US3889445A

US3889445A - Wagon wheel package loader

Info

Publication number: US3889445A
Application number: US475378A
Authority: US
Inventors: Douglas J Brash
Original assignee: General Mills Inc
Current assignee: General Mills Inc
Priority date: 1974-06-03
Filing date: 1974-06-03
Publication date: 1975-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1992-06-17
Also published as: GB1499419A; NL7505785A; CA1026717A; BE829787A; FR2275364B1; FR2275364A1; JPS50155386A; AU8109875A; DE2524258A1

Abstract

Apparatus is provided which moves a column of nested, uniformly shaped chips into a loop array and inserts the loop array into a package.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,889,445 Brash June 17, 1975 WAGON WHEEL PACKAGE LOADER 3,609,939 10/1971 Hooper el al 53/159 [75] Inventor: Dnuglas J. Brash, Minneapolis,

Primary ExaminerTravis S. McGehee [73] Assignee: General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, Ar rn y. g th y Juelmer; Gene Minn. O. Enockson; Norman P. Friederichs [22] Filed: June 3, 1974 2! A l. N 475,378 I 1 pp 0 1571 ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 53/26; 53/l59 Apparatus is provided which moves a column of [51] lift. Cl 865D 35/44 nested uniformly shaped chips into a loop array and [58] Field of Search 53/26, I59, 147, I3 inserts he loop array into a package.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 Claims, 19 Drawlng Flgures 1,279,562 9/1918 Lowell 53/159 SHEET PATENTEDJUN I 7 I975 -I-I I- L I I I I 3.889.445 PATENTEDJUH 17 I975 Skim FIE! .2"

PATENTEDJUN 17 I915 SHEET FIEE' PATENTEDJIJN 17 I975 BACK BLADE STA RTS bow N EKADE \S DOMJN STARTS YUSHER \5 DOWN STARTS FRONT FIEZIZZ' SHEET PATENTEDJUN 1 7 I975 IN L ' PATENTEUJUN 1 1 ms SHEET WAGON WHEEL PACKAGE LOADER The present invention relates to apparatus for handling and packaging of food products and more particularly to handling and packaging of chip-type food products.

A variety of types of packaging equipment has been available in the past. Chip-type food products, for example, may be inserted into a bag in a random manner merely by dropping the chips through a chute directed into the bag. Such package filling equipment is not suitable for packaging uniformly-shaped, nested chips. Packaging of nested chips may be carried out by hand; however, this technique is time-consuming and costly. Depositing of uniformly-shaped, nested chips in the loop array package as disclosed in commonly assigned U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 352,8l l is particularly difficult. The present invention overcomes such dif'ficulties and provides automated equipment for packaging of uniformly-shaped, nested chips in a loop array.

The apparatus of the present invention includes mechanism for moving a straight column of chips into a loop or are, separating the loop or are into a plurality of segments having predetermined length and sequentially inserting the segments into a bowl-shaped container. In the drawings:

FIG. I discloses a top view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. II shows a front view of the apparatus taken along the line IIII in FIG. I;

FIG. III is a right side view of the apparatus taken along the line IIIIII in FIG. I;

FIG. IV shows a left side view of the apparatus taken along the line IV-IV in FIG. I;

FIG. V shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus taken along the line \/V in FIG. I;

FIG. VI is a view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. II;

FIG. VII is a view taken along the line VIIVII in FIG. V;

FIG. VIII is a view taken along the line VIIIVIII in FIG. VII;

FIG. IX is a view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. VII;

FIG. X is a view taken along the line X-X in FIG. VII;

FIG. XI is a composite top, side and bottom view of a push member of the apparatus;

FIG. XII shows a composite top, side and bottom view of a blade member of the apparatus;

FIGS. XIII through XIV show a drive portion of the apparatus;

FIG. XV is a view taken along the line XV-XV in FIG. XIII;

FIG. XVI shows the apparatus in one loading position,

FIGS. XVII through XIX show the container feeding section.

