Mushroom packing apparatus

• US 6,955,031 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2001
• Issued: 10/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axis Systems Incorporated (Cadence Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Axis Systems Incorporated (Cadence Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Doake, Ivan, Doake, Neville
• Primary Examiner(s): Gerrity, Stephen F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESAI, HEMANT
• Application Number:
  US10/363,592
• Publication Number:
  US 20040099467A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,505 Days
• Field of Search: 532/44, 532/50, 532/51, 532/52, 535/02, 535/04, 535/42, 563/271, 563/281, 450/123, 450/144, 450/145, 450/149, 450/150
• US Class Current: 53/502
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 25/04 Packaging fruit or vegetables
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 15/00 Arrangements for check-weighing of materials dispensed into removable containers packaging aspects B65B; electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a mushroom packing apparatus comprising a grading conveyor and a plurality of locations distributed under a longitudinal axis of the grading conveyor, each location being provided, in use, with a container for collecting the mushrooms as they are deposited from the grading conveyor. The apparatus is arranged to weigh the respective container at each location and to facilitate removal of the loaded container once the loaded container has reached a predetermined weight, the apparatus being further adapted to replace each loaded container with an empty container once the respective loaded container has reached a predetermined weight.

Claims

1. A mushroom packing apparatus comprising a grading conveyor;

a plurality of locations distributed under a longitudinal axis of the grading conveyor, each location being provided with a container for collecting the mushrooms as they are deposited from the grading conveyor, the apparatus being arranged to weigh the respective container at each location;

characterised in that each loaded container is replaced with an empty container once the respective loaded container has reached a predetermined weight by providing a transporter at each location, the transporter being in operative association with the respective container, the transporter being arranged to transfer the container, when loaded, laterally from beneath the grading conveyor with respect to the longitudinal axis, and to locate an empty container beneath the grading conveyor; and

a lateral conveyor which runs adjacent each location, onto which lateral conveyor the transporter deposits the loaded containers, in order that the loaded containers be conveyed from the apparatus.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which each location includes a weighing pan on which the respective container is seated.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 in which each weighing pan is shaped and dimensioned to support an empty container adjacent the container being loaded, the transporter operable to reversibly displace the weighing pan such that the loaded container is transferred from beneath the grading conveyor, while the empty container is simultaneously transferred beneath the grading conveyor.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each location includes a support table located above and out of contact with the respective weighing pan, the support table being in operative association with the transporter such that the support table is maintained above the weighing pan as the weighing pan is reversibly displaced.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the apparatus includes a stop associated with each location, the stop arranged to engage the respective empty container when located beneath the grading conveyor, to hold the empty container beneath the grading conveyor as the transporter retracts the weighing pan.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the stop is further arranged to engage the respective loaded container once the loaded container has been transferred from beneath the grading conveyor, to prevent the loaded container from being drawn back beneath the grading conveyor as the transporter retracts the weigh pan.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the apparatus is provided with a signal generator operable to alert an operator, once a predetermined number of empty containers within any of the magazines has been reached, that the respective magazine requires refilling.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the apparatus is provided with a magazine in operative association with each location, each magazine containing a number of empty containers, the magazine being adapted to deposit an empty container at the respective location as required.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which the apparatus includes a storage compartment into which the lateral conveyor feeds the loaded containers.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 in which the storage compartment is removably secured to the apparatus in order to facilitate the removal of the storage compartment once full.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 in which the apparatus is mobile in order to permit the apparatus to be driven between the rows of mushroom beds.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 which includes sensors adapted to guide the apparatus, as the apparatus is driven, between the rows of mushroom beds.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 which is shaped and dimensioned to pass between adjacent rows of mushroom beds in a mushroom house.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1 which includes a controller adapted to halt the grading conveyor while any loaded container is being replace with an empty container, and to restart the grading conveyor once said replacement has been effected.

15. An apparatus according to claim 1 in which a warning signal is generated once a predetermined number of loaded containers have been deposited in the storage compartment.