Dispensing mechanism for a produce packaging machine
First Claim
1. In an automated produce packaging system (12) for packaging produce (2) into containers (4) carried on a conveyer (20), a dispensing mechanism (10) for dispensing a volume of produce in to the container carried past the dispensing mechanism by the conveyer, the dispensing mechanism (10) comprising:
- hopper (40) elevated above and spaced laterally from the containers carried by the conveyer, the hopper (40) defining an interior for receiving produce therein, including interior partitions (46, 48) for dividing the hopper interior into a first interior area (50) and a second interior area (60), and having a first opening (53) for dispensing produce form the first interior area into the second interior area and a second opening (63) for dispensing produce from the second interior area into the containers;
first gate means (52) disposed within the interior of the hopper for metering produce through the first opening from first interior area into the second interior area so as to maintain a constant volume of produce within the second area;
second gate means (62) disposed within the hopper for metering the produce through the second opening from the second interior area at a substantially constant rate of flow; and
means (70, 80) for directing produce from the second gate means laterally into the containers at a selectable angle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispensing mechanism for metering produce into “clam shell” type containers carried past the dispensing mechanism by a conveyer, as part of an automated conveyer driven packaging system. The dispensing mechanism includes a side mounted hopper, a guide shoot, and a pair of elongated produce stops. The interior of the hopper is divided by internal partitions into a large bin and a dispensing queue. The body of the hopper has an inclined floor, and converging side and end walls that funnel produce toward two vertically oriented metering gates. One gate meters produce from the large bin into the queue and the second gate meters produce from the hopper into the containers. The guide shoot is pivotally connected to the hopper beneath the second gate. The guide shoot directs the produce from the hopper into the moving containers as they are carried along the conveyer. The produce stops are located in front of the shoot and run directly over and substantially parallel to the conveyer track to prevent the loss of produce and direct the produce into the center of the container base.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. In an automated produce packaging system (12) for packaging produce (2) into containers (4) carried on a conveyer (20), a dispensing mechanism (10) for dispensing a volume of produce in to the container carried past the dispensing mechanism by the conveyer, the dispensing mechanism (10) comprising:
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hopper (40) elevated above and spaced laterally from the containers carried by the conveyer, the hopper (40) defining an interior for receiving produce therein, including interior partitions (46, 48) for dividing the hopper interior into a first interior area (50) and a second interior area (60), and having a first opening (53) for dispensing produce form the first interior area into the second interior area and a second opening (63) for dispensing produce from the second interior area into the containers;
first gate means (52) disposed within the interior of the hopper for metering produce through the first opening from first interior area into the second interior area so as to maintain a constant volume of produce within the second area;
second gate means (62) disposed within the hopper for metering the produce through the second opening from the second interior area at a substantially constant rate of flow; and
means (70, 80) for directing produce from the second gate means laterally into the containers at a selectable angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In an automated produce packaging system (12) for packaging produce (2) into containers (4) carried on a conveyer (20), a dispensing mechanism (10) for dispensing a volume of produce into the container carried past the dispensing mechanism by the conveyer, the dispensing mechanism (10) comprising:
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hopper (40) elevated above and spaced laterally from the containers carried by the conveyer, the hopper (40) defining an interior for receiving produce therein, including interior partitions (46, 48) for dividing the hopper interior into a first interior area (50) and a second interior area (60), and having a first opening (53) for dispensing produce form the first interior area into the second interior area and a second opening (63) for dispensing produce from the second interior area into the containers;
first gate means (52) disposed within the interior of the hopper for metering the produce through the first opening from the first interior area into the second interior area so as to maintain a constant volume of produce within the second area;
second gate means (62) disposed within the hopper for metering the produce through the second opening from the second interior area at a substantially constant rate of flow;
an elongated shoot (70) for transporting the produce dispensed from the second gate means laterally into the containers;
hinge (76) for pivotally connecting one end of the shoot to the hopper adjacent the second opening to selectively position the other end of the shoot over the container at varying angles so as to regulate the speed of the produce dispensed into the container;
two elongated arms (82) for deflecting produce dispensed from the second gate means and moving off the shoot into the container; and
means (84, 86-89) for selectively suspending the arms over the container and atop one another so as to deflect produce falling from the shoot into the container. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification