WO2007144799A2

WO2007144799A2 - Method and apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products

Info

Publication number: WO2007144799A2
Application number: PCT/IB2007/052000
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vladimiro Stenka Vecchi
Original assignee: S.A.M.M.O. S.P.A.
Priority date: 2006-06-13
Filing date: 2007-05-28
Publication date: 2007-12-21
Also published as: ITBO20060454A1; EP2027025A2; WO2007144799A3

Abstract

The method for packaging fruit and vegetable products in crate-type containers (20), equipped with alveoli (21) suited to receive respective products (2), provides for feeding the products (2) along a plurality of conveying lines (30) arranged side by side and for intercepting these products (2) to allow the controlled transfer of individual products (2) to a station of visual observation (7), in which the same products (2) are rotated on revolving support means (6). Visual detection means (12) detect a predetermined surface portion of the products (2) and operate the collection means (13) suited to transfer the products (2) in orientated configuration inside respective alveoli (21) of the container (20).

Description

Description METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT AND

VEGETABLE PRODUCTS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products, in particular rounded-shaped products. Background Art

[2] It is known that some types of fruit and vegetable products, such as, for instance, apples, peaches, kiwis and citrus fruits, can be offered on the market in special packages shaping box containers, so-called 'crate', made of cardboard or plastic or other material, in case covered with a sheet of transparent protection material, for instance cellophane or other. These containers have, on the bottom, a plastic or printed cardboard sheet shaping a series of alveolus-shaped seats, with a basically hemispherical shape, suitable to receive respective individual products. The alveoli are preferably arranged in rows alternating side-to-side, in order to limit as much as possible the longitudinal extent of the containers.

[3] It has to be pointed out that in the above-mentioned packages, to obtain a more pleasant display, the products are not normally randomly stored, but preferably according to a precise orientation, which leaves the surface portion with best look exposed, in other words the one that is not only flawless but also has a certain colour. For instance, in the case of certain types of apples, the product is preferably arranged in a way that gives the peduncle a preset orientation and leaves in sight the reddest 'cheek'.

[4] To this aim, in the commonly known packaging lines, the products, already graded according to their size and quality on different conveying lines, are collected one by one and manually put in the suitable alveoli of the containers by operators in charge of this duty. The introduction and the orientation of the products in the containers are therefore performed in a completely manual way.

[5] This manual packaging method is very onerous, both for the labour involved, and for the slowness of the filling cycles of the containers. In particular, the labour cost negatively weights upon the cost of the package, especially in relation to the relatively limited cost of the product itself.

[6] To get round this drawback, it has been proposed the use of apparatuses, which allow to fill the cited crate containers in a semiautomatic way, in order to replace, partially at least, the labour required for the described operation. In these packaging apparatuses, the products are adequately channelled so that they reach the alveoli of the containers with random orientation. In this case, the operators disposed along the packaging line only provide for manually modifying the orientation of the products, in order to obtain the desired uniform arrangement. Nevertheless it is clear that these semiautomatic apparatuses solve only partially the problem of using large labour.

[7] More recently it has been likewise proposed the use of apparatuses able to automatically operate the packaging of the fruit and vegetable products in the cited crate containers. These apparatuses provide for the use of an anthropomorphic robot, of a known type and basically shaping a mechanical arm equipped with gripping means, suitable to collect each individual product from the conveying line and to arrange it in the container inside a respective alveolus. The use provided for these apparatuses is nevertheless at present limited to products, such as pears, having a longitudinal axis of preferential development. Also these automatic apparatuses, in any case, have considerable output limits, due to the relatively long time required by the robot to collect and convey the products into the alveoli of the container. Furthermore, it is complained the wide operational space required for operating the robot, which determines a c on- siderable space occupied by the apparatus. Disclosure of Invention Disclosure

[8] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the cited drawback by devising a method which enables to automatically carry out the packaging of fruit and vegetable products in crate containers, in particular arranging them according to a preset orientation.

[9] Within this scope it is a further aim of the claimed invention to provide a packaging method that allows to obtain a high productivity.

[10] Another aim of the present invention is to provide with an apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products that has versatile use in relation to the different typologies and size of the products.

[11] A further aim of the present invention is to provide with an apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products of simple conception, reduced size and reliable functioning.

