Apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit

• US 5,072,100 A
• Filed: 01/12/1990
• Issued: 12/10/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mcclusky Machinery Sales & Service
• Original Assignee: Mcclusky Machinery Sales & Service
• Inventors: Boyd, Jerry L., McClusky, Stanley
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Eddie C.
• Application Number:
  US07/464,183
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 235/98 R-98 C, 235/99 R, 377/6, 377/15
• US Class Current: 235/98.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/046 in crates or boxes B65B25/045 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit. The box is then conveyed into a box vibrating and pressure applying station in which the box is conveyed through a passageway which slowly decreases in height from its entrance to its exit end. In travel of the box along this passageway, the sides of the box are held by moving side conveyors, the bottom of the box contacts a bottom conveyor and the side and end flaps which have been folded over are brought into contact with a top belt conveyor which progressively increases pressure against the closed inner box part. When the box exits the vibratory and pressure applying station, the box enters a box invertor in which the box is turned 180° in order to present the outer box on top, which when removed, discloses a top layer of fruit arranged in uniform closely spaced rows.

Claims

1. An apparatus for singulating and counting a plurality of fruit, comprising:

means for conveying a plurality of discrete fruit along a selected path;

means, disposed adjacent to and transversely of said fruit path, for collecting said plurality of discrete fruit, said collecting means including means for oscillating said collecting means in a direction transverse to said fruit path;

a plurality of counting stalls arranged in a row parallel to the direction of oscillatory movement of said collecting means, said row of counting stall operable to receive fruit from said collecting means and having a first end stall and a second end stall;

means for counting each fruit at each of said counting stalls;

means for ejecting counted fruit from said counting stalls; and

ram means for moving said fruit out of each counting stall for discharge onto a downwardly inclined discharge apron.

2. An apparatus for singulating and counting a plurality of fruit comprising:

means for conveying a plurality of discrete fruit along a selected path;

means, disposed adjacent to and transversely of said fruit path, for collecting said plurality of discrete fruit, said collecting means including means for oscillating said collecting means in a direction transverse to said fruit path;

a plurality of counting stalls arranged in a row parallel to the direction of oscillatory movement of said collecting means, said row of counting stalls operable to receive fruit from said collecting means and having a first end stall and a second end stall;

means for counting each fruit at each of said counting stalls;

means for ejecting counted fruit from said counting stalls; and

each of said counting stalls include a valley adjacent to each of said counting means for holding a counted fruit until the row is completed.

3. An apparatus for singulating and counting a plurality of fruit, comprising:

means for conveying a plurality of discrete fruit along a selected path;

means, disposed adjacent to and transversely of said fruit path, for collecting said plurality of discrete fruit, said collecting means including means for oscillating said collecting means in a direction transverse to said fruit path;

a plurality of counting stalls arranged in a row parallel to the direction of oscillatory movement of said collecting means, said row of counting stalls operable to receive fruit from said collecting means and having a first end stall and a second end stall;

means for counting each fruit at each of said counting stalls;

means for ejecting counted fruit from said counting stalls; and

a supplemental count stall located adjacent to either said first end stall or said second end stall of said row of counting stalls for providing a dribble count.

4. An apparatus for counting a plurality of discrete articles conveyed along a selected path, comprising:

means for temporarily collecting a plurality of said articles on an inclined surface having a width greater than a width of one article, said inclined surface having a raised end and a lowered end;

means for imparting transverse oscillatory motion to said articles on said inclined surface;

a row of stalls at said lowered end of said inclined surface for receiving said articles, one article for each stall;

each of said stalls including a downwardly inclined bottom wall having a lower end and a counting means at the lower end of said bottom wall; and

means for raising said stall bottom walls for discharge of said articles over said counting means when said articles in said row of stalls have been counted.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein

said means for raising said stall bottom walls includes a ram means for moving said articles out of each counting stall on to a discharge apron.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said ram means includes:

a member provided with said inclined bottom walls and extending beneath each of said stalls.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including:

a separate stall aligned with said row of stalls,

an inclined separate bottom walls, and

and separate counting means for said separate stall; and

separate means for raising separate bottom wall of said separate stall for discharge of an article therein to provide a single article count.