in packing apparatus for receiving discrete articles and for dispensing such articles in a substantially free pour condition (such as into a container), said apparatus comprising or including a hopper assembly having a lower outlet for the articles to be dispensed or discharged and, above said outlet, an inlet into which said articles can be conveyed, poured or the like, the hopper assembly being characterised in that at least one or more wall surface or surfaces of the hopper assembly are capable of flexure. Preferably said flexure is of at least one wall surface relative to another. In some aspects in addition or instead said flexure is of at least one wall surface relative to a mount or support for such wall. Preferably said flexure arises from a flexible mounting of each operative surface providing region of a wall and preferably such flexible mounting is by an extension of any such component anchored to an appropriate frame. Preferably said frame is peripheral of said hopper axis (ie; from said inlet to said outlet). Preferably at least a pair of opposed walls of said hopper assembly are flexibly mounted. Preferably hopper walls or parts thereof themselves either flex or are flexibly mounted, or both. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a wall component of a hopper assembly suitable for use in packing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. Preferably said wall component includes a wall region and a mounting region, there being a degree of flexure between the parts thereof and/or of said mounting region. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of packing discrete articles (for example, unshucked mussels) which comprises or includes providing packing apparatus in accordance with the present invention, positioning a container into which the articles are to be packed below the discharge outlet of said hopper assembly, and pouring or otherwise conveying the articles to be dispensed into said hopper assembly and from thence into said container. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a method of dispensing discrete articles capable of free flow, which method comprises or includes, passing under gravity said articles to an outlet down a chute (for example, in the form of a hopper) where the wall surfaces of the chute are capable of flexure relative to each other whereby clumping of the articles, prior to the outlet discharging thereof, is substantially reduced. In some aspects of the present the wall surfaces are mounted in a manner hereinbefore described. In others they could be spring mounted from a number of spring mounting members. In still others they can be pivoted but with some flexible control as to the disposition about the pivot. Most preferably however both such a pivot point and the disposition about said pivot is capable of movement thereby more greatly enhancing the degree of flexure. Such an arrangement arises from the componentry substantially as hereinafter described. In still another aspect the present invention consists in a method of settling discrete articles within a container which comprises or includes the steps of gravity loading the discrete articles into said container whilst machine supported, and causing machine induced lateral movement of the container or part(s) thereof after such loading and/or during such loading so as to encourage the settling of such articles within said container, wherein said machine induced lateral movement is under the action of a reciprocal and/or cyclically moveable contact of such a container, such a container being supported preferably on an indexing conveyor for loading, and wherein said machine induced lateral movement is both lateral to said conveyor's direction and vertical of the container. Preferably said machine induced movement also includes movement of the container vertically, preferably via a container (e.g. carton) to loading zone indexing conveyor capable of reciprocal or cyclical movement with a vertical component. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in, in combination, packing apparatus as aforesaid and apparatus including an indexing conveyor for indexing cartons to be filled by said packing apparatus under the discharge outlet of the hopper assembly thereof, said conveyor having associated therewith means whereby 100004579 l.WPD intellectual property office of n.z. U JUL 2004 RKC IIVfiD . there can be an induced movement of said conveyor with a lateral component (eg; laterally of the conveying direction) and/or (with respect to the conveyor itself) with a vertical component, such lateral and/or vertical component movements being such as to ensure a degree of settling of articles loading and/or loaded into such an indexed container. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in apparatus for performing the settling procedure previously described, substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any of the drawings. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in settling apparatus for settling discrete articles in a top loaded container, said apparatus comprising a conveyor for indexing such a top loadable container under a filling chute or hopper (preferably as previously defined) whilst and/or after which said conveyor continues to support said container whilst it is moved, and/or squeezed and/or shaken by a machine to settle the content thereof. Preferably said machine shaping is by way of mechanisms to provide one or both of a lateral and vertical component of movement of the container or part thereof on the conveyor or of the conveyor itself. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in a packing procedure (and related apparatus and methods) which involves the use of a hopper assembly as previously defined where at least one or more wall, surface or the surfaces are capable of one or multi modal flexure and settling apparatus in accordance with the present invention adapted to settle the discharged articles from such hopper assembly that have been discharged into the top loading container down to an acceptable level. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in combinations of apparatus in accordance with the present invention, combinations of procedures in accordance with the present invention and/or the like. In yet another aspect the invention is apparatus for presenting an open top container to a filling chute, hopper or the like (hereafter "hopper"), said apparatus comprising or including an indexing conveyor for moving sequentially suitable containers to a filling zone 100004579 l.WPD intellectual property OFFICE OF N.Z. 11 JUL 2004 BEOKIVSJ1 from said hopper, and, one or both of (i) lateral (with respect to conveying direction) container contacting mechanism to elicit a shaking or other container fill settling movement (or component thereof) of the container at and/or after the filing zone whilst still on said conveyor, and (ii) a conveyor height adjustment mechanism to elicit a vertical shaking or other container fill settling movement (or component thereof) of the container at and/or after the filling zone whilst still on said conveyor. Preferably said hopper is as previously defined. Preferably said indexing conveyor has associated therewith means to provide both a lateral and vertical component of movement of such a container or part(s) thereof on said