WO1997014615A1 - A device and a method for assembling meal trays - Google Patents
A device and a method for assembling meal trays Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1997014615A1 WO1997014615A1 PCT/NL1995/000363 NL9500363W WO9714615A1 WO 1997014615 A1 WO1997014615 A1 WO 1997014615A1 NL 9500363 W NL9500363 W NL 9500363W WO 9714615 A1 WO9714615 A1 WO 9714615A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- trays
- tray
- meal
- working
- stationary
- Prior art date
Links
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
- B65B67/00—Apparatus or devices facilitating manual packaging operations; Sack holders
- B65B67/02—Packaging of articles or materials in containers
-
- 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
- B65B43/50—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 using rotary tables or turrets
Definitions
- the invention relates to a device for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in an aircraft, said device being provided with transport means on which trays can be moved between working stations, where personnel place certain meal tray components on the tray.
- Such a conveyor belt has a certain constant speed and is usually provided with means for stopping the belt when the completed trays are not removed sufficiently quickly at the end of the conveyor bel .
- Personnel may stand or be seated at the working stations along the conveyor belt.
- a number of storage containers are present near each person who places a number of meal tray components on the trays, from which storage containers said person takes the various meal tray components .
- the number of different meal tray components which can be placed on the tray by one person inter alia depends on the number of storage containers which can be present at the working station. With conveyor belts the available space at the working station is limited, so that only a small number of storage containers can be present.
- the object of the invention is to provide a device for assembling meal trays whereby the trays can be prepared in an efficient manner, whereby the persons preparing the trays have ample space at their disposal and ample space is available for placing storage containers, and whereby the persons preparing the trays are positioned at a favourable place and take up a fa ourable position.
- the device for assembling meal trays is provided with transport means comprising a substantially circular table, which is capable of rotating about a vertical axis, whereby the trays can be placed near the edge of said table.
- transport means comprising a substantially circular table, which is capable of rotating about a vertical axis, whereby the trays can be placed near the edge of said table.
- Another advantage of using a rotating table is the fact that the drive means of the table may be disposed centrally under said table, so that the persons present in the working stations have ample room at their disposal to carry out the work in a seated position, for example with their legs under the table. In addition to that more space is available at the working station because the trays do not move in a straight line but in a circular path.
- the rotatable table can be driven intermittently, so that a tray placed on the table will be stationary at a working station for a predetermined period of time.
- the rotatable table is preferably provided with stop means, as a result of which a tray will be present on the table in a predetermined position and place, the table can be stopped each time a tray to be prepared is present at each working station.
- a significant advantage of a system whereby the trays can be stationary at the working stations for an adjustable period of time is the fact that it is possible to realize a particular tray assembly with a varying number of persons. It is possible to assemble a particular tray with fewer persons to prepare the trays by stopping the tray for a longer period at the working stations and having the persons preparing the trays place more meal tray components. Since there is ample space for storage containers at the working station with the device according to the invention, the number of persons preparing the trays can be varied considerably. One person may for example place seven meal tray components, whereas so far maximally three or four articles per person has been attainable. In the embodiment yet to be described, which comprises four working stations, it is also possible to work with for example two persons. Furthermore it is possible thereby to have the trays pass all working stations more than once, for example twice.
- the rotatable table is designed such that when two trays are present in two successive working stations, a third tray may be present between said two trays .
- the person preparing the trays will have three trays within easy reach, so that he will for example be able to make a change as yet in the tray he has just prepared.
- the tray he is going to prepare in the condition in which it will appear before him for some time before it actually does.
- a number of storage containers for for example three to seven meal tray components is present at the working station, which storage containers may be disposed on either side of the person preparing the trays.
- stationary supporting means may be provided above the central part of the table, on which storage containers for meal tray components can be placed.
- said supporting means may be provided just above and/or some distance above the table. The supporting means may thereby support storage containers right before the person preparing the trays and also storage containers disposed at a higher level, which containers will for example be disposed in a sloping position, so that the person preparing the trays will have sufficient access to the storage container in question. In this manner the various storage containers can be disposed in the most effective position at the working station, possibly to be chosen by the person preparing the trays .
- the invention furthermore relates to a method for assembling meal trays such as can be distributed as meals in aircraft, whereby according to the invention trays are placed near the edge oT a substantially circular table, and the table is rotated about a central vertical axis, in order to have the trays pass a number of working stations where meal tray components are placed on the trays.
- the trays can be stopped at each working station for some time by interrupting the drive of the table.
- a tray may travel the full circuit of the table more than once, as a result of which it will for example be possible to correct a mistake which was made during the first circuit. Correcting a mistake in such a manner is for example not possible when the trays are transported by a conveyor belt, whereby the trays must always be removed from the belt after they have passed all working stations once.
- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the device according to the embodiment; and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view.
- the device is only shown diagrammatically in the Figures, wherein parts have been left out to provide a good view of the device .
- Figures 1 an 2 both show a round table 1, which can rotate about a vertical axis 2.
- Table 1 is for example made of a plastic material and is provided with stop means, which make it possible to place the trays on the table 1 in a predetermined position.
- Said stop means may be cams 3 ( Figure 2) or recesses cut out of the table ( Figure 1) .
- Figure 1 shows four working stations arranged around the table 1, which are each provided with a chair 5 on which a person preparing the trays may be seated. Since sufficient space is available under table 1, the chair 5 may be moved to abut against the table 1 when the person preparing the trays is seated on chair 5.
- One or two storage containers 6 are placed on one side or on both sides of the chair, in which storage containers meal tray components are present, which are to be placed on the trays.
- FIG 2 shows the drive unit 7, which is located centrally under the table 1.
- said unit 7 may be provided with wheels, preferably castors, so that the entire device is mobile. Sufficient stability may thereby be obtained in that the relatively heavy drive motor 8 and reduction gear unit 9 are disposed within unit 7.
- Figure 2 shows a vertical shaft 10 extending upwards from the drive unit 7, on which stationary shaft 10 the support for storage containers 11 disposed above the table 1 is mounted.
- Said support consists of a part 12 disposed just above the table, with no storage containers being present thereon in Figure 1, and a part 13 disposed some distance above the table, with the storage containers 11 being present thereon in Figure 2.
- FIG. 1 the storage containers 11 are shown to extend between two respective working stations, so that said storage containers may reach almost to the edge of table 1.
- Table 1 is driven by means of a drive motor 8 and reduction gea.r unit 9 comprising an outgoing shaft, on which a chain wheel 14 is mounted.
- Chain wheel 14 drives a chain wheel 15 via a chain, said chain wheel 15 being connected to a pipe 16 coaxially provided over vertical shaft 10, to which table 1 is secured. It will be apparent that in this manner table 1 can be rotated, via the necessary reductions, by means of drive motor 8.
- Drive unit 7 furthermore contains a control box 17, in hich a control unit is present, by means of which the table can be stopped for a preset period of time, and that in a number of fixed positions, whereby a next tray will be present at a working station in each of said positions.
- the table may be provided with stop means in such a manner that trays of different dimensions can be placed on the predetermined places on the table.
- the working station may also be arranged to work in a standing position .
- the completed tray is removed from the table and replaced by an empty one by a fifth person. It is also possible that the two persons present in the two adjacent working stations on the right-hand side of Figure 1 remove the completed tray fro.n table 1 and replace it with an empty tray.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Warehouses Or Storage Devices (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU38167/95A AU3816795A (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1995-10-19 | A device and a method for assembling meal trays |
EP95936120A EP0861193A1 (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1995-10-19 | A device and a method for assembling meal trays |
PCT/NL1995/000363 WO1997014615A1 (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1995-10-19 | A device and a method for assembling meal trays |
NL1004311A NL1004311C2 (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1996-10-18 | Device for assembling meal trays such as on board aircraft - includes transport member on which trays can be moved between working stations, where personnel place certain meal tray components on tray |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/NL1995/000363 WO1997014615A1 (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1995-10-19 | A device and a method for assembling meal trays |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1997014615A1 true WO1997014615A1 (en) | 1997-04-24 |
Family
ID=19865637
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/NL1995/000363 WO1997014615A1 (en) | 1995-10-19 | 1995-10-19 | A device and a method for assembling meal trays |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0861193A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU3816795A (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997014615A1 (en) |
Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1898151A (en) * | 1929-02-23 | 1933-02-21 | Stover Russell | Packing table for candy makers |
US2633970A (en) * | 1951-01-18 | 1953-04-07 | Bell P Robinson | Produce-handling apparatus |
US2969633A (en) * | 1958-03-21 | 1961-01-31 | Campbell Taggart Ass Bakeries | Apparatus for facilitating removal of bakery products such as rolls from baking pans and packing thereof in cartons |
US4389834A (en) * | 1981-03-18 | 1983-06-28 | Wysocki Gregory E | Loose product bagging and baling system |
FR2663608A1 (en) * | 1990-06-25 | 1991-12-27 | Saceri | Device for placing calibrated food products in trays |
-
1995
- 1995-10-19 AU AU38167/95A patent/AU3816795A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1995-10-19 EP EP95936120A patent/EP0861193A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1995-10-19 WO PCT/NL1995/000363 patent/WO1997014615A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1898151A (en) * | 1929-02-23 | 1933-02-21 | Stover Russell | Packing table for candy makers |
US2633970A (en) * | 1951-01-18 | 1953-04-07 | Bell P Robinson | Produce-handling apparatus |
US2969633A (en) * | 1958-03-21 | 1961-01-31 | Campbell Taggart Ass Bakeries | Apparatus for facilitating removal of bakery products such as rolls from baking pans and packing thereof in cartons |
US4389834A (en) * | 1981-03-18 | 1983-06-28 | Wysocki Gregory E | Loose product bagging and baling system |
FR2663608A1 (en) * | 1990-06-25 | 1991-12-27 | Saceri | Device for placing calibrated food products in trays |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU3816795A (en) | 1997-05-07 |
EP0861193A1 (en) | 1998-09-02 |
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