Description APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING FRUIT AND VEGETABLE

PRODUCTS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products and similar in mesh-material bags. Background Art

[2] It is known that to package fruits and vegetable products, such as for instance citrus fruits, onions and potatoes, mesh-material bags are usually used, of the nylon type, sometimes provided with one or more laminated-paper bands that, besides supporting in case pieces of information related to the labelling, can also be used as handles for transportation. The realization of packages of this type is, for instance, illustrated in Patents DE 4302566, EP 0446494, EP 0743251, GB 787532 A.

[3] To realize the above mentioned packages apparatuses are known, equipped with a feeding member of the products, comprising a tubular member inside which the products are gravity fed; on the outside of the feeding tubular member the mesh material is fitted, having in its turn tubular shape, as illustrated in patent GB 1307477 A. Underneath the feeding tubular member, a welding and cutting member is provided in order to realize, in suitable phase relation to the feeding of the products, the closing and cutting of the mesh material together with the laminated-paper bands, to form and separate the individual bags.

[4] A crucial phase of the packaging operation consists of feeding the section of mesh material needed to form each individual bag, underneath the feeding tubular member of the products. In fact, it has to be noted that it is generally requested the possibility to realize bags with different dimensions, both referring to the different typologies of packaged products, and to the weight of the individual packages. In the known apparatuses this operational phase is generally performed through dragging means of the mesh material, for instance consisting of a pair of brushes or belt members, suitable to make the mesh material adhere to corresponding opposite portions of the tubular member and to drag the above-mentioned portions downwards of a desired section, corresponding to the longitudinal length of the bag to obtain. The mesh material is therefore fed through sliding on the outer wall of the feeding tubular member of the products.

[5] A limit which has been highlighted in the known apparatuses is given by the fact that the cited dragging means do not suitably solve the requirement of realizing bags with different dimensions with an adequate degree of accuracy. Furthermore, it can

frequently happen that the mesh material is made slide downwards for a longer section than required, due to the weight of the products fed inside the bag. This fact can give rise to bags different one from the other, sometimes unacceptable for the production standard or, for the excessive dimensions, problematic for the handling during the following packaging phases.

Disclosure of Invention

Disclosure [6] The aim of the present invention is to overcome the cited drawbacks by devising an apparatus that allows to perform in an effective and repeatable way the packaging of fruit and vegetable products in mesh-material bags with predetermined dimensions. [7] Within this scope it is a further aim of the claimed invention to allow optimally performing the feeding of the mesh material for the formation of the bags. [8] Another aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of simple constructive and functional conception, equipped with a certainly reliable functioning, versatile in use, and also relatively economical. [9] The cited aims are reached, according to the claimed invention, by an apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products according to claim 1.

Description of Drawings [10] Description details of the invention will be further evident in the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products according to the invention, illustrated in the guidelines drawings attached, wherein: [11] Fig. 1 and 2 illustrate a perspective view respectively front and back of the apparatus according to the claimed invention; [12] Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a feeding unit of the mesh material used in the claimed apparatus;

[13] Fig. 4, 5 and 6 respectively illustrate a front, side and plan view of such feeding unit;

[14] Fig. 7, 8, 9 illustrate detail views respectively of the details A, B, C of the figures 4, 5 and 6.

Best Mode [15] With reference to such figures, 1 refers to the apparatus for packaging fruit and vegetable products in mesh-material bags, of the type comprising an upper terminal portion and a lower terminal portion, both closed through welding. [16] The apparatus 1 comprises a fixed frame 2 on which the feeding members of the fruit and vegetable products to package, some mesh material and in case some labelling bands to affix to the bag as a handle, are mounted. [17] More precisely, the fixed frame 2 has a tubular member 3, with basically vertical axis, suitable to gravity feed the products to package in a feeding area below. The

tubular member 3 is suitable to convey the products through the lower outlet end 4. The mesh material, which usually has tubular shape, not illustrated in the drawing for the sake of simplicity, is prearranged on the tubular member 3, slipped on its outer surface. In working configuration, the mesh material protrudes from the outlet end 4 of the tubular member 3 with the terminal position welded in the previous packaging cycle, as better explained below.

[18] Underneath the outlet end 4 of the tubular member 3 the apparatus 1 is provided with a basically horizontal operational surface 5, equipped with an opening 6 for the passage of a measured amount of products inserted in the mesh material during the packaging phase. The opening 6 is arranged vertically aligned with the outlet end 4. By the sides of the opening 6 the operational surface preferably comprises a pair of slits 7 to allow the passage of the labelling band. In the case illustrated, the slits 7 are suitable to receive respective bands fed by respective spools borne swivelling on horizontal pivots 8 protruding from the fixed frame 2. Each band is suitable to be diverted on suitable stretching diverters 9 borne by the fixed frame 2 by the sides of the tubular member 3, before reaching through the slits 7 the area below the operational surface 5.

[19] Underneath the operational surface 5, the welding members 10 are arranged suitable to operate the welding and cutting of the terminal portions of the mesh bag in formation. In particular are provided, in a way per se known, a pair of welding members 10 opposite facing on an horizontal drive surface, mobile with alternate motion upon control of respective actuators.

[20] The welding members 10 are suitable to operate in cooperation with a feeding unit 11 of the mesh material, which provides for transferring in a controlled way the mesh material from a collection position to an advanced position in order to allow the realization of each bag. More precisely, the feeding unit 11 bears mobile gripping tools 12, suitable to clutch a portion of the bag in formation, preferably the lower terminal portion, welded in the previous operational cycle, and in case an end portion of the labelling bands, to operate its feeding in a section corresponding to the longitudinal extension of the bag to realize. In the case illustrated, the gripping tools 12 are suitable to be operated in movement, alternatively according to a basically vertical direction, between an upper position, of collection of the terminal welded portion of the bag in formation, in correspondence to which the same gripping tools 12 are located underneath the opening 6 of the operational surface 5, and an advanced lower position, adequately spaced from the upper position, so that a portion of the bag in formation, intended to be welded to shape the upper terminal portion of the mesh bag, is brought at the welding members 10.

