IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO ARTICLE PACKING MACHINES

STATEMENT OF CORRESPONDING APPLICATIONS

This application is based on the Provisional specification filed in relation to New Zealand Patent Application Number 545851 , the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvements in the automated packing of articles into receptacles.

BACKGROUND ART

It is well known to have an automatic packing process to facilitate the placement of product within a container. Such apparatus come in variable forms depending on the requirements of the situation often depending on the container shape or nature, or the type of articles to be packed.

Automated packing apparatus are advantageous because they allow companies to continue manufacturing and packaging products during labour shortages. These types of machines are also cheaper than hiring labour to perform repetitive tasks and can perform tasks faster and more consistently than a worker.

In many situations it is desirable to insert a liner such as a plastic bag into a container prior to product being packed into the container. This is often a regulator requirement or necessary to prevent moisture loss and damage to product. However, in automated systems it is difficult to complete this step; plastic bags are generally stored in a stack or store and must be individually selected prior to insertion into the container. Further, there are numerous other problems such as

opening the container prior to insertion of the plastic bag, closing the bag after insertion of a product, ensuring that the bag is entirely within the container and even closing the container.

A brief description of selected apparatus currently available follows to provide background for the present invention

US Patent No. 3678625 is for a bag opening apparatus which utilises a stream of air across a store of bags. Bags are stored in a substantially vertical position, and a stream of air is passed across the openings of the bag in such a way that only the top bag is forced to open due to the stream of air.

However, this invention is not particularly successful in ensuring that only the top bag of the stack is exposed and opened by the stream of air. Further, it is difficult to configure the stream of air in such a manner that the efficient and accurate opening of the top bag occurs.

United States Patent No. 3903677 is for an opening and gripping mechanism to facilitate the automatic bagging of produce. It is predominately for use with factory roll polyethylene net tubing and so can not be used with bags of different types.

United States No. 4172349 is also an automated bagging machine. A bag is secured in an initial position and an extendable arm secures to a side of the bag opposite to the initial contact. This second connection is retracted such that the bag is moved to an open configuration. The bag is then able to be filled with product before being closed and sealed. However, the invention disclosed in this patent application suffers from the disadvantage that it is unable to easily grip the plastic bag in such a manner that it can easily be moved to an open configuration and subsequently filled. Further, this patent does not disclose an invention which can be easily utilised with products to be placed in a container subsequent to the filling of the bag.

European Patent No. 0309112 is an apparatus to open a bag placed in a horizontal position. The apparatus consists of a clamp which applies pressure to the bag in two positions using (a) a first contact which prevents movement of the two surfaces of the bag relative to each other, and (b) a second contact comprised of a rubber pad attached to the apparatus via a spring loaded mechanism. The second contact point is sufficient to prevent movement of the top surface of the bag relative to the second contact point but does not hinder movement of the two surfaces of the bag relative to each other.

The second contact point is moved via a pneumatically driven arm towards the first contact point causing a region of the top panel of the bag to buckle. This buckled region of the bag is effectively clamped between the first and second contact points and the entire apparatus is lifted to open the bag. This invention is difficult to implement and produces variable results. Often it will open two bags instead of one or fail to open a single bag. It has been found that the invention disclosed in this document is dependant on the amount of pressure applied to a bag using the second arm. If a minor change in this pressure occurs then the invention will not operate successfully. This is less than advantageous.

United States Patent No. 3889449 is a device used to open, fill, and seal a plastic bag. Bags are initially positioned adjacent to the outlet of a filling shoot. The bags are then partially bent in such a manner as to cause the partial separation of the mouth of the bags. Once this has occurred, a blast of air or other gaseous fluid is directed over the lip of the bag causing the bag to open to a sufficient extent to receive material from the filling shoot.

All references, including any patents or patent applications cited in this specification are hereby incorporated by reference. No admission is made that any reference constitutes prior art. The discussion of the references states what their authors assert, and the applicants reserve the right to challenge the accuracy and

pertinency of the cited documents. It will be clearly understood that, although a number of prior art publications are referred to herein, this reference does not constitute an admission that any of these documents form part of the common general knowledge in the art, in New Zealand or in any other country.