The apparatus (FIGS. I-V) of the present invention includes a support structure 11, an inlet track or chip feeding section 12, a segmenting and loading section 13 and a container feeding section 14.

The support structure I] may include a base unit 16 and an upper support unit [7. The support structure 1] may be constructed of any suitable material such as stainless steel stock. The base unit 16 may include side plates I8, I), 21, 22 and atop plate 23. The upper support unit 17 is mounted on base I6 and may include a plurality of posts such as 24, 25 and 26. Unit I7 further includes a gear box 27 for purposes hereinafter described. The box 27 may have a triangularly shaped side wall 28, a bottom wall 29 and a top wall 30.

The chip feeding section I2 (FIGS. I and II) has an inlet track 31 including a platform 32 and a pair of rails or guides 33 and 34. The

guides

33 and 34 may be sup ported on platform 32. The track 31 may be in an inclined position if gravity feed is used. If desired, platform 32 may be replaced with a continuous conveyor system. The feeding section 12 further includes a belt system 35 with a pair of

belts

36 and 37 which are mounted on

rotatable pulleys

38, 39 and 41, 42, respectively. The

belts

36 and 37 are driven at a speed sufficient to provide forced feeding of the column of chips, but not so great a speed as to result in breaking of the chips. The pulley 38 may be suitably driven such as by a chain and sprocket drive off hereinafter described shaft I42. The pulley 38 (FIGS. I, II and VI) may be paired with a gear 38a, and pulley 41 may be paired with a gear 41a. The gear 38a may drivingly engage gear 4la. The feeding section 12 may include an arc-forming guideway 43 (FIGS. V and XV). The guideway 43 may be molded of plastic or machined from a metal block 44. The guideway 43 includes a channel 45 which is shaped substantially like the lower half of the circumference of the chip column (ie the lower half of the column passing through the present apparatus, see FIG. V). The guideway 43 may include a belt system 46 which assists in moving the column of chips into an arcuate shape. The belt system 46 includes

pulleys

47, 48, 49 and a belt 51. The belt 51 may enter the channel 45 through suitable slots in the side of the guideway block 44.

The segmenting and loading section 13 includes a carrousel 52 (FIGS. V and VII) which depends from the upper support unit 17. The carrousel 52 includes a stationary hub 53 which is mounted integral with the lower plate 29 of unit 17 such as by welding. A shaft 54 extends through the hub 53 and may be rotatably mounted therein such as in

bearings

55 and 56. The shaft 54 may have a gear 57 mounted in locked engagement at the upper end thereof. A rotatable hub 58 may be mounted in

bearings

61 and 62 over the stationary hub 53. The hub 58 has a cylindrical portion 63 with radially, outwardly extending

flanges

64 and 65. The flange 64 is toothed, thereby providing a gear for purposes hereinafter described. A plurality of rods 67 (for example twelve) depend from the flange 65. The rods 67 are integrally secured to the flange 65 at the upper ends thereof and integrally secured to a ring 68 at the lower ends thereof.

The carrousel 52 (FIGS. II, V and VII) have a plurality of pairs of carriages such as 71 and 72. Carriage 71 is a pusher assembly. The carriage 71 (FIGS. VII and XI) includes a body portion 73 having a lower flange 74 which is wedge-shaped and an upwardly extending side wall 76. The side wall 76 carries a roller 77 which is supported on a shaft 78. The body portion 73 further includes a projection 79 for purposes hereinafter set forth. A pair of

openings

81 and 82 may be provided in the lower flange 74. The openings SI and 82 each have a diameter appropriate to snugly receive a rod such as rod 67a. lfdesired, the

openings

81 and 82 may be provided with suitable bushings (not shown). The carriage 71 further includes a push member 83 which may be connected to the body portion 73 such as by bar 84. The push member 83 may be substantially arcuate in shape. The push member 83 may have a

recess

85 and 86 at each end thereof, respectively.

