US20130269292A1 - Vacuum-assisted poultry loader - Google Patents
Vacuum-assisted poultry loader Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20130269292A1 US20130269292A1 US13/792,828 US201313792828A US2013269292A1 US 20130269292 A1 US20130269292 A1 US 20130269292A1 US 201313792828 A US201313792828 A US 201313792828A US 2013269292 A1 US2013269292 A1 US 2013269292A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- controller
- loader
- bag
- frame
- horn
- 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.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 244000144977 poultry Species 0.000 title description 12
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 10
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 208000019300 CLIPPERS Diseases 0.000 claims description 6
- 208000021930 chronic lymphocytic inflammation with pontine perivascular enhancement responsive to steroids Diseases 0.000 claims description 6
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- -1 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920001343 polytetrafluoroethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004810 polytetrafluoroethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000007689 inspection Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 239000005022 packaging material Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 238000007789 sealing Methods 0.000 claims 1
- 241000287828 Gallus gallus Species 0.000 description 25
- 235000013330 chicken meat Nutrition 0.000 description 25
- 235000013594 poultry meat Nutrition 0.000 description 11
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 9
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 9
- 238000004806 packaging method and process Methods 0.000 description 5
- 229910000831 Steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000010959 steel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 235000013305 food Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000286209 Phasianidae Species 0.000 description 1
- 229920006362 Teflon® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910003460 diamond Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010432 diamond Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000008520 organization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000003860 storage Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003466 welding Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
-
- 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
- B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
- B65B5/04—Packaging single articles
- B65B5/045—Packaging single articles in bags
-
- 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
- B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
- B65B1/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
-
- 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
- B65B17/00—Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials
-
- 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
- B65B25/06—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products
- B65B25/064—Packaging slices or specially-shaped pieces of meat, cheese, or other plastic or tacky products of poultry
-
- 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
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
- B65B43/34—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by internal pressure
- B65B43/36—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by internal pressure applied pneumatically
-
- 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
- B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
-
- 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
- B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
-
- 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
- B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
- B65B51/04—Applying separate sealing or securing members, e.g. clips
- B65B51/043—Applying springy clips around bag necks
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to devices for loading material into bags.
- the invention relates more specifically to devices for loading whole dressed poultry into plastic bags.
- Automated loaders are commonly used to place material in packaging for storage, transport, or sale.
- a plastic bag is opened, sometimes by air and sometimes by mechanical means, such as a pair of horns.
- a whole dressed chicken is then pushed into the bag, sometimes manually, sometimes by gravity, sometimes by a ram.
- the bagged chicken is then sealed within the bag.
- the bag is clipped and the tail is severed.
- the air in the bag is evacuated. In other cases, the bag is shrunk by heat.
- Chickens being bagged in this manner are not uniform in shape or size. A chicken sliding into a bag by gravity might turn as it slides. The placement of chickens in front of the ram is not necessarily uniform. Accordingly, a particular chicken may not stay on a straight line as it is pushed into the bag. If the chicken veers to one side as it is pushed into the bag, it might tear the bag, or it might not proceed entirely into the bag, leaving, for example, a leg sticking out of the bag, either of which situations will cause a delay on the production line. Additionally, the chicken could turn sideways, and even if it is bagged, clipped, and sealed, the improper orientation will likely cause problems in transport and in marketing of the chicken.
- the present invention addresses some of the problems of the prior art.
- An improved loader includes a frame, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the frame, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duct to a first controller, the first controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and a pair of vacuum hoses connecting each air duct to a second controller, the second controller being connected to a vacuum supply.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the poultry loader of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a top view of a bag as known in the prior art.
- FIG. 5 is a side view of a bag as known in the prior art.
- FIG. 6 is a view of a dimpled steel as used in an embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of other dimpled steel as used in an embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an automated loader system using the poultry loader of FIG. 1 .
- a poultry loader 2 . 0 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in elevation schematic view in FIG. 1 and in top plan view in FIG. 2 .