conveyor. Preferably said lateral container contacting mechanism is a cyclically or reciprocally moveable carton contacting member capable of moving laterally of the conveyor advancement direction. Preferably said conveyor height adjustment mechanism preferably moves the conveyor surface on which a carton is positioned upwardly and downwardly. Most preferably the whole conveyor itself rather than the discrete area of its surface is uplifted and thereafter lowered. Preferably the arrangement is substantially as hereinafter described. In still a further aspect the present invention consists in methods and/or apparatus substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any of the accompanying drawings. This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which \ * \ -7- the following gives examples. A preferred form of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows a crashlock carton of the kind into which, by way of example, mussels may be decanted from a much larger bag, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a preferred form of the arrangement in accordance with the present invention, there being shown a bagged product above the hopper assembly (the hopper assembly shown only in part) and a carton diagrammatically shown below the discharge region thereof, Figure 3 is a perspective view from above of a frame and a hopper assembly in accordance with the present invention where preferably all four components of the hopper assembly are flexibly mounted from the frame, Figure 4 shows the arrangement where wall components are separately mounted by a flexible extension from a peripheral frame, Figure 5 is a perspective view of a component as shown in Figure 4, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a hopper assembly and packing apparatus of the present invention supported from a frame and positioned above an indexing conveyor to advance containers (not shown) under the hopper assembly for loading and thereafter for movement to a consolidation zone at which the top filled containers are subjected to both lateral and vertical components of movement of at least part thereof, Figure 7 shows in more detail by arrows the movements inwardly and outwardly of pneumatic rams whilst it is also possible to move upwardly and downwardly the entire system which carries the indexing conveyor, the individual cartons being positioned between indexing upstands, and Figure 8 shows a production design for the hopper as shown in Figure 3. In the preferred form of the present invention the apparatus is for dispensing unshucked mussels. In the preferred form of the present invention apparatus as depicted in Figure 3 is provided whereby a chute 1 is defined by four components (one of which is as depicted in Figure 5) and each of which is attached to a peripheral frame. The peripheral frame 1 has two opposed components 2 and two opposed components 3 each of which is likewise attached to the peripheral frame 1 by appropriate fixings so that the extensions 3A and 2A of each can ensure a wobbling inter-relationship of the chute providing guiding internal surfaces of each of the components 2 and 3. As depicted in Figure 2 a bagged product is dropped as a pour into the open top of the hopper formed by the members 2 and 3 thereby enabling the poured materials entering the top inlet 4 to be dispensed from the bottom outlet 5 (if desired) into a carton 6 such as depicted in Figure 1. Preferably the arrangement of Figure 3 is as more clearly shown in Figure 4 (the peripheral frame 1 having been removed) with a surface 7 of member 2 being able to move independently of the opposing surface of the other member 2 and likewise the surface 8 of one component 3 likewise being able to move independently of the opposing surface of the other component 3. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate how, for example, a component 2 as shown in Figure 5 has the ability to flex both upwardly and outwardly in the manner depicted with reference to Figure 5 as, for example, discrete articles move as product pours in and product drops out of the arrangement shown in Figure 4. As used herein the term "dispense" and "dispensing" should be considered in the broadest possible sense, ie; there may or may not be any control on the number of discrete articles passed out of the discharge outlet of the hopper assembly. It is envisaged however that with a free pour arrangement cartons can be placed on a conveyor and indexed to receive product under the discharge outlet 5. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate the benefits such a relatively simple packing apparatus with its novel proper assembly can provide. Of course the product has application with any product irrespective of whether or not discrete articles with a tenancy to clump, block or the like or not, eg; could be used with for example, products ranging from sugar through to a viscous liquid. Figure 6 shows (from the right) a frame carrying an assembly 9 which is packing apparatus as previously defined. As can be seen a conveyor 10 of a conveying system 11 is provided which has upstands 12 between which an open top container, (eg; a carton or the like) from a carton opening system (out to the right of the apparatus shown in Figure -9- 6) can be positioned to index for filling under the discharge opening of the packing apparatus 9. Thereafter such a filled carton, still with its discrete items largely uncompacted, is advanced by the indexing conveyor as the next carton is presented under the discharge zone of the packing apparatus 9, ie; to the filling zone. Previously filled and uncompacted cartons ultimately pass between consolidating arrangements 13 each of which has an arrangement whereby a pneumatic ram can move inwardly and outwardly (and laterally to the conveying direction) each member 14 so that a carton can be compacted against a reactive surface 15. At the same time and/or between any inward pressing of the members 14 under the machine control of a pneumatic ram, preferably the whole assembly 16 moves upwardly and downwardly with the guides 17 preferably leaving each pneumatic assembly and thus member 14 and 15 unmoved vertically. With such arrangement it is possible either one after the other or together to both uplift and laterally squeeze a container to ensure by some cyclic variation thereof an appropriate level of compaction. Any appropriate means of uplifting and/or dropping can be used. In summary therefore the procedure is as follows; - once the bagged product is placed in a carton, via the previously described hopper mechanism, the product is consolidated. This process is repeated twice to ensure the mussels are firmly packed in the cartons. - the process of consolidating the mussels is a simple lift and drop operation. Two opposing faces, on opposing sides of the carton, are forced together to grip the box. These "grippers" and the carton, are then raised vertically before the carton is released and allowed to drop back onto the conveyor. This process is repeated until the mussels are firmly consolidated. - The process is pneumatically operated, ie; rams to move the "grippers" and the raising mechanism, and a PLC controls the system. This links the lifting and dropping with the movement of the conveyor. 10 </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> CLAIMS

