US3928942A - Means to guide a layer of objects into a box - Google Patents

Means to guide a layer of objects into a box Download PDF

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Publication number
US3928942A
US3928942A US462215A US46221574A US3928942A US 3928942 A US3928942 A US 3928942A US 462215 A US462215 A US 462215A US 46221574 A US46221574 A US 46221574A US 3928942 A US3928942 A US 3928942A
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United States
Prior art keywords
box
positions
poised
guide
panels
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US462215A
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English (en)
Inventor
Paul F Paddock
Jerry W Cramer
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Sunkist Growers Inc
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Sunkist Growers Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Sunkist Growers Inc filed Critical Sunkist Growers Inc
Priority to US462215A priority Critical patent/US3928942A/en
Priority to AR257611A priority patent/AR207640A1/es
Priority to IL46388A priority patent/IL46388A/en
Priority to CA217,317A priority patent/CA1030115A/en
Priority to ZA00750088A priority patent/ZA7588B/xx
Priority to DE19752501028 priority patent/DE2501028A1/de
Priority to AU77268/75A priority patent/AU487720B2/en
Priority to IN83/CAL/75A priority patent/IN145151B/en
Priority to ES434043A priority patent/ES434043A1/es
Priority to BR0668/75D priority patent/BR7500502A/pt
Priority to NLAANVRAGE7501102,A priority patent/NL174445C/xx
Priority to IT48027/75A priority patent/IT1029485B/it
Priority to TR18617A priority patent/TR18617A/tr
Priority to FR7505158A priority patent/FR2267935B1/fr
Priority to JP2380075A priority patent/JPS5632169B2/ja
Priority to EG221A priority patent/EG11833A/xx
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3928942A publication Critical patent/US3928942A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • 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
    • B65B35/00—Supplying, feeding, arranging or orientating articles to be packaged
    • B65B35/30—Arranging and feeding articles in groups
    • B65B35/36—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers
    • B65B35/38—Arranging and feeding articles in groups by grippers by suction-operated grippers
    • 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
    • B65B25/02—Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
    • B65B25/04—Packaging fruit or vegetables
    • B65B25/046—Packaging fruit or vegetables in crates or boxes

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT To pack objects into a box, :a pickup head equipped with multiple vacuum cups picks up a layer of the objects and descends into the box.
  • the box is initially positioned in an approximately correct position relative to the path of descent of the pickup head and as the pickup head approaches the top of the box, four guide panels snap into engagement with the four inner walls, respectively, of the box for four purposes: (1) to position the box precisely correctly relative to the path of descent of the pickup head; (2) to crowd the layer of objects on the pickup head together to conform to the dimensions of the box; (3) to guide the pickup head into the box; and (4) to serve as guards to prevent damage to the descending objects by the rim of the box.
  • This invention relates to an automatic apparatus for packing fruit into successive boxes and, more particularly, relates to the type of apparatus that is disclosed in the Riddington US Pat. No. 3,590,551 entitled AU- TOMATIC APPARATUS FOR PACKING ARTICLES IN BOXES, which patent is hereby incorporated into the present disclosure by reference.
  • the alternate layers In packing oranges, for example, into a box for shipment, the alternate layers partially nest together and therefore the alternate layers are of two different complementary patterns which are formed at two different supply stations on opposite sides of the packing station.
  • a left pickup head equipped with a plurality of vacuum cups picks up layers of fruit from the left supply station for deposit in the box and an alternate right pickup head picks up layers from the right supply station for deposit in the box.
  • a tapered rectangular chute is'placed close to the rim of the box to solve this problem.
  • the upper entrance of the chute is of a cross sectional area sufficient to admit the slightly loose layer on the descending pickup head and the lower end of the chute is narrowed to slightly less than the dimensions of the rim of a box.
  • the present invention is directed to a new solution for the problem of guiding a descending layer of fruit into a box and simultaneously slightly contracting the layer to the dimensions of the box.
  • the present invention provides a set of four dynamic guide panels corresponding to the four inner walls of the box with the four guide panels supported and controlled by four corresponding actuating mechanisms. As a loaded pickup head descends towards the top of the box, the four guide panels are at poised positions above the box in the path of descent of the layer of fruit, with each guide panel overhanging a corresponding wall of the box and inclined downward towards the interior of the box.
  • the guide panels When the peripheral fruit of the descending layer of fruit impinges on the poised guide panels, the guide panels initially yield by swinging downward with the fruit with minimum relative movement between the guide panels and the fruit and consequently with little or no frictional abrasion of the fruit. Then the downwardly swinging panel snap down by spring action to lower effective positions at which each panel is upright with a lip of the lower edge of the panel engaging the inner rim portion of the corresponding wall of the box.
  • the initial yielding resistance of the four guide panels gently contracts the layer of oranges and then when the panels snap to their lower upright positions they form a chute or guideway into the box that confines the layer of fruit to dimensions that are only slightly less than the inside dimensions of the rim of the box.