[12] The cited aims are achieved according to the claimed invention by the method for packaging fruit and vegetable products in crate-type containers equipped with alveoli suitable to receive products, which is characterized in that it comprises the phases of:

[13] a. feeding the products to package according to a feed direction along a plurality of conveying lines arranged side by side;

[14] b. intercepting the said products downstream to the said conveying lines through interceptors suitable to allow the controlled transfer respectively of single products from the said conveying lines to a station of visual observation;

[15] c. rotating the said products on revolving support means arranged in correspondence to the said station of visual observation, according to a first axis of rotation, transversal to the said feed direction;

[16] d. operating the visual observation of the said products rotated on the said revolving support means, through visual detection means, in order to detect a predetermined surface portion of the said products;

[17] e. selectively stopping the rotation of the said products once the said predetermined surface portion of the said products has been reached;

[18] f. collecting the said products from the said station of visual observation through respective collection means suitable to operate the angular rotation of the same products according to an axis of rotation, substantially orthogonal to the said first axis of rotation, in order to orientate the said products in a predetermined position;

[19] g. transferring through the said collection means the said products in orientated configuration inside respective alveoli of the said container;

[20] h. feeding the said container by one longitudinal pitch to perform further filling cycles of the said alveoli. Description Of Drawings

[21] Description details of the invention will be further evident in the detailed illustration of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products illustrated in the attached guideline drawings, wherein:

[22] fig. 1 illustrates a schematic side view of an apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products according to the claimed method;

[23] fig. 2 to 6 respectively illustrate the same schematic side view of the claimed apparatus, in subsequent operational phases;

[24] fig. 7 and 8 illustrate a plan view of the same apparatus arranged in a different way depending on the size of the products to package;

[25] fig. 9 illustrates a side view of a different embodiment of the claimed apparatus.

Best Mode

[26] With reference to such figures, 1 refers to the apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products 2, in particular rounded-shaped ones, as for instance apples, peaches, kiwis, nectarines and citrus fruits in general. In the case illustrated, the products 2 have a peduncle 2a. The products 2 are destined to be packaged in suitable crate containers 20 having rectangular plan, in cardboard or other material. Each conta iner 20 is internally equipped with a sheet of plastic or other material, shaping a plurality of alveoli 21 with basically hemispherical shape, each suitable to receive an individual product 2. The alveoli 21 are arranged according to rows placed side by side, usually alternating side-to-side.

[27] The apparatus 1 provides for a plurality of conveying lines 30 arranged side by side and equipped with conveying means 3 suitable to feed the products 2 to package in rows organized along a feed direction indicated with the arrow A in fig. 1. The conveying means 3 consist of a plurality of rollers 4 arranged in series, with parallel axis, suitable to be axially rotated in independent way through suitable drive means of known type. The rollers 4 have a soft material external coating 5. In practice, in correspondence to the conveying means 3, the products 2 advance according to organized longitudinal rows, spaced one another by separators 22 suited to channel the products 2 in corresponding rows. The separators 22 are associated with the conveying means 3 in a transversally adjustable way depending on the size of the products 2 to package.

[28] Downstream to each conveying line 30, are arranged revolving support means 6 suitable to set the products 2 in rotation in correspondence to a station of visual observation 7.

[29] Between the conveying means 3 and the rotating support means 6 are interposed some interceptors 8, movable along a direction B inclined relatively to the ideal conveying plane of the products 2, tangent to the upper portion of the rollers 4. In particular, the interceptors 8 consist of a small idle roll suited to revolve with axis parallel to the rollers 4. The small roll 8 is operated movable between a lowered position, inactive, positioned below the cited conveying plane, in correspondence to which the same small roll 8 is suitable to allow the advancing of the products 2, and a lifted position above this plane, of interception, in correspondence to which it is suitable to prevent the products 2 from advancing in the feed direction A.

[30] The revolving support means 6 consist preferably of a pair of shaped rollers with axis parallel to the rollers 4 of the conveying line 30 and suitable to define between them a housing area, which defines the station of visual observation 7 for a respective product 2 to package. The shaped rollers 6 have concave profile, with a shape basically complementary to that of the product 2 to package. Preferably, this concave profile is realized through a plurality of disks 11 with different diameters, fitted suitably spaced onto an input shaft 10 (see fig. 7). In particular the disks 11, which are preferably made of rubber, are connected to the shaft 10 through sliding coupling means to allow the change of their longitudinal positioning. In practice, the reciprocal distance between the disks 11 can be adjusted depending on the size of the products 2 to house (see fig. 7 and 8). The shaped rollers 6 are operated in rotation by suitable control means not illustrated, in order to rotate the products 2 in suitable phase relation to the operation of the small roll 8.