1. A method of settling discrete articles within a container which comprises or includes the steps of gravity loading the discrete articles into said container whilst machine supported, and causing machine induced movement of the container or part(s) thereof after such loading and/or during such loading so as to encourage the settling of such articles within said container, wherein said machine induced movement is under the action of a reciprocal and/or cyclically moveable contact of such a container, such a container being supported on an indexing conveyor for loading, and wherein said machine induced movement is both lateral to said conveyor's direction and vertical of the container.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said machine induced movement occurs at a consolidation zone indexed along from where said container is gravity loaded.

3. A method of either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said machine induced movement is induced in said container indirectly, via said indexing conveyor which is capable of movement with said lateral and vertical component.

4. A method as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein said machine induced movement is imparted directly to said container via a container contacting mechanism acting against the substantially vertical sides of said container via pressing members.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein said container contacting mechanism is controlled via pneumatic or hydraulic ram, and said pressing members are substantially planar and parallel with said substantially vertical sides of said container.

6. In combination, packing apparatus for use with a container said packaging apparatus including an indexing conveyor which said container rests on for indexing said container to be filled by said packing apparatus under the discharge outlet of the hopper assembly thereof, said conveyor having associated therewith means whereby there can be a machine induced movement of said container with a component lateral of the conveying direction IPONZ 2 6 SEP 2005 100004579 l.WPD L ° £UUJ 11 and a component vertical of the conveying direction, such lateral and vertical component movements being such as to ensure a degree of settling of articles loading and/or loaded into such an indexed container, wherein said machine induced movement is induced in said container indirectly, via said indexing conveyor which is capable of movement with said lateral and vertical component.

7. A packing apparatus for use with a container as claimed in claim 6 wherein said machine induced movement occurs at a consolidation zone indexed along from where said container is gravity loaded.

8. A packing apparatus for use with a container as claimed in either of claims 6 or 7 wherein said machine induced movement is imparted directly to said container via a container contacting mechanism acting against the substantially vertical sides of said container via pressing members.

9. A packing apparatus for use with a container as claimed in claim 8 wherein said container contacting mechanism is controlled via pneumatic or hydraulic ram, and said pressing members are substantially planar and parallel with said substantially vertical sides of said container.

10. Apparatus for performing the settling procedure of any one of claims 1 to 5 substantially as herein described with reference to any of the drawings.

11. Settling apparatus for settling discrete articles in a top loaded container, said apparatus comprising or including a conveyor for indexing such a top loadable container under a filling chute or hopper whilst and/or after which said conveyor continues to support said container whilst said container is shaken by a machine to settle the content thereof, in both a vertical direction and lateral to said conveyor's direction, wherein said shaking is induced in said container indirectly, via said conveyor

12. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein said machine settling is by way of mechanisms to provide one or both of a lateral and vertical component of movement of the container or part thereof.

13. A packing procedure which involves the use of a hopper assembly where at least one or more wall surface or surfaces of the hopper assembly are capable of flexure relative to each other and/or their mounting, the hopper IPONZ 2 6 SEP 2005 100004579_1. WPD 12 assembly to receive and dispense articles in a free pour condition into a top loading container and in conjunction with a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or 11 adapted to settle the dispensed articles from such hopper assembly that have been discharged into said top loading container down to an acceptable level.

14. A packing procedure as claimed in claim 13 with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

15. Apparatus for presenting an open top container to a filling chute, hopper or the like (hereafter "hopper"), said apparatus comprising or including, (i) an indexing conveyor for sequentially moving suitable containers to a filling zone to be filled with discrete articles from said hopper, and, a (ii) a container contacting mechanism to elicit a machine induced movement both vertically or laterally of said conveyor's direction to ensure a degree of settling movement of said discrete articles in said container at and/or after the filing zone whilst still on said conveyor, and (iii) a conveyor height adjustment mechanism to elicit a vertical and lateral shaking (relative to said conveyor's direction) fill settling movement of the container at and/or after the filling zone whilst still on said conveyor.

16. Apparatus of claim 15 wherein said container contacting mechanism is a cyclically or reciprocally moveable carton container member capable of moving laterally of the conveyor advancement direction and vertically.

17. Apparatus of either of claims 15 or 16 wherein said conveyor height adjustment mechanism moves the conveyor surface on which a carton is positioned upwardly and downwardly.

18. Apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the whole conveyor itself rather than the discrete area of its surface is uplifted and thereafter lowered.

19. Apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 18 wherein the arrangement is substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. END OF CLAIMS IPONZ 26 SEP 2005 100004579J. WPD </div>