  • the invention solves the problem of moving the layer of fruit past the top edges of the guide panels and there is thus no possibility of the fruit being damaged by being forced against the top edges of the panels.
  • the guide panels overlap the box rim from the inside and thus serve as guides to solve the problem of getting the layer past the box rim with no possibility of the rim injuring the peripheral. fruit of the layer.
  • a feature of the invention of primary importance is that when the guide panels swing to their lower upright positions by snap action, one pair of opposite guide panels cooperate to center the box longitudinally relative to the path of descent of the pickup head and the other pair of opposite guide panels center the box laterally. The result is precision positioning of the box before the descending layer reaches the rim of the box.
  • the four guide panels have a capability of shifting an empty box through a given range of movement to bring the box into precise alignment with the path of the pickup head and the conveyor that delivers the empty boxes to the packing station normally places the empty boxes at positions that approximate the desired precise alignment within the range of correction capability of the four guide panels.
  • Sensing means in the form of switches that respond to the movement of a box into the packing station are operative to prevent descent of a pickup head towards the box if the delivered position of the box is beyond the correction capability of the guide panels.
  • FIG. I is a front elevational view of an automatic packing apparatus incorporating the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, portions of the apparatus being broken away to show concealed parts;
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view showing the packing station and the two supply stations onopposite sides thereof;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the longitudinal center line ofa box at a packing station and showing a pickup head with a layer of fruit thereon descending towards the box;
  • FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG.
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the set of four guide panels with the guide panels at their lower upright positions;
  • FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing a panel at its lower upright position in engagement with the inner rim of a box;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 6 showing the guide panel at its alternate elevated poised position;
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 5 showing the rear face of a guide panel
  • FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but on a smaller scale showing how the head plate of a pickup head may swing the guide panel to a retracted position in the event the head plate catches on the lower lip of the guide panel.
  • FIG. 1 shows a packing station represented by a box, generally designed B, which has been delivered to the packing station by a conveyor that is generally designated C.
  • Fruit F in this instance oranges, are packed in the box B in alternate layers that are of complementary patterns to enable them to partially nest together and therefore the apparatus provides two separate supply stations comprising a left supply station S-1 and a right supply station S-2.'The left station forms the fruit into what may be termed a left pattern and the right station forms the fruit in what may be termed a right pattern, the two patterns being shown in FIG. 2.
  • the apparatus provides a left pickup head P-l to pick up layers of fruit at the supply station S-1 and a right pickup head P-2 to pick up layers of fruit at the right supply station S-2.
  • the two pickup heads extend, downward from a carriage 10 which is largely concealed behind a panel 12 in FIG. 1.
  • the carriage is automatically reciprocated between a left position shown in FIG. 1 where the left pickup head P-l is poised over the left supply station S-1 and the right pickup head P-2 is poised over the packing station, and an alternate position to the right where thepickup head P-l is poised over the packing station and the right pickup head P-2 is poised over the right supply station S-2.
  • the left pickup head P-l descends to pick up a layer of fruit from the left supply station 5-] and simultaneously the right pickup head P-2 descends to deposit a layer of fruit in the box B.
  • the left pickup head P-l descends to deposit a layer of fruit in the box B and simultaneously the right pickup head P-2 descends to pick up a layer of fruit at the right supply station S-2.
  • Each of the two pickup heads is mounted on a corresponding pair of guide rods 14 which extend through guide sleeves (not shown)'on the carriage l0 and each of the pickup heads is reciprocat ed verticallyby a cor- I responding air cylinder 15.
  • FIG. 3 shows how the structure of a pickup head includes a head plate 18 that carries onits underside a set of vacuum cups 20 with the vacuum cups arranged in a pattern that corresponds to the pattern of the fruit at the corresponding supply station S-1 or S-2.
  • An automatic control system makes or brakes the vacuums in the vacuum cups as required for picking up fruit at a supply station or for releasing fruit in a box B.
  • Theconveyor C has a pair of spaced parallel conveyor chains 22 :shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 which are interconnected by spaced pusher bars 24 which push the successive boxesto the packing station.
  • FIG. 4 when a box reaches the packing station the pusher bar 24 that propels the box encounters an operating arm 25 of a stop switch 26 to stop the conveyor and subsequently the conveyor is again activated to move a new .empty box to the packing station and to move the filled box out of the packing station onto a dischargeconveyor that is generally designated 27 in FIG. 3. 1
  • the apparatus as described to this point is identical. with the apparatus disclosed in the above mentioned Riddington patent.
  • the improvement. provided by the present invention comprises a set of four guide panels G which guide the successive layers of fruit on the pickup heads into a box at the packing station.
  • each of the boxes B is a conventional orange packing box that is made in two sections to permit vertical expansion and contraction of the box as required for confining different volumes of fruit.
  • a bottom section 28 of the box has four flaps which are glued together to form a double thickness bottom wall 30.
  • An upper box section 32 which is bottomless and which is slidingly mounted in the bottom section 28 has two outwardly extending end flaps 34 shown in FIG. 3 and has two longitudinal outwardly extending side flaps 35 shown in FIG. 4.
  • each of the boxes B is initially elevated to space the bottom wall of the box above the platform 36of the packing station as shown in FIG. 3.
  • each of the side flaps encounters a corresponding fixed rod 38 which is supported by suitable brackets 40 and which is inclined upward to .lift each flap against a corresponding fixed upper rod 42.
  • the first layer of fruit that is deposited in the elevated box by a pickup head pushes against the bottom wall 36 of the box to shift the bottom wall from the elevated position shown in FIG. 3 to the lower position shown in FIG. 4 where the bottom wall of the box rests on the platform 36 of the packing station.
  • each of the successive boxes is expanded at the start of each packing cycle.
  • the four guide panels G are carried ,by four corresponding mechanisms, designated M in various figures of the drawings, and the four mechanisms M are mounted on a support plate 44 which, as shown in FIG. 4, is attached to fixed frame members 45 of the apparatus by suitable angular brackets 46.
  • the support plate 44 has a rectangular opening 48 which is positioned above the box at the packing station and 'is slightly larger in area than the interior of the box to provide clearance for the operation of the guide panels G.
  • Each of the mechanisms M includes a transverse base casting 50 which is of angular cross section as shown in FIG. 6 with two upstanding wings 52 at its opposite ends, respectively.
  • Each of the base castings 50 is formed with two pairs of rearwardly extending ears 54 which are bridged by two corresponding pivot pins 55.
  • the two pivot pins 55 hingedly mount the base casting on two spaced hinge members 56 which are attached to the support plate by suitable screws 58 and nuts 60.
  • Each end of a guide panel G is supported by a lower arm 62 and a cooperating upper arm 64.
  • Each of the lower arms 62 lies against the outer face of the corresponding end wing 52 of the base casting 50 and is rigidly connected to the corresponding end of a torque shaft 65 that is journalled in the two end wings 52.
  • each of the lower arms 62 is pivotally connected to the corresponding end wing 52 of the base casting 50.
  • Each of the two upper arms 64 is one arm of two arms of a lever, generally designated 66, that lies against the inner face of the corresponding end wing 52 of the base casting and is fulcrummed on a pivot pin 68 that extends laterally from the end wing.
  • the second arm 70 of each of the two levers 66 functions as a toggle arm and is paired with a corresponding lower toggle arm 72.
  • each of the two lower toggle arms 72 is longitudinally expansile and for this reason comprises an upper tubular section 74 and a lower section 75 in the form of a plunger that is slidingly telescoped into the tubular section.
  • the upper tubular section 74 of each toggle arm 72 is connected by a pivot 76 to the corresponding upper toggle arm 70 and houses a coiled spring 78 which acts under compression against the corresponding plunger 75.
  • the plunger 75 is formed with a rounded nose as shown and seatsin the angular base casting 50 to rock between the two limit positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively.
  • the outer ends of the pair of lower arms 62 and the outer ends of the pair of upper arms 64 are pivotally connected to the corresponding guide panel G in the manner shown in FIG. 8.
  • the outer ends of the two lower arms 62 are connected to the guide panel by individual pivot pins 80 that are mounted in reinforcing ribs 82 on the back of the guide panel and the outer ends of the two upper arms 64 are pivotally connected to the guide panel by a single pivot rod 84 that extends through ribs of the guide panel.
  • the guide panel G functions, in effect, as an articulated link in an assembly of articulated links that includes the pair of toggle arms 70 and 72.
  • the limit position of the guide panel shown in FIG. 6 is determined by abutment of the undersides of the two lower arms 62 against corresponding stop shoulders on the outer faces of the two end wings 52 of the base casting 50. As best shown in FIG. 9, such a stop shoulder, which is indicated at 108, is formed by a projection on the outer face of the corresponding end wing of the base casting, the thickness of the end wing being increased to form the projection.
  • the other limit position of the panel shown in FIG. 7 is determined by the position of the nut 100 on the end of the piston rod 94. It is apparent that the nut 100 may be adjusted to adjust the poised position of the corresponding guide panel.
  • the four guide panels G are at upper poised positions at which each guide panel overhangs a corresponding side wall of the box B and is inclined downwardly towards the interior of the box.
  • the descending fruit forces each of the four linkage mechanisms beyond the midpoint of its movement and thus causes the four guide panels to snap to their opposite limit positions illustrated by FIG. 6 at which the four guide panels are substantially upright with a downwardly extending lip 85 of each guide panel engaging the inner rim of the corresponding wall of the box.