It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term 'comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components it directly references, but also other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method or process.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging manipulation apparatus which includes,

locating assembly configured to locate a bag,

said locating assembly being configured to expose a surface of said bag

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging manipulation apparatus substantially as described herein,

wherein the locating assembly includes two moveable plates configured to move towards each other.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging manipulation apparatus which includes at least one pair of bag drawing jaws configured to move towards and away from a bag,

wherein each of said jaws includes an indented contact surface.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a packaging manipulation apparatus substantially as described above which includes at least one gripping mechanism,

wherein the gripping mechanism is configured to secure the bag in an open position.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manipulating packaging which includes the step of:

Exposing a surface of a bag,.

characterised in that exposing the surface occurs prior to engaging the bag.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manipulating packaging substantially as described above which includes the step of engaging the bag with a pair of bag drawing jaws.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manipulating packaging substantially as described above, said step of engaging the bag with a pair of bag drawing jaws occurs using jaws with an indented surface.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manipulating packaging substantially as described above which includes the step of engaging the opened bag with at least one gripping mechanism.

Throughout the body of the present specification, the term "locating assembly" should be understood to mean an aspect of the present invention which is configured to expose a surface of a bag.

Throughout the body of the present specification, the term "expose a surface of the bag" should be understood to mean placing the bag in a position from where it can be engaged by a pair of bag drawing jaws.

Throughout the body of the present specification the term "bag drawing jaws" should be understood to mean a component of the present invention configured to engage the exposed edge of the bag.

Throughout the body of the present specification the term "at least one gripping mechanism" should be understood as referring to a device which grasps the bag from the bag drawing jaws.

Throughout the body of the present specification the term "box opening mechanism" should be understood to be a reference to a component part of the

packaging manipulation apparatus which opens a box prior to packing of articles into the box.

Throughout the body of the present specification the term "sealer" should be understood to mean a component part of the packaging manipulation apparatus which closes the bag subsequent to it being filled.

Throughout the body of the present specification, reference will be made to a bag or a stack of bags as these are the preferred embodiment of the present invention. However, the inventor envisages that the present invention could be equally effective when used with other flexible materials such as plastic sheeting.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locating assembly may be a pair of plates moveable about a central axis. The plates have on their top edge a means to secure a bag stack such as a series of hooks which penetrate through the bag stack.

Preferably, the plates rotate about the central axis so that the edge of each plate moves towards the edge of the other plate. In doing so, the inside edge of each plate stays in substantially the same position it was in as before the plates rotate. This causes the locating assembly to expose a surface of the bag so that it can be engaged by the bag drawing jaws.

In this embodiment of the present invention, the exposed surface of the bag remains in a position closer to the bag drawing jaws than the edges of the bag drawn backwards by the rotation of the plates.

Further, this rotating motion applies tension to the bag, making it easier for the bag drawing jaws to engage the exposed surface of the bag as will be discussed in detail below.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention and alternatives are envisaged for the locating assembly. These alternatives include a pair of plates which move towards each other thereby crunching the bag to expose a surface of said bag.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locating assembly may be mounted on a carousal capable of rotating between at least two positions.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention and other embodiments for mounting and positioning the locating assembly are envisaged as within the scope of the present invention. Examples of such embodiments include moving the bag in a linear manner rather than a rotational manner.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locating assembly may be configured to receive a stack of bags.

The preferred embodiment of the locating assembly is advantageous because the inventor has found that applying tension to the bag makes it easier for the bag drawing jaws to engage and open a bag as will be discussed in detail below. Further, the preferred embodiment of the locating assembly is easy to engineer and compact so that the present invention is less bulky that currently available products.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the locating assembly exposes a surface of the bag by applying tension to the bag.

Preferably, the application of tension is achieved using the locating assembly as described herein.

Tensioning the bag prior is advantageous as it allows the bag drawing jaws to engage with only one surface of the bag as will be discussed in detail below.

However, this should not be seen as limiting and other means to expose a surface of the bag are envisaged as within the scope of the present invention. This includes scrunching the bag using two plates which move towards each other.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bag. drawing jaws may be made from rubber and have an indented contact surface. In this embodiment, the pair of jaws will be mounted on a pneumatic arm which can move the jaws towards and away from the bag.

Preferably, the indented surface of the jaws may have a stepped profile so that the inside point of each jaws is thicker than the tip.

Preferably, the jaws are able to move independently of each other in a lateral motion. These jaws move inwards to engage a bag and secure the exposed surface in a clamping manner.

Preferably, the jaws are capable of flexing.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention and configurations envisaged include bag drawing jaws with a flat or curved surface, or a pair of jaws which are not moved towards the stack of bags.

The pneumatic arm moves the jaws towards the bag stack so that they can engage the stack. The jaws then move laterally towards each other, engaging the bag. When the jaws engage the surface of the bag, they are unable to completely close so that the inside edge of the jaws are touching. However, the flexible nature of the preferred embodiment is such that the jaws will still engage and grasp a surface of the bag. Then, as the jaws are withdrawn they continue to close so that eventually the inside edge of the jaws secure an edge of the bag between them.