- Loader 20 has a lower frame 22 with a first end 24 and a second end 26 , and an upper frame 28 with a first end 30 and a second end 32 .
- Lower frame first end 24 connects to upper frame first end 30 at articulating attachment 34 .
- Attachment 34 can be an axle, a pair of bolts, or any other mechanism that allows upper frame 24 to articulate with respect to lower frame 22 .
- loader 20 has a single frame and upper frame 28 does not articulate with respect to lower frame 22 .
- a height adjustor 36 comprises an outer telescopic arm 38 having a first end 40 and a second end 42 , and an inner telescopic arm 44 having a first end 46 and a second end 48 .
- First end 40 is rotatably connected to second end 26 of lower frame 22 by a bolt, pin, or similar attachment means.
- First end 46 is rotatably connected to second end 32 of upper frame 28 by a pin 47 , or by a bolt, axle, or similar attachment.
- Outer telescopic arm 38 is preferably a hollow tube with a bore configured to receive inner telescopic arm 44 within the bore.
- Both outer telescopic arm 38 and inner telescopic arm 44 have a plurality of apertures 50 .
- a pin 52 is configured to engage apertures 50 .
- Outer telescopic arm 38 and inner telescopic arm 44 are preferably tubes with circular cross-sections, but can alternatively be flat stock, angled stock, or tubes with other cross-sections, including by way of examples only
- Upper frame 28 has a top surface 60 , two pivots 62 , 64 protruding from the top surface 60 , and two horns 66 , 68 connected to pivots 62 , 64 respectively, Each horn 66 , 68 has a distal portion 70 extending toward second end 32 and a proximal portion 71 extending toward first end 30 . Each horn 66 , 68 has an inner surface 72 facing toward the other horn and an outer surface 73 facing the opposite direction from inner surface 72 . Each horn has an adjustment tab 74 projecting out from outer surface 73 . Each tab 74 has an elongated aperture 76 . A bolt 78 attaches each tab 74 to pivots 62 , 64 .
- Horn 68 is shown in cross-section in FIG. 3 .
- Horn 66 is the mirror image of horn 68 so only one is shown in this drawing.
- Each horn 66 , 68 has an upper shoulder 80 , a lower shoulder 82 , and a half-arcuate duct 84 between upper shoulder 80 and lower shoulder 82 .
- Each duct 84 has an air duct connector 86 at the distal portion 70 .
- a pair of horn air feed hoses 88 run from each air duct connector 86 to a controller 90 .
- Upper frame 28 also has a bag plate 96 and an air jet 98 .
- Bag plate 92 is in a plane generally parallel to the plane of top surface 60 and projects from first end 30 .
- Air jet 94 is located just below top surface 60 at first end 30 and above bag plate 92 .
- Air jet 98 is connected to controller 90 by air jet feed hose 120 .
- Controller 90 is connected by inner feed hose 122 to air filter 124 .
- Outer feed hose 126 connects air filter 124 to pressurized air supply 128 , preferably a plant compressed air supply connected to a compressor.
- Each duct 84 has an vacuum duct connector 130 located preferably at distal portion 70 of each horn 66 , 68 .
- a pair of duct vacuum hoses 132 run from each vacuum duct connector 130 to second controller 134 .
- a vacuum connection hose 136 runs from second controller 134 to vacuum source 138 , preferably a plant vacuum system connected to a vacuum pump.
- a stack 150 of bags 152 are mounted on bag plate 96 .
- a bag 152 as known in the art is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .
- Each bag 152 has a bottom sheet 154 , a top sheet 156 , and a tab section 158 separated from bottom sheet 154 by perforation line 160 .
- Top sheet 156 is connected to bottom sheet 154 preferably by ultrasonic welding.
- Tab section 158 has two apertures 162 .
- a wicket 164 extends through apertures 162 of each bag 152 to connect stack 150 to bag plate 96 .