Carriage 72 is a blade assembly. The blade carriage 72 (FIGS. VII and Xll) has a body portion 87 including a lower flange 88 and an upwardly extending side wall 89. The side wall 89 has a roller assembly 90 including a shaft 91 which is secured to side wall 89 and a roller 92 which is rotatably mounted on shaft 91. The flange 88 has a pair of

openings

93 and 94 therein. The diameter of such openings is appropriate for snug reception of a rod such as rod 67b. If desired, the

openings

93 and 94 may be provided with suitable bushings (not shown). The carriage 72 further includes a blade mounting 96 having a body portion 97 and a blade 98. The blade mounting 96 may be secured to body portion 87 by suitable means such as screws 99.

An appropriate number of pairs of carriages such as 71 and 72 may be provided to result in a closed loop as shown in FIG. VIII. The

carriages

71 and 72 are reciprocally slideable on the rods 67. Compression springs (FIG. VII) such as 100:: and lb may be mounted around the rods 67 to urge the

respective carriages

71 and 72 downwardly.

The carrousel 52 (FIGS. V and VII) includes a gate assembly 101. The gate assembly 101 has a hub 102, which is rotatably mounted over shaft 54, and a gate 103, which is integrally mounted at the lower end of hub 102. A torsion spring 104 surrounds the hub 102. A first end of torsion spring 104 is secured to hub 102 and the second end is secured to the stationary hub 53. A suitable hub or plate 105 may be disposed between spring 104 and hub 53. The spring 104 is placed under tension when hub 102 is rotated. Hub 102 has a projection 106 which is aligned for engagement with the projections 79 on each of the pusher carriages 71 when such carriages are in the uppermost position.

The carrousel 52 has a multi-blade chip divider 107 secured to the lower end of shaft 54. One blade of the divider 107 is disposed beneath the lowermost position of each blade 98 and aligned with each of the blades 98. The multi-blade chip divider rotates with the shaft 54. The carrousel 52 has a stationary two-track barrel cam including track 1100 and 110b. The barrel cam 110 may be secured to the wall 29 such as by welding.

The segmenting section 13 (FIG. V) further includes an idler drive gear assembly 111 having a hub 112, a shaft 113, an upper gear 114 and a lower gear 116. The hub 112 is a stationary hub. The shaft 113 may be mounted in the hub 112 using suitable bearings such as 117 and 118. The gear 114 is in driving engagement with gear 57 mounted on the upper end of shaft 54. The gear 116 is in driving engagement with the toothed flange or gear 64 on rotatable hub 58. A disc cam 119 is mounted on the upper end of shaft 113. The disc cam 119 may alternatively be mounted on shaft 54. The disc cam 119 has a plurality of lobes 120.

The drive system 121 of the present apparatus has an electrically powered motor 122 which is coupled to a major shaft 123. The motor 122 may be suspended from the upper plate 23 of support unit 16. In other words, a plurality of posts 124 depend from the plate 23. A motor plate 126 is secured to the posts 124 such as by screws 127. The motor 122 may be secured to the plate 126 by a plurality of screws 128. The shaft 123 may be suitably mounted in bearings such as 129 and 130. The shaft 123 may be secured to motor 122 by coupler 131. The upper end of shaft 123 has a gear 138 mounted for driving engagement with idler gear 111.

The drive system 121 (FIGS. XIII and XIV) further includes a portion 141 for driving the arc-forming guideway belt system 46. The drive portion 141 has a shaft 142, an upper pulley 143, and a bar 144. The shaft 142 is rotatably mounted in bar 144 such as in bearing 146. The bar 144 has a roller assembly 147 including a mounting bracket 148, a shaft 149 and a roller 151. The roller 151 engages the cam 119. The bar 144 has a drive roller 152 for engagement with gear 57. Alternatively, a friction wheel (not shown) may be mounted on shaft 54 for driving engagement with roller 154. The drive roller may include a shaft 153. a roller 154 and a pulley 156. A belt 155 may drivingly connect pulley 156 with pulley 143. The roller 154 is normally urged into driving engagement with gear 57 by spring 145. Roller 151 generally is not in contact with the cam 119. The roller 151 disengages roller 154 from gear 57 when roller 151 contacts each of the lobes 120 on the cam 119 thus arresting the driving of shaft 142 for a short time.