[21] The gripping tools 12 are preferably equipped with a pair of arms 13, hinged to form a sort of pliers to a mobile carriage 14. The arms 13 are suitable to be operated alter-

natively between an opening position reciprocally wide apart and a closing position drawn closer, through respective drive members 15, for instance consisting of pneumatic jacks. In particular, the cylinder 16 of each jack 15 is hinged to the carriage 14, while the respective rod 17 is hinged to the respective arm 13 on the free end.

[22] Inside at least one arm 13 a closing sensor 18 is preferably provided, suitable to detect the reaching of the closing configuration of the gripping tool 12. Similarly, on the carriage 14 at least one opening sensor 19 is provided, suitable to detect the presence of a respective arm 13 in wide apart position. In the case illustrated the gripping tool 12 comprises an opening sensor 19 for each arm 13. The end of each arm 13 can bear a surfacing 20 of appropriate material, suitable to facilitate the effective gripping of the mesh material.

[23] The carriage 14 is led along rectilinear guides 21 through the interposition of rolling members 22, upon operation of a mover 23, preferably of the brushless type, through flexible transmission members 24 adequately consisting of a cogged belt, which winds round a pair of cogwheels. The mover 23 is preferably associated with a member so- called encoder to control the setting in motion of the carriage 14. Furthermore, sensors 25, 26 are provided, in charge of controlling the stroke of the gripping tools 12 borne by the carriage 14. For instance, an upper end-of-stroke sensor 25, suitable to detect the presence of a respective arm 13 in the upper collection position of the lower terminal portion of the bag in formation, and a lower end-of-stroke sensor 26, suitable to detect the arrival of the same arm 13 in the lower position that allows the welding of the upper terminal portion of the bag in formation by the welding members 10.

[24] The functioning of the apparatus according to the claimed invention is easily understandable from the description above.

[25] The mesh material is slipped on the tubular member 3 with the lower terminal portion, already welded in the previous operational cycle, which protrudes from the outlet end 4 inserted through the opening 6 underneath the operational surface 5. The arms 13 of the gripping tools 12 are activated in open configuration in the upper collection position, while the welding members 10 are in an inactive position.

[26] When the upper end-of-stroke sensor 25 detects the presence of the arms 13 in the upper collection position, the jacks 15 are activated to control the closing of the gripping tool 12. The lower terminal portion of the bag is therefore clumped between the surfacing 20 of the arms 13, together with respective portions of end of the labelling bands passing through the slits 7.

[27] The mover 23 is then operated to transfer the gripping tool 12, in closed configuration, from the upper collection position to the lowered position, in order to produce the corresponding feeding of the mesh material, dragged through the opening 6 of the operational surface 5. At the same time, corresponding sections of the labelling

bands are transferred.

[28] When the lower end-of-stroke sensor 26 detects the arrival of the carriage 14 in correspondence to the lowered position, the portion of the bag intended to be the upper terminal portion is in the operational area of the welding members 10. In a known way, the feeding of a measured amount of products inside the bags is operated, gravity descending from the tubular member 3. Through the opening 6 this measured amount reaches the bag in formation, closed in correspondence to the lower terminal portion previously welded.

[29] Once the insertion of the pre-set amount of products is completed, the welding members 10 are activated to realize the welding and cutting of the upper terminal portion of the mesh bag and of the respective labelling bands. The welding realizes at the same time the separation of the formed bag and the junction of the lower terminal portion of the following bag to form. In suitable phase relation to the feeding of the products and to the welding operated by the welding members 10, the opening of the arms 13 is operated, to release the lower terminal portion of the bag in formation and to allow the discharge of the formed bag.

[30] The gripping tool 12 therefore performs the return stroke to the upper collection position, in open configuration, to start a new operational cycle, as previously described.

[31] The apparatus according to the invention reaches therefore the aim to perform in an effective and repeatable way the packaging of fruit and vegetable products in mesh- material bags with predetermined dimensions. This result is obtained in particular through the feeding unit 11, which is suitable to intercept a portion of the bag in formation and to transfer it, in controlled way, from the upper collection position to the lower release position. The feeding and return stroke of the gripping member 12 is determined in extremely precise way through the alternate movement of the carriage 14, operated by the brushless drive 23, and therefore it results repeatable in precise way, so to obtain the formation of always uniform mesh bags and according to the specific requirements.

[32] A prerogative of the invention consists in allowing an easy adjustment of the formats, in particular the longitudinal extension of the mesh bag to obtain, adequately varying the stroke of the above-mentioned carriage 14 that bears the gripping tool 12.

[33] It is clearly possible to provide for the feeding unit 11 to be arranged differently, according to the production requirements and/or of feeding of the fruit and vegetable products. For instance, the tubular member 3 and the feeding unit 11 can be arranged according to an inclined axis, in order to determine a more gradual descent of the products.

[34] Furthermore, the apparatus according to the invention results of simple and compact

construction, therefore economical and easily installable in packaging plants of any dimension. In particular, it has to be remarked that the positioning of the feeding unit 11 in the area underneath the operational surface 5 allows an easy access to it, in case of adjustment or to carry out the scheduled maintenance.

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

[36] Where technical features mentioned in any claims 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.