As the jaws continue to withdraw, the bag slips through the jaws so that they retain only one surface of the bag.

It is the inventor's experience that using a pair of bag drawing jaws with an indented contact surface ensures that the present invention is able to efficiently engage only one edge of a bag. Further, it is believed that having jaws which are capable of flexing helps the jaws to only grasp one surface of the exposed bag. It may be that the flexing of the jaws helps the jaws to secure only the exposed surface of the bag and thereby affect opening of the bag.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the gripping mechanism is positioned above the opened bag.

In the preferred embodiment, the gripping mechanism is formed from four stainless steel limbs which are capable of insertion into the opened bag.

The limbs are capable of moving between an insertion position and an opening position. When in the insertion position two of the limbs are in a substantially vertical position while two of said limbs are in a position of approximately 30 degrees from the vertical.

The limbs are inserted into the opened bag and moved in an outwards direction such that they meet a horizontal limb. As this movement occurs the limbs at a 30 degree angle from the vertical are returned to the vertical. Each limb will continue to move laterally until it abuts the horizontal limb. As the limbs meet they act to secure the bag between them.

However, this should not be seen as limiting and any arrangement for the gripping mechanism is envisaged as within the scope of the present invention. Alternatives include a gripping mechanism which has three pairs of limbs or limbs which are not at an angle away from the vertical.

At the same time as the gripping mechanism secures the bag, the bag drawing jaws release the bag and are retracted.

The gripping mechanism then moves downwards so that the opened bag is inserted into the box. This can be achieved using techniques known to one skilled in the art.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the packaging manipulation apparatus includes a box opening mechanism.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the box opening mechanism is formed from a support frame, a pair of downward members attached to the support frame, and a pair of pivotable members attached to the distal end of the downward members from the support frame.

However, this should not be seen as a limitation on the present invention and alternative configurations for the box opening mechanism are envisaged as within the scope of the present invention. These alternative configurations include a mechanism with a single downward member or one which does not utilise pivotable members.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the packaging manipulation apparatus includes a sealer.

It is not necessary for the sealer to completely close the bag by a technique such as the application of temperature to the bag. In some situations it may be sufficient for the sealor to fold the bag over itself to prevent the release of moisture or the easy passage of unwanted matter into the bag.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the sealer is a pair of horizontal plates positioned opposite each other. The plates move towards each

other so that they overlap but do not touch. This movement pushes opposite sides of the bag thereby folding the bag. The plates then retract leaving the bag folded.

Preferably, the plates have brushes or a flexible membrane positioned below them so that they can assist in the operation of the present invention by pushing the bag into the box.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention and other embodiments envisaged for the sealer include the application of temperature to the bag to facilitate its closure.

This folding motion is beneficial as it ensures the edges of the bag do not extend past the sides of the bag and allows the bag to be tucked into the box as will be described in detail below. It is also easy to engineer and allows a bag to be easily folded from a variety of positions - often a difficult task to automate.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the packaging manipulation apparatus may include a box closing mechanism.

Preferably, the box closing mechanism includes an assembly configured to lift the lid of the box into a raised position and a horizontal plate configured to press the box lid down from this raised position.

The preferred embodiment of the lid lifting mechanism is a pair of downward members attached to a support frame, each member having a finger attached to the members at an end distal from the support frame.

The frame is moved downwards so that the fingers pass below the bottom edge of the lid. The frame is then raised and the fingers engage the edge of the box. As the frame is lifted, the fingers act against the edges of the lid to raise the lid to a substantially vertical position. The horizontal plate then moves downwards so that it touches the top edges of the box lid pushing these down and closing the box.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the horizontal plate may have a pair of moveable end sections positioned at angle from the horizontal plate towards the box below. As the horizontal plate is moved down, it is the moveable end sections which touch the box's lid flaps and force them closed. The horizontal plate then continues to move downwards and the moveable end sections rotate away from the box.

As the moveable end sections are capable of rotating, they ensure that the horizontal plate can close the box completely.

However, this should not be seen as limiting the present invention and other embodiments for the box closing mechanism are envisaged as within the scope of the present invention. Alternatives may include a closing mechanism which does not include a horizontal plate to close the box or utilise a different configuration to lift the lid.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the box closing mechanism's support frame may also have two vertical plates attached to it. As the support frame moves downwards, the vertical plates engage the overlapped edges of the bag and push these down within the box. The use of these plates ensures that the bag is completely enclosed within the box with no edges extending outside.