  • each linkage mechanism M may be swung bodily to a retracted position shown in FIG. 9 to swing its guide panel clear of the path of upward return movement of a pickup head.
  • the head plate 18 of an upwardly returning pickup'head engages the lower edge of a panel when the panel is at its lower upright position as shown in phantom in FIG. 9, the rising pickup head swings the panel to its upper retracted position as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 9.
  • the upper retracted position shown in FIG. 9 is gravitationally unstable, the retracted guide panel and its mechanism being gravitationally biased to return to the positions shown in FIG. 6.
  • Each of the four linkage mechanisms M includes a power cylinder 86 that may be energized by compressed air to return the corresponding guide panel to its upper poised position.
  • Each power cylinder 86 is connected to a corresponding flexible air line 88 and is located centrally of the panel with trunions90 at the lower end of the power cylinder journalled in a pair of parallel arms 92 that are integral with the base casting 7 50.
  • a piston rod 94 extending from the upper end of the power cylinder 86 is pivotally connected to a crank arm 95 that is fixedly mounted on the previously mentioned torque shaft 65 at the midpoint of the torque shaft.
  • the outer end of the crank arm 95 is formed with two parallel arms 96 to straddle a small body 98 that is formed with trunions journalled in the two arms.
  • the piston rod 94 extends through the small body 98 and is screw threaded at its outer end to receive a nut 100 that abuts the outer side of the small body.
  • one of the two arms of the crank arm 95 is in the form of a separate plate 102 (FIG. that is apertured to receive the torque shaft 65 and is removably secured to the body of the crank arm by a suitable screw 104.
  • the four flexible air lines 88 are connected to a common manifold 88a shown in FIG. 2 and compressed air is supplied to the manifold through a suitable normally closed solenoid valve (not shown).
  • switches 106 shown in FIG. 1 are positioned on the carriage structure adjacent the two slidable guide rods 14, respectively, and are operated by corresponding collars 107 on the guide rods. The switches are operated whenever an empty pickup head returns from a box to an elevated position with the consequence that all four of the power cylinders 86 are energized to snap the four guide panels G from their lower upright positions to their upper poised positions.
  • the invention provides a guide chute that is repeatedly assembled and disassembled in the course of packing fruit into a box.
  • the four-walled guide chute leading to the interior of the box as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is not assembled until well after the descending layer of fruit passes the upper rim of the four-walled enclosure. It is also to be noted that the assembled guide chute is slightly telescoped into a box to protect the descending fruit from damage by the rim of the box and the guide chute is always reassembled before the descending fruit reaches the level of the rim of the box.
  • the four guide panels in swinging down to their lower upright positions shown in FIG. 6 are capable of shifting an empty box through a given maximum range of movement to bring a newly arrived box into the desired precise alignment with the path of a descending layer of fruit. If a newly arrived empty box is initially positioned outside of this given range, the bottom lip of a downwardly swinging guide panel may impinge on an outwardly extending flap of the box instead of moving into engagement with the inner rim of the box.
  • a feature of the invention is that this possibility of faulty operation is avoided by providing suitable means to sense the position of a newly arrived box at the packing station and to stop operation of the two pickup heads if the newly arrived box is outside of the aforementioned range that measures the position-correcting capability of the four guide panels.
  • a box approaching the packing station is confined between two opposite side walls 112 and 114 and, as shown in FIG. 3, three successive sensing switches 116, 117 and 118 are positioned adjacent the side wall 114.
  • the three switches have corresponding operating arms 116a, 1 17a and 1 18a that extend through corresponding windows of the side wall into the path of conveyance of the boxes.
  • the pusher bar encounters the operating arm 25 of the switch 26 to stop the empty box at a position which is intended to approximate the desired precise position of the box within the given range box-positioning capability of the guide panels G.
  • the two box confining side walls 112 and 114 of the conveyor are intended to insure that a newly arrived box is centered laterally within the box-positioning capability of the two guide panels that cooperate with the two opposite sides of the box.
  • the three sensing switches serve the purpose of keeping the pickup heads from descending into the interior of a box if the box is not adequately centered longitudinally relative to the path of descent of a pickup head.
  • the three switches 116, 117 and 118 are in series to activate the pickup heads so that all three switches must be closed to permit a pickup head to descend into the interior of a box at the packing station.
  • the switches 116 and 118 are normally closed and the central switch 117 is normally open.
  • the normally open switch 117 closes when an empty box arrives at the packing station and if the box is centered longitudinally within the given range the two switches 116 and 118 remain closed. If the box does not advance far enough, switch 116 is open and if the box advances too far, switch 118 is open to prevent operation of the pickup heads.