- air hoses, hose connectors, and air filters are preferably made of stainless steel. All air hoses, hose connectors, and air filters are preferably made of materials approved for use in food packaging applications, such as silicone, glass, or similar materials,
- horns 66 , 68 are made of stainless steel, preferably highly polished stainless steel, more preferably textured (or dimpled) highly polished stainless steel, with the dimples on inner surface 72 .
- the dimpled or textured stainless steel is diamond-shaped textured stainless steel, such as HS Item Number R813000041, available from McNichols Co., Tampa, Fla., or type 4.WL, available from Mechanical Metals, Newtown, Pa.
- a representative diamond.-shaped texture is shown schematically in FIG. 6 .
- Other textures can be used as well, such as the ones shown, by way of example and not by way of limitation, in FIGS. 7 and 8 .
- textured stainless steel has a much lower coefficient of friction with, for example, dry dressed chicken, than does polished stainless steel with dry dressed chicken.
- loader 20 can be used with either wet or dry chicken.
- At least a portion of inner surface 72 of each of horns 66 , 68 is coated with a slippery synthetic substance.
- the substance is a thermoplastic polymer, preferably polytetrafluoroethylene, most preferably one of the materials sold under the brand name Teflon® by E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. Any other slippery substance can be used as well.
- the use of a slippery synthetic substance will ease bagging of dry poultry. Nevertheless, the apparatus can also be used with wet poultry and therefore will be more useful to users than an apparatus that can only be used with one or the other.
- each of horns 66 , 68 is made of dimpled steel and at least a portion of inner surface 72 is coated with a slippery synthetic substance as described above.
- Controller 90 is preferably an electronic controller having valves for supplying pressurized air to the components of loader 20 .
- Controller 90 is alternatively a manually-operated valve or set of valves.
- Second controller 134 is preferably an electronic controller having a valve for pulling a vacuum on ducts 84 .
- second controller 134 is in electronic communication with controller 90 .
- More preferably second controller 134 is integral with controller 90 for coordination of control.
- second controller 134 is a manually-operated valve or set of valves.
- Controller 90 and controller 134 are preferably configured so that one of running pressurized air through duct 84 or pulling a vacuum through duct 84 can be done at one time period. This function can be accomplished by conventional programming of electronic controllers 90 , 134 , or by conventional mechanical arrangement of manual controllers 90 , 134 , whether controllers 90 , 134 are separate, integral, or in communication with each other.
- upper frame 28 is first rotated to the proper angle for the application by raising second end 32 until that angle is reached.
- Timer telescopic arm 44 is aligned within outer telescopic arm 38 and pin 52 is inserted in an aperture 50 in outer telescopic arm 38 and through a matching aperture 50 in inner telescopic arm 44 , locking the two arms 38 , 44 together and thereby holding upper frame 28 at the proper angle.
- a stack 150 of bags 152 is secured to bag plate 96 by wicket 164 .
- Horns 66 , 68 are next set at a suitable distance for the material to be packaged.
- Bolts 78 are first loosened, allowing horns 66 , 68 to be moved closer to each other or farther from each other, depending on the position of bolts 78 within elongated aperture 76 of adjustment tabs 72 .
- Bolts 78 are then tightened when horns 66 , 68 are at a proper distance for the application, securing horns 66 , 68 to pivots 62 , 64 , closer together for smaller items, such as small poultry, and farther apart for later items, such as turkeys.
- An item to be packaged such as a whole dressed chicken 170 is delivered, preferably by a conveyor line or a hanging line (not shown), and placed manually on top surface 60 between horns 66 , 68 .
- Controller 90 releases pressurized air to air jet feed hose 120 , causing air jet 98 to puff air at the top bag 152 of stack 150 .
- the puff of air causes bag 152 to open slightly.
- Controller 90 then releases pressurized air to horn air feed hoses 88 , causing pressurized air to flow through ducts 84 in each horn 66 , 68 . This latter flow of air causes bag 152 to open to its full extent.
- second controller 134 has shut off the vacuum to duct 84 .
- controller 90 Since upper frame 28 is angled, chicken 170 slides down top surface 60 and into open bag 152 , assisted, perhaps, by an operator. As chicken 170 enters bag 152 , controller 90 cuts off the air supply to air jet 98 and to air feed hoses 88 . Second controller 134 then connects vacuum source 138 to vacuum duct connector 130 . The application of a vacuum pulls bag 152 toward horns 66 , 68 , causing bag 152 to collapse around chicken 170 . During this time period, controller 90 has shut off the pressurized air supply to duct 84 .
- Bag 152 now containing a whole chicken 170 , is removed from stack 150 , manually or by a conventional ram 172 , which is mounted to upper frame 28 as shown in FIG. 2 . Since wicket 164 holds bag 152 to stack 150 , bag 152 tears at perforation line 160 , leaving tab section 158 attached. The operator then closes hag 152 by clipping or similar means.
- loader 20 is used in an automated operation, as shown in FIG. 9 .
- Automated loading system 200 has a rotating table 202 with four stations 204 , 206 , 208 , 212 .
- Loader 20 is placed at a filling station 204 .
- table 202 rotates 90 degrees.
- Bag 152 is then at holding control station 206 , where bag 152 is inspected, either manually or electronically using optical methods, for proper bagging. If, for example, a leg of chicken 170 is sticking out of bag 152 , system 200 stops until that situation is remedied. Simultaneously, loader 20 is placing another chicken 170 into the next bag 152 in stack 150 ,
- Table 202 then rotates another 90 degrees to bring bagged chicken 170 to finish station 208 , where clipper 212 is located.
- Clipper 212 is a conventional clipper, such as a Model EZ P 700 or a Model SCD BV, clippers sold by Precitec of Mundelein, Ill., US, or a similar clipper.
- bag 152 is clipped and the tail of bag 152 is cut, either manually or automatically.
- Table 202 then rotates another 90 degrees to bring bag 152 to drop station 210 , where packaged chicken 170 is released for delivery.
- all four stations 204 , 206 , 208 , and 210 are simultaneously operating to place a chicken 170 in a bag 152 , inspect the bag 152 for proper packaging, finishing the packaging operation by clipping and cutting, and dropping the packaged chicken 170 for delivery,
- a ram 172 is used to push chicken 170 into bag 152 .
- ram 172 is mounted on an air cylinder 222 , which is connected by a ram air feed hose 224 to controller 90 , which causes rain 220 to stroke forward and to retract in a conventional manner.
- a ram 220 is shown in FIG. 9 as part of an automated operation, but ram 172 can also be incorporated into loader 20 without the use of rotating table 202 , as shown in, for example, FIG. 2 .
- horns 66 , 68 comprise a funnel horn.
- upper shoulders 80 of each horn 66 , 68 horn connect to each other and lower shoulders 82 of each horn 66 , 68 connect to each other.
Abstract
An improved loader is described, The loader includes a frame, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the frame, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duct to a first controller, the first controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and a pair of vacuum hoses connecting each air duct to a second controller, the second controller being connected to a vacuum supply.
Description
- This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/624,720, filed Apr. 16, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
- The present invention relates generally to devices for loading material into bags. The invention relates more specifically to devices for loading whole dressed poultry into plastic bags.
- Automated loaders are commonly used to place material in packaging for storage, transport, or sale. For example, in a conventional poultry loader, a plastic bag is opened, sometimes by air and sometimes by mechanical means, such as a pair of horns. A whole dressed chicken is then pushed into the bag, sometimes manually, sometimes by gravity, sometimes by a ram. The bagged chicken is then sealed within the bag. Conventionally, the bag is clipped and the tail is severed. In some cases, prior to clipping, the air in the bag is evacuated. In other cases, the bag is shrunk by heat.
- Chickens being bagged in this manner are not uniform in shape or size. A chicken sliding into a bag by gravity might turn as it slides. The placement of chickens in front of the ram is not necessarily uniform. Accordingly, a particular chicken may not stay on a straight line as it is pushed into the bag. If the chicken veers to one side as it is pushed into the bag, it might tear the bag, or it might not proceed entirely into the bag, leaving, for example, a leg sticking out of the bag, either of which situations will cause a delay on the production line. Additionally, the chicken could turn sideways, and even if it is bagged, clipped, and sealed, the improper orientation will likely cause problems in transport and in marketing of the chicken.
- The present invention addresses some of the problems of the prior art.
- An improved loader includes a frame, a pair of horns adjustably connected to the frame, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, a proximal portion, a distal portion, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder, a pair of air hoses connecting each air duct to a first controller, the first controller being connected to a pressurized air supply, and a pair of vacuum hoses connecting each air duct to a second controller, the second controller being connected to a vacuum supply.
- The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying non-scale drawings, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the poultry loader of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a top view of the poultry loader ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a horn of the poultry loader ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a top view of a bag as known in the prior art. -
FIG. 5 is a side view of a bag as known in the prior art. -
FIG. 6 is a view of a dimpled steel as used in an embodiment of the invention. -
FIGS. 7 and 8 are views of other dimpled steel as used in an embodiment of the invention. -
FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an automated loader system using the poultry loader ofFIG. 1 . - While the invention may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention, and is not intended to limit the invention to that as illustrated and described herein. The embodiments of the present invention will be described as part of an automated poultry loader. The present invention, however, can also be used for loading any other materials in which proper alignment of the material is necessary or desired.
- A poultry loader 2.0 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in elevation schematic view in
FIG. 1 and in top plan view inFIG. 2 . Loader 20 has alower frame 22 with a first end 24 and a second end 26, and an upper frame 28 with afirst end 30 and a second end 32. Lower frame first end 24 connects to upper framefirst end 30 at articulatingattachment 34.Attachment 34 can be an axle, a pair of bolts, or any other mechanism that allows upper frame 24 to articulate with respect tolower frame 22. In another aspect of the invention,loader 20 has a single frame and upper frame 28 does not articulate with respect tolower frame 22. - A
height adjustor 36 comprises an outertelescopic arm 38 having a first end 40 and a second end 42, and an inner telescopic arm 44 having a first end 46 and a second end 48. First end 40 is rotatably connected to second end 26 oflower frame 22 by a bolt, pin, or similar attachment means. First end 46 is rotatably connected to second end 32 of upper frame 28 by a pin 47, or by a bolt, axle, or similar attachment. Outertelescopic arm 38 is preferably a hollow tube with a bore configured to receive inner telescopic arm 44 within the bore. Both outertelescopic arm 38 and inner telescopic arm 44 have a plurality of apertures 50. A pin 52 is configured to engage apertures 50. Outertelescopic arm 38 and inner telescopic arm 44 are preferably tubes with circular cross-sections, but can alternatively be flat stock, angled stock, or tubes with other cross-sections, including by way of examples only, oval or rectangular. - Upper frame 28 has a
top surface 60, two pivots 62, 64 protruding from thetop surface 60, and twohorns horn first end 30. Eachhorn inner surface 72 facing toward the other horn and anouter surface 73 facing the opposite direction frominner surface 72. Each horn has anadjustment tab 74 projecting out fromouter surface 73. Eachtab 74 has anelongated aperture 76. Abolt 78 attaches eachtab 74 to pivots 62, 64. - Horn 68 is shown in cross-section in