However, it is also envisaged as within the scope of the present invention that a single vertical plate could be used to tuck the bag within the box, that no method is used to perform this step or that other variations could be utilised.

In a preferred embodiment the present invention may include two stations where different tasks can be performed by the packaging manipulation apparatus.

Preferably, the first station may include the box opening mechanism, locating assembly, bag drawing jaws, gripping mechanism and the sealer while the second station may include the box closing mechanism.

However, this should no be seen as limiting and the inventor envisages that the present invention could equally be implemented using a single station or more than two stations.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method of manipulating packaging may include any of the following steps,

grasping a substantially open bag,

inserting a substantially open bag into a box,

filling a bag and/or box with produce,

sealing the bag,

tucking a bag into a box,

closing the box.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, these steps are achieved using the apparatus substantially as described herein.

However, this should not be seen as a limitation on the present invention and other embodiments are envisaged by the inventor including a method which does not include tucking a bag into a box or which does not close the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic side-on view of the box opening mechanism of the present invention;

Figure 2 Is a schematic elevation view of the present invention locating a bag, engaging the bag and bringing the bag into a substantially opened position;

Figure 3 Is a combined side-on and elevation schematic diagram of the present invention exposing a surface of the bag, engaging the bag and bringing the bag into a substantially opened position;

Figure 4 Is a side-on schematic diagram of the gripping mechanism inserting a bag into the box and the sealer closing the bag.

Figure 5 Is a schematic elevation view of the sealer.

Figure 6 Is a schematic side-on view of the box closing mechanism of the present invention.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures above, there is provided an apparatus for the automated packing of articles into containers.

Reference will be made herein to operation of the present invention with the packing of Kiwifruit into boxes and in particular the insertion of a plastic bag into a box prior to Kiwifruit entering the box. However, it should be appreciated that the

present invention is equally applicable to packing other articles into boxes, and the packing of articles with or without a plastic bag or using another form of flexible material such as a plastic sheet.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a packaging manipulation apparatus which includes two stations (not shown). The first station includes a box opening mechanism (1 ), a locating assembly (2), bag drawing jaws (3), gripping mechanism (4), and a closing mechanism (5).

A box (6) enters the first station and is brought to a stop by techniques known to one skilled in the art such as a conveyer belt and a physical barrier at a predetermined point. The apparatus to control the motion of the box are not shown.

The box has four walls and a bottom surface which define its dimensions. The lid of the box is formed from two hinged flaps (7a and 7b) attached to the width of the box, often these flaps do not meet in the middle and this forms a gap which ensures that the box can be easily opened.

The box opening mechanism includes a support frame (8), two downward members (9a and 9b), and pivotable members (10a and 10b) attached to the downward members. The support frame is capable of moving vertically by techniques known to one skilled in the art such as pneumatic arms or other drive mechanisms.

The pivotable members are attached to the downward members so that they are perpendicular to the downward members as shown in Figure 1A. The perpendicular members are free to rotate towards the vertical about the point where they are attached to the downward members to one where they are substantially aligned with or touching the downward members.

Once the box has entered the first station, the box opening mechanism is positioned over the container and the support is lowered such that the downward members penetrate into the box. In doing so, the pivotable members rotate as shown in Figure 1 B so that they do not prevent the opening mechanism from entering into the box.

Once the entire length of the pivotal members has passed through the flaps of the box, gravity acts to force them back to their perpendicular position. Figure 1 C shows the opening mechanism with the pivotable members within the box. At this time, the support frame raises and the pivotal members engage the flaps of the box thereby causing the flaps to lift as shown in Figure 1 D.

The downward members are then drawn to the outside edges of the support frame causing the box's flaps to rotate back over its side walls (Figure 1 E). The frame then lowers again, causing the downward members to push the box's lid flaps down thereby pushing the flaps against the walls of the box. This position is shown in Figure 1 F.

A carousel (not shown) rotates to position the locating assembly so that a bag stack (11 ) is facing towards the bag drawing jaws. The basic position and orientation of the stack and jaws is shown in Figure 2A.

The locating assembly is formed from two moveable plates (12A and 12B)

The two movable plates (not shown) pivot about an axis aligned with substantially the vertical center of the bag stack. This pivoting motion causes the locating assembly to apply a lateral tension to at least the front bag (13) of the stack and expose the central axis of the bag stack to the bag drawing jaws.

The bag drawing jaws then move towards the bag stack via a pneumatic arm (14) known to one skilled in the art. The exposed surface of the bag and the forward motion of the jaws are shown in Figure 2B.

The bag drawing jaws have an indented surface (15) which is stepped from the hinge point of the jaws to the outside edge of each jaw. The jaws are made from a flexible material such as rubber. This is advantageous as it allows the bag drawing jaws to grasp only the front surface of the front bag and to flex when engaging the bag.

The jaws close and engage the front surface of the bag stack (Figure 2C). As can be seen from Figures 2C and 2D, the jaws flex about the exposed surface of the bag.

The jaws are then retracted (Figure 2E). As this occurs the bag stack slips between the jaws until the jaws are engaging only one edge of the front bag of the stack. The jaws continue to withdraw drawing the engaged edge of the bag away from the bag stack. The inside edge of the jaws close and secure the edge of the bag.

The opposite edge of the bag is retained by the locating assembly and the action of the retracting jaws acts to bring the bag into a substantially open position (Figure 2F).

Figure 3 shows the position of the bag drawing jaws relative to the locating assembly in an elevation and side-on views. Figure 3A it can clearly be seen that the jaws are open and in front of the stack of bags. Figure 3B shows the plates after they have rotated to expose a surface of the bag. The jaws are clearly on either side of the exposed surface of the bag.

Figures 3C and 3D show how the jaws close to engage the exposed surface of the bag and how the jaws flex as they engage the bag.

Figure 3E shows the jaws as they are retracted. From the elevation view it can be clearly seen that the jaws close together and secure a surface of the bag between them. As the jaws continue to withdraw they move the bag into a substantially open position as can be seen in Figure 3F.

Once the bag is in a substantially open position, the gripping mechanism is initiated. The gripping mechanism has four stainless steel limbs, two of which are shown as (16A) and (16B). Each limb has a series of rubber pads (not shown) which help the gripping mechanism to grasp the bag and hold onto it.

The gripping mechanism is movable between an insertion position (not shown) and an engagement position. In the insertion position, two of the limbs are held at approximately 30 degrees from the vertical while two of the limbs are substantially vertical. The limbs are then lowered into the bag and move to the engagement position as shown in Figure 4A.

The engagement position is where the internal limbs move to meet with a horizontal limb (17). In doing so the limbs at approximately 30 degrees rotate so that they are substantially vertical.

The gripping mechanism then moves downwards so that it inserts the bag into the box (Figure 4A).

A dispenser chute (not shown) is folded down and fruit is delivered into the opened bag by techniques known to one skilled in the art such as an industry standard conveyer belt.

The horizontal plates which form the sealer (6A and 6B) move towards each other so they overlap but do not touch. In doing so they push opposite sides of the bag

overtop of each other thereby folding the bag. These plates also have brushes (not shown) secured to their underside which assist in pushing the bag into the box.

The plates then retract leaving the bag folded. This is shown sequentially in Figure 4B - 4D. Alternatively, Figure 5A-5D shows this motion of the sealer from an elevation view. The plates can clearly be seen to be overlapping in Figure 5B to affect folding of the bag. The retraction of the plates is shown in Figure 5D

The box containing the filled and folded bag moves to the second station (not shown) via the conveyer belt which brought it into the first station. The second station includes the box closing mechanism (5) formed from the lid lifting mechanism (18) and the horizontal plate. The lid lifting mechanism includes a support frame (19), two downward members (2OA and 20B), a finger attached to each downward member (121 A and 21 B), and two vertical plates attached (one shown as 22) to the support frame.

The horizontal plate has moveable end sections (23A and 23B) and is able to move up and down so that it does not strike the lid lifting mechanism. This is achieved via techniques known to one skilled in the arm such as pneumatic arms.

Once the box has come to a complete stop in the second station, the box closing mechanism is engaged. First, the lid lifting mechanism moves downwards so that the vertical plates push or tuck the edges of the folded bag into the box (Figure 6B).

As this downward motion occurs, the fingers move past the lid flaps of the box (also shown in Figure 6B). Once the fingers have passed the entire length of the lid flaps, the support frame moves upwards so that the fingers engage the box lid. As the support frame continues to move upwards, the fingers lift the box lid to a substantially vertical position (Figure 6C).

The horizontal plate moves downwards so that the moveable end sections engage the top edges of the box lid (Figure 6D). The moveable end sections act to force the lid flaps towards to the centre of the box and ensure that the horizontal plate will close the box lid.

The horizontal plate continues moving downwards until the box lid is completely closed as shown in Figures 6E and 6F. In doing so, the horizontal plate presses the lid flaps through corresponding apertures on the box wall which act to seal the box lid in place.

The box is then released and moves from the packaging manipulation apparatus where it can be transferred to a store room or transportation means.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.