PLANT PRODUCT CONVEYOR SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20100270124A1
• Filed: 10/08/2008
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sunkist Growers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunkist Growers Incorporated
• Inventors: Gadea, David E., Heck, Richard D.
• Application Number:
  US12/682,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20100270124A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/468.600
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/046 in crates or boxes B65B25/045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 35/44 by endless belts or chains B65B35/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 5/068 in trays B65B5/061 - B65B5/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/001 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the product to be packaged
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 59/003 Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 17/002 comprising load carriers resting on the traction element
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 35/06 comprising a load-carrier moving along a path, e.g. a closed path, and adapted to be engaged by any one of a series of traction elements spaced along the path effecting drive at two or more points spaced along the length of an endless conveyor B65G23/32

Abstract

A conveyor method and apparatus for transporting and presenting plant products, such as fruit, vegetables, or similar articles, to a pick-up device on a packing machine which packs plant products in cartons by layer. The conveyor comprises a frame, a set of pulleys and belts within the frame, and a set of pre-formed, interchangeable pattern plates that are readily replaceable by alternative pattern plates. The method comprises loading the pre-formed, interchangeable pattern plates at a loading end of the conveyor and transporting them to a pick-up end of the conveyor where the articles are unloaded by a pick-up head on a packing machine.

Claims

1. A plant product conveying apparatus for moving plant products to be packed, comprising:

at least one pattern plate structured with recesses, depressions, or holes, each recess, depression, or hole operative to stationarily hold one of a plurality of plant products, arranged in an array for packing said plant products;

a plate movement mechanism for moving a plate laterally between a loading position and an unloading position;

first moving means at said loading position for moving the at least one pattern plate onto the plate movement mechanism; and

second moving means at said unloading position for unloading the at least one pattern plate.

2. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1, said first moving means further comprising means for vertically moving the at least one pattern plate between at least a first height for engaging a pattern plate and a second height for disengaging a pattern plate.

3. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1, said second moving means further comprising means for vertically moving the at least one pattern plate between at least a first height for engaging a pattern plate and a second height for disengaging a pattern plate.

4. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one pattern plate has a preformed pattern that matches a specific size and/or shape of plant product.

5. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plate movement mechanism comprises at least one belt for moving said plate and at least one track for guiding said plate.

6. The conveyor apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first moving means comprises a platen and an actuator coupled to the platen.

7. The conveyor apparatus of claim 3, wherein the second moving means comprises a platen and an actuator coupled to the platen.

8. The conveyor apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a hydraulic, mechanical and electrical actuator.

9. The conveyor apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuator comprises at least one of a hydraulic, mechanical and electrical actuator.

10. The conveyor apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a computer-based controller coupled to said plate moving mechanism, said first moving means and said second moving means for detecting operation and controlling operation thereof.

11. The conveyor apparatus of claim 11 further comprising gates, proximate to said first moving means and said second moving means, and operating under control of said computer-based controller, for delivering plates one by one.

12. A conveyor apparatus for moving plant products to be packed, comprising:

a plurality of pattern plates structured with recesses, each recess operative to stationarily hold one of a plurality of plant products, arranged in an array for packing said plant products;

a plate movement mechanism for moving a plate between a loading position and an unloading position, said mechanism comprising at least one belt for conveying said plates and a motorized drive to move said at least one belt;

first vertical moving means at said loading position for moving the at least one pattern plate onto the at least one belt;

second vertical moving means at said unloading position for unloading the at least one pattern plate from the at least one belt; and

unpacking means disposed at unloading positions for unloading the plant products from the pattern plates into cartons.

13. The conveyor apparatus of claim 12, wherein the pattern plates are individually elevated to an underside of a top section of the belt at the loading position, and lowered to a top side of a bottom section of the belt at the unloading position.

14. A method of conveying plant products to a packing machine, comprising:

providing a pattern plate for loading, said pattern plate being structured with recesses, each recess operative to stationarily hold one of a plurality of plant products, arranged in an array for packing said plant products;

filling a pattern plate with plant products to be packed,

loading the pattern plate onto a horizontal conveying means at a loading position;

moving the pattern plate, while holding the plant products to be packed, from the loading position to an unloading position;

unloading the plant products from the pattern plate; and

moving an empty pattern plate from the unloading position back to the loading position.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plant products to be packed are fruits or vegetables, the method further comprising replacing a first type pattern plate with a second type pattern plate to suit a change in size or shape of a plant product to be packed.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the moving step between the loading position and unloading position is conducted by at least one moving belt.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the loading step further comprises moving a pattern plate from a first vertical position to a second vertical position at a delivery side of the belt and the unloading step further comprises moving a pattern plate from a second vertical position to the first vertical position at a return side of the belt.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the delivery side is one of a top side and a bottom side of the belt, and the return side is the other of the top side and the bottom side of the belt.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising packing said plant product in containers upon unloading.