FIG. 3 . Horn 66 is the mirror image ofhorn 68 so only one is shown in this drawing. Eachhorn upper shoulder 80, alower shoulder 82, and a half-arcuate duct 84 betweenupper shoulder 80 andlower shoulder 82. Eachduct 84 has an air duct connector 86 at the distal portion 70. A pair of hornair feed hoses 88 run from each air duct connector 86 to acontroller 90. - Upper frame 28 also has a
bag plate 96 and anair jet 98. Bag plate 92 is in a plane generally parallel to the plane oftop surface 60 and projects fromfirst end 30. Air jet 94 is located just belowtop surface 60 atfirst end 30 and above bag plate 92. -
Air jet 98 is connected tocontroller 90 by air jet feed hose 120.Controller 90 is connected byinner feed hose 122 toair filter 124.Outer feed hose 126 connectsair filter 124 to pressurizedair supply 128, preferably a plant compressed air supply connected to a compressor. - Each
duct 84 has anvacuum duct connector 130 located preferably at distal portion 70 of eachhorn duct vacuum hoses 132 run from eachvacuum duct connector 130 tosecond controller 134. A vacuum connection hose 136 runs fromsecond controller 134 to vacuumsource 138, preferably a plant vacuum system connected to a vacuum pump. - A stack 150 of bags 152 are mounted on
bag plate 96. A bag 152 as known in the art is shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 . Each bag 152 has abottom sheet 154, atop sheet 156, and atab section 158 separated frombottom sheet 154 byperforation line 160.Top sheet 156 is connected tobottom sheet 154 preferably by ultrasonic welding.Tab section 158 has twoapertures 162. A wicket 164 extends throughapertures 162 of each bag 152 to connect stack 150 tobag plate 96. - For use in food packaging, all components must meet local or regional requirements for materials. Accordingly, all components described above except air hoses, hose connectors, and air filters are preferably made of stainless steel. All air hoses, hose connectors, and air filters are preferably made of materials approved for use in food packaging applications, such as silicone, glass, or similar materials,
- In one aspect of the invention, at least a portion of
horns inner surface 72, Preferably, the dimpled or textured stainless steel is diamond-shaped textured stainless steel, such as HS Item Number R813000041, available from McNichols Co., Tampa, Fla., or type 4.WL, available from Mechanical Metals, Newtown, Pa. A representative diamond.-shaped texture is shown schematically inFIG. 6 . Other textures can be used as well, such as the ones shown, by way of example and not by way of limitation, inFIGS. 7 and 8 . The inventor has found that, surprisingly, textured stainless steel has a much lower coefficient of friction with, for example, dry dressed chicken, than does polished stainless steel with dry dressed chicken. By using textured stainless steel forhorns loader 20 can be used with either wet or dry chicken. - In another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of
inner surface 72 of each ofhorns - In yet another aspect of the invention, at least a portion of each of
horns inner surface 72 is coated with a slippery synthetic substance as described above. -
Controller 90 is preferably an electronic controller having valves for supplying pressurized air to the components ofloader 20.Controller 90 is alternatively a manually-operated valve or set of valves.Second controller 134 is preferably an electronic controller having a valve for pulling a vacuum onducts 84. Preferably,second controller 134 is in electronic communication withcontroller 90. More preferablysecond controller 134 is integral withcontroller 90 for coordination of control. Alternatively,second controller 134 is a manually-operated valve or set of valves.Controller 90 andcontroller 134 are preferably configured so that one of running pressurized air throughduct 84 or pulling a vacuum throughduct 84 can be done at one time period. This function can be accomplished by conventional programming ofelectronic controllers manual controllers controllers - In use, upper frame 28 is first rotated to the proper angle for the application by raising second end 32 until that angle is reached. Timer telescopic arm 44 is aligned within outer
telescopic arm 38 and pin 52 is inserted in an aperture 50 in outertelescopic arm 38 and through a matching aperture 50 in inner telescopic arm 44, locking the twoarms 38, 44 together and thereby holding upper frame 28 at the proper angle. A stack 150 of bags 152 is secured tobag plate 96 by wicket 164. -