  • a guide chute extending upward from the box and defining a zone of approach to the box, said chute being shaped and dimensioned to surround a layer of objects on a pickup head as the layer descends to the box and to confine the layer of objects to the inside dimensions of the box,
  • said chute being made of separate parts movably mounted on said apparatus to permit the chute to be disassembled by moving the separate parts away from their assembled positions to positions spaced upwardly of said box and to be reassembled by restoring the parts to their assembled positions;
  • said mechanisms being operable to guide the guide panels between initial poised positions and lower upright positions
  • said panels at their poised positions being above the box in the path of descent of a layer of objects on the pickup head, the guide panels at their poised positions overhanging corresponding walls of the box and being inclined downward towards the interior of the box,
  • said mechanisms including spring means to move the panels to their lower upright positions in response 10 to the descent of a layer of objects to a level intermediate the upper and lower edges of the poised guide panels;
  • a set of guide panels including at least two opposite guide panels to cooperate with opposite inner walls of the box;
  • said mechanisms being operable to guide the guide panels between initial poised positions and lower upright positions
  • said panels at their poised positions being above the box in the path of descent of a layer of objects on the pickup head, the guide panels at their poised positions overhanging corresponding walls of the box and being inclined downward towards the interior of the box,
  • said mechanisms including spring means to snap the panels to their lower upright positions when a layer of descending objects reaches a level intermediate the upper and lower edges of the poised guide panels so that the force of the spring means aligns the box with said given path if such alignment is necessary;
  • 1 l a set of guide panels including at least twoopposite guide panels to cooperate with opposite inner walls of the box; corresponding mechanisms supporting said guide panels, respectively, said mechanisms being operable to move the guide panels between initial poised positions and lower upright positions,
  • said panels at their poised positions being above the box in the path of descent of a layer of objects on the pickup head, the guide panels at their poised positions overhanging corresponding walls of the box and being inclined downward towards the interior of the box,
  • said guide panels being operative to move from their poised positions to their lower upright positions when a layer of descending objects reaches a level intermediate the upper and lower edges of the poised guide panels, said guide panels being responsive to the return movement of an empty pickup head to shift from their lower upright positions to their upper poised positions after the returning pickup head clears the guide panels, and switch means operative to cause return of the panels from their lower upright positions to their upper poised positions, said switch being positioned to be mechanically operated when an empty pickup head rises above the guide panels.
  • An improvement as set forth in claim 7 which includes fluid-pressure-actuated means controlled by said switch to return the guide panels from their lower upright positions to their upper poised positions.
  • a set of guide panels including at least two opposite guide panels to cooperate with opposite inner walls of the box;
  • said panels at their poised positions being above the box in the path of descent of a layer of objects on the pickup head, the guide panels at their poised positions overhanging corresponding walls of the box and being inclined downward towards the interior of the box,
  • said guide panels being operative to move from their posied positions to their lower upright positions when a layer of descending objects reaches a level intermediate the upper and lower edges of the poised guide panels;
  • each of said mechanisms including resilient means to yieldingly resist movement of the corresponding guide panel from either of its two positions to a position intermediate its' two positions and to urge the guide panel'to the other, of its two positions when the guide panel is moved beyond said intermediate position,
  • said set of guide panels comprises four guide panels including two guide" panels cooperative with the opposite end walls of the box to center the box longitudinally relative to the path of descent of a loaded pickup head and including two panels cooperative with the opposite side walls of the box to center thebox laterally relative to the path of descent of a loaded pickup head.
  • each of said panels- is yieldingly movable from its lower upright position to an upper retracted position out of the path of an upwardly moving pickup head so that if a returning pickup head engages the panel at the lower upright position of the panel, the returning pickup head lifts the panel from its lower upright position to said upper retracted position,
  • said panel at said upper retracted position being gravitationally biased to return to its lower upright position.
  • eachof said mechanisms for a guide panel is pivotally mounted for pivotal movement of the mechanism as a whole when a returning pickup head moves the corresponding paneltoits upper retracted'position.
  • a set of guide panels including at least two opposite guide panels to cooperate with opposite inner walls of the box;
  • said mechanisms being operable to move the guide panels between initial poised positions and lower upright positions
  • said panels at their poised positions being above the box in the path of descent of a layer of objects on the pickup head, the guide panels at their poised positions overhanging corresponding walls of the box and being inclined downward towards the interior of the box,
  • said guide panels being operative to move from their poised positions to their lower upright positions when a layer of descending objects reaches a level intermediate the upper and lower edges of the poised guide panels;
  • each of said mechanisms including a pair of toggle arms operatively connected to the guide panel and movable past center to a first limit position corresponding to the poised position of the panel and movable past center to a second limit position corresponding to the lower upright position of the panel,
  • one arm of said pair of toggle arms being expansile and including spring means to expand the toggle arm thereby to yieldingly hold the pair of toggle arms at whichever limit position they may be placed,
  • one of said toggle arms is the arm of a lever that is pivotally connected to the guide panel.
  • An improvement as set forth in claim 16 which includes power means to forcibly move the pair of toggle arms from their second limit positions past center thereby to cause the two toggle arms to snap to their 14 first limit position to snap the guide panel to its poised position.
  • one toggle arm of each of the two pairs is one arm of a lever that is mounted on a fixed pivot and is pivotally connected at its end to the guide panel;
  • An improvement as set forth in claim 20 which includes power means operatively connected to said two pivotally mounted arms to force the two pairs of toggle arms from their second limit positions past center to cause the guide panel to snap from its lower upright position to its upper poised position.
  • sensing means includes three switches in series in a circuit for operating the pickup head
  • two of said switches being normally closed switches adjacent opposite ends respectively of a box, one of which switches is opened by the box if the box is positioned in one longitudinal direction outside of said range, the other switch being opened by the box if the box is positioned in the other direction outside of said range; the third switch being a normally open switch positioned intermediate said two normally closed switches to be closed by a box at the packing station.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)
  • Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
US462215A 1974-04-19 1974-04-19 Means to guide a layer of objects into a box Expired - Lifetime US3928942A (en)

Priority Applications (16)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US462215A US3928942A (en) 1974-04-19 1974-04-19 Means to guide a layer of objects into a box
AR257611A AR207640A1 (es) 1974-04-19 1975-01-01 Aparato para empaquetar automaticamente capas de objetos en cajas sucesivas en un puesto de empaquetado
IL46388A IL46388A (en) 1974-04-19 1975-01-02 Means to guide a layer of objects into a box
CA217,317A CA1030115A (en) 1974-04-19 1975-01-03 Means to guide a layer of objects into a box
ZA00750088A ZA7588B (en) 1974-04-19 1975-01-06 Means to guide a layer of objects into a box
DE19752501028 DE2501028A1 (de) 1974-04-19 1975-01-13 Vorrichtung zum fuehren einer schicht von gegenstaenden in eine kiste
AU77268/75A AU487720B2 (en) 1974-04-19 1975-01-13 Means to guide a later of objects into a box
IN83/CAL/75A IN145151B (tr) 1974-04-19 1975-01-14
ES434043A ES434043A1 (es) 1974-04-19 1975-01-22 Perfeccionamientos introducidos en un aparato para empaque-tar automaticamente capas de objetos en cajas sucesivas en un puesto de empaquetado.
BR0668/75D BR7500502A (pt) 1974-04-19 1975-01-24 Aperfeicoamento em aparelho para empacotar, automaticamente camadas de objetos em caixas sucessivas
NLAANVRAGE7501102,A NL174445C (nl) 1974-04-19 1975-01-30 Inpakinrichting voor lagen voorwerpen in dozen.
IT48027/75A IT1029485B (it) 1974-04-19 1975-02-05 Perfezionamento nei dispositivi per l imballaggio automatico di oggetti quali frutta f simili
TR18617A TR18617A (tr) 1974-04-19 1975-02-13 Cisimlerden ibaret bir tabakaya bir kutu icine klavuzlamaya mahsus tertibat
FR7505158A FR2267935B1 (tr) 1974-04-19 1975-02-19
JP2380075A JPS5632169B2 (tr) 1974-04-19 1975-02-26
EG221A EG11833A (en) 1974-04-19 1975-04-16 Means to guide a layer of objects into a box

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US (1) US3928942A (tr)
JP (1) JPS5632169B2 (tr)
AR (1) AR207640A1 (tr)
BR (1) BR7500502A (tr)
CA (1) CA1030115A (tr)
DE (1) DE2501028A1 (tr)
EG (1) EG11833A (tr)
ES (1) ES434043A1 (tr)
FR (1) FR2267935B1 (tr)
IL (1) IL46388A (tr)
IN (1) IN145151B (tr)
IT (1) IT1029485B (tr)
NL (1) NL174445C (tr)
TR (1) TR18617A (tr)
ZA (1) ZA7588B (tr)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2494214A1 (fr) * 1980-11-17 1982-05-21 Sunkist Growers Inc Appareil d'emballage par couches dans des caisses
US4514956A (en) * 1982-03-05 1985-05-07 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Vacuum transfer apparatus for packing layers of articles in a container