The container feeding section 14 (FIGS. l-III) may include a support platform 161 supported on a plurality of posts 162. A hopper 163 may be provided for holding a column of nested containers. The hopper 163 may be constructed of four upstanding rods 164 a. b, c and d. A ring 166 may be attached near the upper ends of rods 164 a-d and serves to hold the rods in spaced position near the upper end thereof. At the lower ends, the rods 164 a-d may be attached to the platform 161 such as by screws (not shown). The feeding section 14 has a container de-nester 167 (FIGS. VI and XVII-XIX) which sequentially de-nests and drops individual containers such as 168. The de-nester includes four flighted discs 171-174. The flights separate the containers and drop them one by one in a timed sequence. The discs 171-174 (FIG. V) may be suitably driven such as by a chain or belt drive 175 taken off the shaft 123. Alternatively, the de-nester may be of any desired conventional construction.

The feeding section 14 (FIG. 1) includes an indexing star carriage 191 for moving the container into location for filling. The star carriage 191 is shown as having six rays 192-197 and six container pockets 201-206. The star carriage 191 (FIG. V) is mounted on a hub 207 which is mounted on shaft 123 such as by

bearings

208 and 209. The hub 207 thus is rotatable with respect to shaft 123. Mechanism 211, such as 21 Geneva Drive, is provided for indexing the star carriage step-by-step. A guide or rail 212 is provided to retain the containers in the pockets until the filled containers are released into a chute. The containers 168 are supported on a plate 214.

The feeding section 14 (FIGS. IV and V) may include an elevator 301 for moving the container upward into the filling position. The elevator may have a barreltype cam 302 which is mounted on shaft 123. The cam 302 has a barrel portion 303, a hub 304 which is keyed to shaft 123, and an interconnecting web 306. The barrel portion 303 has a raceway 307 suitable for receipt of a roller. The elevator 30] has a stationary hub 31] which may be secured to plate 23 such as by welding. The elevator 301 may have a shaft 312 mounted for reciprocation in hub 31]. The shaft 312 has a platform 313 mounted on the upper end thereof for support of a container 168. The shaft 312 may have a roller 314 near the lower end thereof for engagement in the raceway 307 of cam 302 thereby providing raising and lowering of the platform 313 as the cam rotates with shaft 123.

Although the operation of the packaging apparatus is apparent from the preceding description of such apparatus, such operation will be set forth in detail hereinafter. The apparatus 10 may be placed in operation by providing electrical power to the motor 122 (FlG. V). The motor 122 rotates the main shaft 123 which in turn places the chip feeding section 12, segmenting section 13, and container feeding section 14 in operation. A column of chips may be placed in the inlet track 31 (FIGS. l and II). The feeding

belt systems

36 and 37 grip the column of chips and urge the column forwardly into the arc-forming guideway 43. (See FIG. XV). The belt system 46 drivingly urges one side edge of the column forwardly more rapidly than the other side edge thereby forming the column into an arcuate shape.