Horns Bolts 78 are first loosened, allowinghorns bolts 78 withinelongated aperture 76 ofadjustment tabs 72.Bolts 78 are then tightened whenhorns horns - An item to be packaged, such as a whole
dressed chicken 170, is delivered, preferably by a conveyor line or a hanging line (not shown), and placed manually ontop surface 60 betweenhorns Controller 90 releases pressurized air to air jet feed hose 120, causingair jet 98 to puff air at the top bag 152 of stack 150. The puff of air causes bag 152 to open slightly.Controller 90 then releases pressurized air to hornair feed hoses 88, causing pressurized air to flow throughducts 84 in eachhorn second controller 134 has shut off the vacuum toduct 84. - Since upper frame 28 is angled,
chicken 170 slides downtop surface 60 and into open bag 152, assisted, perhaps, by an operator. Aschicken 170 enters bag 152,controller 90 cuts off the air supply toair jet 98 and toair feed hoses 88.Second controller 134 then connectsvacuum source 138 to vacuumduct connector 130. The application of a vacuum pulls bag 152 towardhorns chicken 170. During this time period,controller 90 has shut off the pressurized air supply toduct 84. - Bag 152, now containing a
whole chicken 170, is removed from stack 150, manually or by aconventional ram 172, which is mounted to upper frame 28 as shown inFIG. 2 . Since wicket 164 holds bag 152 to stack 150, bag 152 tears atperforation line 160, leavingtab section 158 attached. The operator then closes hag 152 by clipping or similar means. - In some applications,
loader 20 is used in an automated operation, as shown inFIG. 9 .Automated loading system 200 has a rotating table 202 with fourstations Loader 20 is placed at a fillingstation 204. When a chicken is fully within bag 152 on table 202, table 202 rotates 90 degrees. Bag 152 is then at holdingcontrol station 206, where bag 152 is inspected, either manually or electronically using optical methods, for proper bagging. If, for example, a leg ofchicken 170 is sticking out of bag 152,system 200 stops until that situation is remedied. Simultaneously,loader 20 is placing anotherchicken 170 into the next bag 152 in stack 150, - Table 202 then rotates another 90 degrees to bring bagged
chicken 170 to finishstation 208, whereclipper 212 is located.Clipper 212 is a conventional clipper, such as a Model EZ P 700 or a Model SCD BV, clippers sold by Precitec of Mundelein, Ill., US, or a similar clipper. At finishingstation 208, bag 152 is clipped and the tail of bag 152 is cut, either manually or automatically. Table 202 then rotates another 90 degrees to bring bag 152 to dropstation 210, where packagedchicken 170 is released for delivery. As table 202 rotates, all fourstations chicken 170 in a bag 152, inspect the bag 152 for proper packaging, finishing the packaging operation by clipping and cutting, and dropping the packagedchicken 170 for delivery, - In some applications, a
ram 172 is used to pushchicken 170 into bag 152. Preferably, ram 172 is mounted on an air cylinder 222, which is connected by a ram air feed hose 224 tocontroller 90, which causesrain 220 to stroke forward and to retract in a conventional manner. Aram 220 is shown inFIG. 9 as part of an automated operation, but ram 172 can also be incorporated intoloader 20 without the use of rotating table 202, as shown in, for example,FIG. 2 . - In another aspect of the invention,
horns upper shoulders 80 of eachhorn lower shoulders 82 of eachhorn - While preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown and described, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications of the present invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (15)
1. A loader comprising:
a frame having an upper surface;
a pair of horns adjustably connected to the upper surface, each horn comprising an upper shoulder, a lower shoulder, and an air duct between the upper shoulder and the lower shoulder;
a pair of air hoses connecting each air duct to a first controller, the first controller being connected to a pressurized air supply; and
a pair of vacuum hoses connecting each air duct to a second controller, the second controller being connected to a vacuum supply.
2. The loader of claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a lower frame and an upper frame, the upper frame articulating with respect to the lower frame, and the upper surface is on the upper frame.