US4567712A (en) * 1982-03-05 1986-02-04 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Vacuum transfer apparatus for packing layers of articles in a container
US4712818A (en) * 1984-01-12 1987-12-15 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Vacuum manifold with quick connect-disconect latch assembly
DE3713331A1 (de) * 1986-05-20 1988-04-21 Chemnitz Konsum Vorrichtung zum einlegen von suesswaren
US4800706A (en) * 1987-10-16 1989-01-31 Dorner Mfg. Corp. Apparatus for loading a stack of articles into a relatively flimsy container
DE4030215A1 (de) * 1990-09-24 1992-03-26 Focke & Co Verfahren und vorrichtung zum handhaben von becherfoermigen behaeltern
US5279096A (en) * 1992-01-21 1994-01-18 Machine Builders And Design Inc. Automatic article placer and packer
US5457933A (en) * 1994-02-24 1995-10-17 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Apparatus for tucking fruit into ordered arrays within packing cartons
US5603599A (en) * 1994-09-28 1997-02-18 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Vacuum system
US5661949A (en) * 1995-02-17 1997-09-02 Materiel Pour L'arboriculture Fruitiere Automatic packing device for the filling of containers with superimposed layers of products
US20050028495A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-02-10 Philippe Blanc Automatic packing device for the filling of containers by means of superposed layers of products, in particular fruits such as oranges
US20100251666A1 (en) * 2007-07-27 2010-10-07 Leoncio Angel Gonzalez Quick-change tooling system
US20120233967A1 (en) * 2011-03-16 2012-09-20 CAMA1 S.p.A Machine and method for cartoning articles
CN103419956A (zh) * 2013-08-21 2013-12-04 广东燕京啤酒有限公司 一种混合装箱的方法
US20140360137A1 (en) * 2013-06-07 2014-12-11 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device, system, and related methods
US20160332758A1 (en) * 2015-05-15 2016-11-17 APE IMPIANTI S.r..I. Centering devices for carrier packers
US20190193883A1 (en) * 2017-12-22 2019-06-27 Delkor Systems, Inc. Returnable Crate Loader
US10350769B2 (en) 2013-06-07 2019-07-16 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device, system, and related methods
US20220061217A1 (en) * 2019-01-17 2022-03-03 Tevel Aerobotics Technologies Ltd. System and method for protecting harvested fruits during harvesting

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5391895A (en) * 1977-01-18 1978-08-12 Honshu Paper Co Ltd Apparatus for accumulating and boxing article
JPS5886275U (ja) * 1981-12-07 1983-06-11 株式会社吉野工業所 液体射出装置
DE3424233A1 (de) * 1984-06-30 1986-01-23 Alfons Dipl.-Ing. 5208 Eitorf Güldenring Verfahren und vorrichtung zum befuellen von kartons
US4713926A (en) * 1986-06-26 1987-12-22 Wheeling Stamping Company Packaging machine and method
JPS646567A (en) * 1987-06-29 1989-01-11 Toto Ltd Selector valve
EP0584425B1 (en) * 1992-08-28 1996-08-07 Rosalina Paniagua Olaechea A machine for the automatic filling of fruit boxes
JP2011093569A (ja) * 2009-10-30 2011-05-12 Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd 被包装物充填装置

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US3001350A (en) * 1958-06-10 1961-09-26 Forgrove Mach Packaging machines
US3383833A (en) * 1965-12-17 1968-05-21 Pearson Co R A Case packing machine
US3404509A (en) * 1965-07-06 1968-10-08 Procter & Gamble Method and apparatus for loading assembled layers of packages in cases
US3590551A (en) * 1969-03-27 1971-07-06 Sunkist Growers Inc Automatic apparatus for packing articles in boxes
US3673756A (en) * 1970-12-02 1972-07-04 Emhart Corp Apparatus for simultaneously loading groups of articles into packing cases
US3750721A (en) * 1971-08-18 1973-08-07 Olinkraft Inc Expanding fill spout for bag filling machine

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US2215094A (en) * 1938-09-03 1940-09-17 Paterson Pacific Parchment Com Lettuce packing machine
DE1097892B (de) * 1958-06-10 1961-01-19 Forgrove Mach Maschine zum Einbringen von Gegenstaenden in Kartons od. dgl.
DE2000264A1 (de) * 1970-01-05 1971-07-15 Bauer Eberhard Verfahren und Einrichtung zum Fuellen von mit einem Rand umgebenen Tragschalen mit Gegenstaenden
JPS4838398A (tr) * 1971-09-18 1973-06-06
JPS5113321Y2 (tr) * 1971-10-31 1976-04-09

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3001350A (en) * 1958-06-10 1961-09-26 Forgrove Mach Packaging machines
US3404509A (en) * 1965-07-06 1968-10-08 Procter & Gamble Method and apparatus for loading assembled layers of packages in cases
US3383833A (en) * 1965-12-17 1968-05-21 Pearson Co R A Case packing machine
US3590551A (en) * 1969-03-27 1971-07-06 Sunkist Growers Inc Automatic apparatus for packing articles in boxes
US3673756A (en) * 1970-12-02 1972-07-04 Emhart Corp Apparatus for simultaneously loading groups of articles into packing cases
US3750721A (en) * 1971-08-18 1973-08-07 Olinkraft Inc Expanding fill spout for bag filling machine

Cited By (31)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2494214A1 (fr) * 1980-11-17 1982-05-21 Sunkist Growers Inc Appareil d'emballage par couches dans des caisses
US4386491A (en) * 1980-11-17 1983-06-07 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Apparatus for selectively packing layers of objects in boxes of different depths
US4514956A (en) * 1982-03-05 1985-05-07 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Vacuum transfer apparatus for packing layers of articles in a container
US4567712A (en) * 1982-03-05 1986-02-04 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Vacuum transfer apparatus for packing layers of articles in a container
US4712818A (en) * 1984-01-12 1987-12-15 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Vacuum manifold with quick connect-disconect latch assembly
DE3713331A1 (de) * 1986-05-20 1988-04-21 Chemnitz Konsum Vorrichtung zum einlegen von suesswaren
US4800706A (en) * 1987-10-16 1989-01-31 Dorner Mfg. Corp. Apparatus for loading a stack of articles into a relatively flimsy container
DE4030215A1 (de) * 1990-09-24 1992-03-26 Focke & Co Verfahren und vorrichtung zum handhaben von becherfoermigen behaeltern
DE4030215C2 (de) * 1990-09-24 1998-07-02 Focke & Co Vorrichtung zum Handhaben von Becherstangen sowie Verwendung eines speziellen Behälters für Becherstangen
US5279096A (en) * 1992-01-21 1994-01-18 Machine Builders And Design Inc. Automatic article placer and packer
US5457933A (en) * 1994-02-24 1995-10-17 Sunkist Growers, Inc. Apparatus for tucking fruit into ordered arrays within packing cartons
US5603599A (en) * 1994-09-28 1997-02-18 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Vacuum system
US5661949A (en) * 1995-02-17 1997-09-02 Materiel Pour L'arboriculture Fruitiere Automatic packing device for the filling of containers with superimposed layers of products
US7107742B2 (en) 2003-08-05 2006-09-19 Material Pour L'arboriculture Fruitiere Automatic packing device for the filling of containers by means of superposed layers of products, in particular fruits such as oranges
US20050028495A1 (en) * 2003-08-05 2005-02-10 Philippe Blanc Automatic packing device for the filling of containers by means of superposed layers of products, in particular fruits such as oranges
US20100251666A1 (en) * 2007-07-27 2010-10-07 Leoncio Angel Gonzalez Quick-change tooling system
US8307615B2 (en) * 2007-07-27 2012-11-13 Sunstar Americas, Inc. Quick-change tooling system
US20120233967A1 (en) * 2011-03-16 2012-09-20 CAMA1 S.p.A Machine and method for cartoning articles
US10399796B2 (en) * 2011-03-16 2019-09-03 CAMA1 S.p.A Machine and method for cartoning articles
US10350769B2 (en) 2013-06-07 2019-07-16 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device, system, and related methods
US20140360137A1 (en) * 2013-06-07 2014-12-11 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device, system, and related methods
US11447280B2 (en) 2013-06-07 2022-09-20 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device, system, and related methods
US10865003B2 (en) 2013-06-07 2020-12-15 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device, system, and related methods
US10207830B2 (en) * 2013-06-07 2019-02-19 F.R. Drake Company Food product handling device
CN103419956A (zh) * 2013-08-21 2013-12-04 广东燕京啤酒有限公司 一种混合装箱的方法
CN103419956B (zh) * 2013-08-21 2015-05-20 广东燕京啤酒有限公司 一种混合装箱的方法
US9868554B2 (en) * 2015-05-15 2018-01-16 Ape Impianti S.R.L. Centering devices for carrier packers
US20160332758A1 (en) * 2015-05-15 2016-11-17 APE IMPIANTI S.r..I. Centering devices for carrier packers
US20190193883A1 (en) * 2017-12-22 2019-06-27 Delkor Systems, Inc. Returnable Crate Loader
US10745161B2 (en) * 2017-12-22 2020-08-18 Delkor Systems, Inc. Returnable crate loader
US20220061217A1 (en) * 2019-01-17 2022-03-03 Tevel Aerobotics Technologies Ltd. System and method for protecting harvested fruits during harvesting

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU7726875A (en) 1976-07-15
FR2267935A1 (tr) 1975-11-14
JPS5632169B2 (tr) 1981-07-25
IT1029485B (it) 1979-03-10
EG11833A (en) 1977-11-30
JPS50137290A (tr) 1975-10-31
NL174445B (nl) 1984-01-16
IN145151B (tr) 1978-09-02
DE2501028A1 (de) 1975-11-06
DE2501028C2 (tr) 1988-01-14
FR2267935B1 (tr) 1980-07-25
IL46388A (en) 1977-01-31
ES434043A1 (es) 1976-12-01
AR207640A1 (es) 1976-10-22
BR7500502A (pt) 1976-03-09
TR18617A (tr) 1977-05-12
IL46388A0 (en) 1975-04-25
NL174445C (nl) 1984-06-18
CA1030115A (en) 1978-04-25
NL7501102A (nl) 1975-10-21
ZA7588B (en) 1976-01-28

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