[31] The crate container 20 to fill is approached to the shaped rollers 6 from below. The container 20 is preferably brought in translational motion along a plane inclined relatively to the conveying plane of the products 2, in order to approach to the station of observation 7 subsequent empty rows of alveoli 21 to fill. The container 20 is preferably further operable with transversal reciprocating motion, with traverse equal to the transversal pitch between the rows of alveoli 21, in case they are alternating side-to-side, in order to align the row of alveoli 21 to fill with the conveying lines 30.

[32] Above the shaped rollers 6 are arranged visual detection means 12 suitable to detect the features of the product 2 arranged onto the same shaped rollers 6 in the station of observation 7. The visual detection means 12 consist, for instance, of a series of cameras arranged above the conveying lines 30 and turned towards the shaped rollers 6. Processors of a known type are suited to process the pictures caught by the cameras 12 to detect the surface portion of the product 2 to display on the container 20 and control the stop of the rotation of the products 2 on the shaped rollers 6.

[33] With the visual detection means 12 cooperate the collection means 13 suitable to take and position the single products 2 in the container 20 in oriented configuration. The collection means 13 provide, for every product 2 to collect, for a support body 14 bearing sliding a stem 15 equipped with a gripping element 16 on one end, for instance sucker or other type, connected with suitable suction means. Each support body 14 is movable in alternate rotation according to an axis of rotation parallel to the shaped rollers 6, between a collection position, in correspondence to which the sucker element 16 is suited to be approached to a product 2 positioned onto the shaped rollers 6, and an angularly advanced position, of discharge, in correspondence to which the sucker element 16 is suited to discharge the product 2 inside a corresponding alveolus 21 of the container 20. The stem 15 is suitable to be operated axially sliding in suitable phase relation to the alternate rotation of the support body 14, alternatively between a retracted, inactive configuration and an extracted, active one for the collection and the discharge of the product 2. Furthermore, the support body 14 is suited to be operated in revolution motion around the axis of the stem 15, to orientate the product 2 in the desired way during the passage from the observation station 7 to the alveolus 21 of the container 20.

[34] The functioning of the apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products according to the invention is described as follows.

[35] In an initial phase for preparing the equipment of the apparatus, the shaped rollers 6 are adapted to the size of the products 2 to package. It has to be pointed out that the products 2 to package fed to the apparatus have adequately homogeneous size, since they have undergone, in a known way, a preceding grading phase.

[36] For the size adjustment, the disks 11 shaping the shaped rollers 6 are reciprocally positioned along the respective shafts 10, in order to consequently vary the profile of the same rollers 6 depending on the size of the products 2. [37] The products 2 to package are fed to the parallel conveying lines 30 and arrange themselves in organized rows onto the rollers 4. Each row of products 2 advances along the feed direction A until it reaches the small roll 8 that, in this phase, is placed in lifted position and therefore prevents the same products 2 from further advancing (fig. 2 and 3).

[38] When the observation station 7 is freed from the product 2 previously provided, the small roll 8 is lowered underneath the conveying plane of the products 2 in order to allow the passage of the first product 2 of the row towards the observation station 7 (fig. 4). Clearly, the subsequent products 2 advance all by one pitch along the conveying line 30, while the small roll 8 is operated again in the lifted interception position, to hinder the passage of further products 2 (fig. 5 and 6).

[39] The product 2 stopped in the observation station 7 is set in rotation by the shaped rollers 6 in order to be observable all around its surface through a camera 12 (fig 2). When the camera 12 detects the surface portion of the product 2 that corresponds to the desired orientation, the stop command is sent to the shaped rollers 6, in order to stop the rotation motion of the same product 2 in the reached position (fig. 3).

[40] In adequate synchronism, the activation of the collection means 13 is operated, to operate the collection of the product 2 stopped in the desired position on the shaped rollers 6. To this end, the stem 15 of the collection means 13 is extracted as far as the sucker element 16 adheres to the surface of the product 2 to collect. The activation of the suction means connected with the sucker element 6 causes the grip of the product 2, which is therefore held and moved by the collection means 13 (fig. 4). The collection means 13 operates therefore the transfer of the product 2 in the discharge position, through the angular rotation of the support body 14 on the vertical plane longitudinal to the conveying line 30 (fig. 5). In the passage from the collection position to the discharge position, the support body 14 is likewise rotated according to a revolution motion around the axis of the stem 15 to complete the orientation of the product 2, for instance to align all the peduncles 2a in the same configuration inside the same container 20.

[41] By deactivating the suction means connected to the sucker element 16, the product 2 is discharged and housed in the provided alveolus 21 of the container 20. Simultaneously, according to the same procedure, are operated the orientation, the collection and the transfer into the alveoli 21 of the container 20 of the products 2 being at a stop on the shaped rollers 6 of the other conveying lines 30, until completing the filling of one row of alveoli 21 (fig. 6). The container 20 is then fed by one pitch corresponding to the distance between subsequent rows of alveoli 21 and, in case these rows of alveoli 21 are alternating side-to-side, further transversally translated, in order to align the alveoli 21 to fill to the conveying lines 30. [42] It has to be pointed out that a new series of products 2 is fed by the conveying lines

30 in the respective observation station 7 as soon as this is freed from the previous series of products 2, taken by the collection means 13. Therefore, the phase of feeding and orientating the new series of products 2 can take place simultaneously to the phase of collection and transfer in the container 20 of the preceding series of products 2, thus avoiding any dead time in the realization of the operating cycle.

[43] The described phases are cyclically repeated to fill the rows of alveoli 21 fed in succession to the packaging apparatus 1.

[44] The method and the apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products according to the claimed invention achieve the aim to carry out in a completely automatic way the packaging of the fruit and vegetable products 2 in crate containers 20. More in detail, the claimed apparatus allows to automatically position the products 2 inside the container 20 according to a predetermined orientation. This is obtained thanks to the twofold rotation imposed to the products 2 during the phases of orientation and transfer in the container 20. More specifically, the rotation imposed to the products 2 on the shaped rollers 6 in the observation station allows to detect, thanks to the camera 12, the preferred surface portion of the product 2 to display. The subsequent angular rotation of the products 2 according to the axis of the stem 15 of the collection means determines the uniform positioning of the products 2, for instance with the peduncle orientated. Furthermore, it has to be pointed out that thanks to the further degree of rotational freedom around the axis of the stem 15, the collection means 13 allows the positioning of the product 2 according to any orientation, independently from the initial orientation of the product 2.

[45] The method does not require any manual intervention since each product 2 is individually observed and handled by the collection means 13. Basically, the method and the apparatus suited to realize it, allow to considerably lower the production costs, in particular decisively reducing the cost of the labour required altogether in the production cycle.

[46] It has to be pointed out that the claimed method and apparatus are likewise advantageous from the economical point of view since they allow to noticeably increase the production efficiency, compared with the packaging methods known at present. This result is due in particular to the fact that it is possible to orientate and simultaneously transfer in the container a plurality of products, basically a whole row of products. The containers are therefore filled and transferred at high speed to the subsequent packaging operations.

[47] A further prerogative of the claimed apparatus is the great versatility of use. The claimed apparatus, in fact, can be used to package any fruit and vegetable products, in particular rounded-shaped, within a wide dimensional range. Furthermore, it is possible to easily adapt the size of the operational members to the size of the products to treat.

[48] A prerogative of the claimed apparatus is its high structural compactness and limited dimensions. This allows its easy installation in the packaging lines already in use at present.

[49] In fig. 9 a different embodiment of the apparatus is illustrated. This allows to operate in-line the visual grading of the quality of the products, in particular thanks to the use of cameras 12 suited to this aim. In that case, the support body 14 of the collection means 13 is made adequately revolving through a carousel device 17 in order to selectively transfer the collected products to different discharge stations, for instance for the filling of the crate containers 20 with the first-rate products, for the feeding of the second-rate products to a different packaging form 23 and the disposal of the wastes to a discharge area 24. Adequately, the carousel device 17 can bear a plurality of collection means 13 angularly distributed, destined to operate the previously described phases in sequence.

[50] Materials adopted for the actual realization of the invention, as well as their shapes and sizes, can be various, depending on the requirements.

[51] Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

[1] Method for packaging fruit and vegetable products in crate-type containers (20) equipped with alveoli (21) suitable for receiving respective products (2), characterized in that it comprises the phases of: a. feeding the products (2) to package according to a feed direction (A) along a plurality of conveying lines (30) arranged side by side, b. intercepting the said products (2) downstream to the said conveying lines (30) through interceptors (8) suitable to allow the controlled transfer respectively of single products (2) from the said conveying lines (30) to a station of visual observation (7); c. rotating the said products (2) on revolving support means (6) arranged in correspondence to the said station of visual observation (7), according to a first axis of rotation, transversal to the said feed direction (A); d. operating the visual observation of the said products (2) rotated on the said revolving support means (6), through visual detection means (12), in order to detect a predetermined surface portion of the same products (2); e. selectively stopping the rotation of the said products (2) once the said predetermined surface portion of the said products (2) has been reached; f. collecting the said products (2) from the said station of visual observation (7) through respective collection means (13) suitable to operate the angular rotation of the said products (2) according to an axis of rotation, substantially orthogonal to the said first axis of rotation, in order to orientate the said products (2) in a predetermined position; g. transferring through the said collection means (13) the said products (2) in orientated configuration inside respective alveoli (21) of the said container (20); h. feeding the said container (20) by a longitudinal pitch to perform further filling cycles of the said alveoli (21).

[2] Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the said phase h. of feeding the said container (20) by a longitudinal pitch to perform further filling cycles of the said alveoli (21), comprises the further phase of: i. translating by one transversal pitch the said container (20) to align the said alveoli (21) to fill with the said conveying lines (30).

[3] Apparatus to package fruit and vegetable products in crate-type containers (20) equipped with alveoli (21) suited to receive respective products (2), characterized in that it comprises a plurality of conveying lines (30) arranged side by side, suitable for feeding the products (2) to package according to a feed direction (A); interceptors (8) suited to intercept the said products (2) downstream to the said conveying lines (30) to allow the controlled transfer respectively of individual products (2) from the said conveying lines (30) to a station of visual observation (7); revolving support means (6) arranged in correspondence to the said station of visual observation (7) and suited to rotate the said products (2) according to a first axis of rotation, transversal to the said feed direction (A); visual detection means (12) suited to operate the visual observation of the said products (2) rotated on the said revolving support means (6), in order to detect a predetermined surface portion of the said products (2); collection means (13) suitable to collect the said products (2) from the said station of visual observation (7) and to operate the angular rotation of the same products (2) according to a second axis of rotation, substantially orthogonal to the said first axis of rotation, in order to orientate the said products (2) in a predetermined position, to transfer the products (2) collected in orientated configuration inside respective alveoli (21) of the said container (20).

[4] Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the said interceptors (8) consist of an idle small roll, with axis transversal to the said feed direction (A), suited to be movable operated with alternate motion between an inactive position, in correspondence to which the same small roll (8) is suited to allow the advance of the said products (2), and an interception position, in correspondence to which the said small roll (8) is suited to hinder the advance of the said products (2) in the said feed direction (A).

[5] Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the said revolving support means (6) consist of a pair of shaped rollers, with parallel axis transversal to the said feed direction (A), suited to define between them a housing area of an individual product (2), which defines the said station of visual observation (7).

[6] Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the said shaped rollers (6) have concave profile, substantially with a shape complementary to that of the said products (2) to package.

[7] Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the said concave profile is realized through a plurality of disks (11) with different diameter, fitted suitably spaced on an input shaft (10).

[8] Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the said disks (11) are connected to the said shaft (10) through sliding coupling means in order to be able to vary the reciprocal distance depending on the size of the said products (2).

[9] Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the said visual detection means (12) consist of one camera at least, arranged above the said station of visual observation (7). [10] Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the said collection means

(13) provide, for each individual product (2) to collect in correspondence to the said station of visual observation (7), for a gripping member (16) carried axially sliding by a support body (14) movable in alternate rotation between a collection position, in correspondence to the said station of visual observation (7), and an angularly discharge position, in correspondence to which the said gripping member (16) is suited to release the collected product (2) inside a corresponding alveolus (21) of the said container (20).

[11] Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the said support body (14) is suited to be operated in rotation around the axis of the said gripping member (16), to orientate the collected product (2) in the said predetermined position, during the phase of transfer from the said station of visual observation (7) to the said alveolus (21) of the said container (20).

[12] Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the said support body (14) of the collection means (13) is made suitably revolving in order to selectively transfer the said collected products (2) to different discharge stations, depending on the quality of the same products (2) detected by the said visual detection means (12).