The carrousel 52 is simultaneously rotating. The roller 92 (FIG. VII) of blade carriage 72 traverses the innver cam track 1100 of the drum cam 110. Such track moves to a lower position (FIG. Vlll) across the forward portion of drum 110 and as the carriage 72 approaches such forward portion, the spring 100 urges the blade carriage 72 downwardly such that blade 98 slides between a pair of nested chips. The arc-forming guideway belt system 46 may be halted for a short time as each knife blade 98 moves downwardly and slides between a pair of nested chips. This permits slight loosening of the column of chips and makes easier the entry of the knife blade 98 between the chips resulting in less likelihood of chip breakage. As the arcuate portion of the chips continues to feed, the chip column is supported on the gate 103. The projection 79 on the pusher carriage 72 engages the projection 106 and rotates the hub 102 at the same rate of movement as the advancing column of chips. The next blade carriage 72 then approaches the lower portion of the cam track in drum 110 and the second blade moves downwardly between a pair of nested chips. At this point a segment of nested chips is supported at the forward end by one knife blade 98, at the rearward end by a second knife blade and along the bottom by the gate 103. Next the pusher carriage 71 begins to move downwardly between the two knife blades. As this happens, the projection 79 moves downwardly disengaging from the projection 106 on hub 102. The torsion spring 104, being under tension, rotates the gate 103 rearwardly and from beneath the segment of chips. The pusher 71 then pushes the segment of chips from between the knife blades, into the container to a location between a pair of blades of the chip divider 107 as shown in FIG. XVI. This procedure is repeated until a container is filled. For example, the segments may be of an appropriate size such that three column segments fill a container.

The container may be placed in position for filling by hand. However, in one preferred embodiment as shown herein, the containers are sequentially dropped between the rays 192]97 of the star carriage 191. The star carriage sequentially rotates to move individual containers into position beneath the segmenting section 13. The elevator 301 raises the container into position for filling. Namely, into position such that the upper edge of the container is disposed immediately beneath the gate 103 with the chip divider 107 located within the container as shown in FIG. Vll. As each container is filled, the elevator 301 moves downwardly. The star carriage indexes one unit such that the next container is located beneath the segmenting section 13. The elevator again raises the container into position for filling. In the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, all portions of the packaging equipment are powered by a single motor and thus all elements of the equipment operate in cooperative timed sequence.

Although a preferred embodiment is disclosed herein, a wide variety of modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the apparatus may have various shields and covers as desired, such as for safety purposes. The individual containers may be manually placed in position for filling. Also, the column of chips may be fed to the apparatus by powered conveyor means rather than by the disclosed gravity feed inlet track. Various other modifications may be made.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for packaging of chip-type snacks in a loop array. said apparatus comprising:

means for moving a straight column of nested chips into a loop array;

means for separating the loop array into a plurality of column segments; and

means for sequentially inserting said segments into a container to form a loop array in said package.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for moving a straight column of nested chips into a loop array comprises an arc-forming guideway.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said arc-forming guideway includes means for moving one side edge of said column forward more rapidly than the other side edge.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for moving comprises a belt system.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises reciprocating blade means.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said separating means comprises a plurality of reciprocating blade means.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inserting means comprises a gate means for supporting said seg ments in position over said container and means for removing said gate means thereby permitting said segment to move into said container.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said inserting means further includes push means for pushing the segment into said container.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said belt system includes means for driving said system and means for interrupting the driving of said system, said interrup tion being timed to provide looseness in said nested chips as said blade means separates said loop array into segments.

10. A method for packaging chip-type snacks in a loop array package, said method comprising:

nesting uniformly shaped chips to form a column of chips;

moving said column of chips into a loop array;

sequentially separating the loop array into a plurality of loop array segments; and

sequentially inserting said segments into a container to form a loop array in said package.

Claims

1. Apparatus for packaging of chip-type snacks in a loop array, said apparatus comprising: means for moving a straight column of nested chips into a loop array; means for separating the loop array into a plurality of column segments; and means for sequentially inserting said segments into a container to form a loop array in said package.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said inserting means comprises a gate means for supporting said segments in position over said container And means for removing said gate means thereby permitting said segment to move into said container.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said belt system includes means for driving said system and means for interrupting the driving of said system, said interruption being timed to provide looseness in said nested chips as said blade means separates said loop array into segments.

10. A method for packaging chip-type snacks in a loop array package, said method comprising: nesting uniformly shaped chips to form a column of chips; moving said column of chips into a loop array; sequentially separating the loop array into a plurality of loop array segments; and sequentially inserting said segments into a container to form a loop array in said package.