3. The loader of claim 1 , wherein the first controller and the second controller are in electronic communication with one another.
4. The loader of claim 1 , wherein the first controller and the second controller comprise a single controller.
5. The loader of claim 1 , wherein the first controller and the second controller comprise manually-operated valves.
6. The loader of claim 1 , wherein the first and second controller are configured to perform only one of connecting the pressurized air supply to the duct or connecting the vacuum supply to the duct during a time period.
7. The loader of claim 1 , further comprising a ram mounted to the frame.
8. The loader of claim 1 , wherein the pair of horns comprise a funnel horn.
9. The loader of claim 1 , wherein each horn has an inner surface and at least a portion of the inner surface comprises dimples.
10. The loader of claim 1 , wherein each horn has an inner surface and at least a portion of the inner surface is coated with a slippery synthetic substance.
11. The loader of claim 10 , wherein the substance comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
12. The loader of claim 11 , Wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
13. An automated loading system comprising a rotating table comprising four stations spaced apart on the periphery of the table, the four stations comprising:
a first loading station comprising the loader of claim 1 ;
a second inspection station;
a third clipping station comprising a clipper; and
a fourth unloading station.
14. The automated loading system of claim 13 , further comprising a ram at the first loading station.
15. A method of packaging material in a hag, comprising the steps of:
releasing pressurized air into the bag;
placing the material into the bag;
pulling a vacuum on the bag;
closing and sealing the bag.
Priority Applications (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US13/792,828 US20130269292A1 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2013-03-11 | Vacuum-assisted poultry loader |
DE112014001232.7T DE112014001232B4 (en) | 2013-03-11 | 2014-03-10 | Vacuum assisted poultry loading device |
PCT/US2014/022480 WO2014164457A1 (en) | 2013-03-11 | 2014-03-10 | Vacuum-assisted poultry loader |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201261624720P | 2012-04-16 | 2012-04-16 | |
US13/792,828 US20130269292A1 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2013-03-11 | Vacuum-assisted poultry loader |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20130269292A1 true US20130269292A1 (en) | 2013-10-17 |
Family
ID=51659262
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/792,828 Abandoned US20130269292A1 (en) | 2012-04-16 | 2013-03-11 | Vacuum-assisted poultry loader |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20130269292A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE112014001232B4 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2014164457A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2014149969A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-25 | Precitec Corp | Poultry loader with alignment mechanism |
US20180044044A1 (en) * | 2016-01-11 | 2018-02-15 | Camilo Pedro Abati | Packaging machine for fowls |
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GB820314A (en) * | 1956-08-14 | 1959-09-16 | George Arlington Moore | Air extracting and sealing device |
US3621891A (en) * | 1969-01-27 | 1971-11-23 | Solbern Corp | Machine and method for transferring predetermined amounts of material |
US3628302A (en) * | 1970-02-09 | 1971-12-21 | Grace W R & Co | Bag packaging system |
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DE29603999U1 (en) * | 1996-03-05 | 1996-04-25 | Poly Clip System Gmbh & Co Kg | Device for bagging one-piece foods, especially chickens |
US20010015056A1 (en) * | 2000-02-23 | 2001-08-23 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Sealing method for packaging container, heat-treating plates for use in the sealing method and inspection method for sealed portion of packaging container |
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WO2014149969A1 (en) * | 2013-03-15 | 2014-09-25 | Precitec Corp | Poultry loader with alignment mechanism |
US20180044044A1 (en) * | 2016-01-11 | 2018-02-15 | Camilo Pedro Abati | Packaging machine for fowls |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
DE112014001232T5 (en) | 2016-01-07 |
WO2014164457A1 (en) | 2014-10-09 |
DE112014001232B4 (en) | 2021-09-30 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PRECITEC CORP., ILLINOIS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:HASCHKE, EGGO;REEL/FRAME:031118/0169 Effective date: 20130722 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |