The present invention relates to the stacking of products in crates or containers, more in particular for the stacking of vulnerable products such as cabbage products in crates or containers.

The gathering of cabbage products according to the known method is done manually, whereby the cabbage product is cut on the land, is stripped from the outer leaf and is placed onto a conveyor belt, after which manually a crate or container is filled with the cabbage products.

If, when harvesting the cabbage products, the cabbage is damaged or bruised it can not be stored for a long time. For this reason the handling of the cabbage products has to take place very carefully, and in practice the mechanical harvesting and stacking of the cabbage products in crates is done away with.

The invention aims to obviate this drawback and to provide an apparatus by means of which the harvesting and stacking in crates of cabbage products can to a large extent take place mechanically.

The invention thereto provides an apparatus for the stacking of products in crates or containers, more in particular for the stacking of vulnerable products such as cabbage products in crates or containers, formed by a frame that is provided with a first conveying means comprising a chain or belt with at least one mat which, as seen in the direction of movement, at a front side is connected to the chain or belt and at a rear side is connected to a guide means which runs in a guide path provided underneath the path of movement of the chain, such, that the mat forms a bag in which the products can be supported, while the first conveying means runs partly above a second conveying means formed by a conveyor belt, the direction of movement of which runs at right angles to the direction of movement of the first conveying means, while means are provided by which a bag present above the second conveying means can be opened, in such a way that a product present therein can roll out of this bag and can land down below on the conveyercb, hilthe

conveyor belt connects to a part that is provided with means by which this can take up one or more products from the conveyor belt and can deliver these in the crate or container.

According to a characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the means by which a bag can be opened above the second conveying means are formed by one or more stop valves provided at the bottom side of the guide path, such, that by opening of a stop valve the guide means at that place falls out of the guide path and takes along the rear side of the bag whereby this is folded open, such that the product present therein rolls out of the bag.

According to a further characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the bottom side of the guide path at the place of a stop valve is provided with an inclined or sloping arm for the guiding of the downward movement of the guide means after this has fallen out of the guide path, whereby, according to another characteristic, this can be provided with a stop.

According to another characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the mat is formed by a flexible material, such as a flexible plastic, a textile or a fabric.

Also, this may be provided with an opening, for instance round or in the form of an oval or a star, or it can be preformed to the form of the product to be carried therein.

With this measure it is prevented to a large extent that the cabbage product during the handling thereof in the apparatus becomes bruised, as the cabbage product rests on a material which is more or less soft.

According to yet a further characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention in between the first conveying means and the second conveying means receiving elements are provided for the receiving and positioning of a product and which receiving elements are provided with opening means, such that a product, after it has rolled out of a bag, can be received by a receiving element provided underneath the bag, and, after the opening of the receiving element, can be placed onto the conveyor belt.

According to a further characteristic thereby a receiving element is formed by two flaps of material, which flaps each at an upper side are pivotally connected to a frame part, while the bottom sides of the flaps are directed towards each other, such that the planes of the flaps are inclined and together form a V-shape, and whereby openings means are provided by which the flaps can be pivoted at their pivoting point such that the planes of the flaps take a substantially vertical position, such that the space between the bottom sides of the flaps is large enough to allow a product to pass through there.

These receiving elements serve the purpose of receiving and positioning the cabbage product after this has fallen out of the bag. The flaps are for instance made from a plastic material and can hinge independently, whereby the V-shape of the flaps is maintained by a spring or a torsion damping device, so that the product, by means of its weight, can push the flaps a little aside during the fall out of the bag.

The fall is thereby slowed down and the product is positioned by the flaps.

The moment the flaps are opened, pneumatically, electrically or otherwise, the product will fall further in the apparatus onto the conveyor belt.

According to a characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention the conveyor belt has a width such that, as seen in the direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, a row of products can be placed thereon.

This conveyor belt serves the purpose of conveying the products to the part of the apparatus that can take up the products from the conveyor belt and can deliver these in the crate or container.

The invention will now be explained, together with the further advantages thereof, with reference to the drawings of an example of an embodiment.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figures 2a and 2b each show a perspective view of a part of the first conveying means.

Figure 3 shows schematically a side view of the relevant part of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows schematically a top view of the relevant part of the apparatus according to the invention.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the apparatus according to the line p-p of figure 4.

As is shown in figures 1, 2a, 2b, 3,4 and 5 the apparatus according to the invention is formed by a frame 1 that is provided with a first conveying means 2 comprising a chain 3 or belt with at least one mat 4 which, as seen in the direction of movement, at a front side 5 is connected to the chain 3 or belt and at a rear side 6 is connected to a guide means 7 which runs in a guide path 9 provided underneath the path 8 of movement of the chain 3, such, that the mat 4 forms a bag 10 in which a cabbage product A can be supported. The first conveying means 2 runs with a part, designated in figure 3 by an arrow 12, above a second conveying means 13 formed by a conveyor belt 14, the direction of movement of which (see arrow q in figure 4) runs at right angles to the direction of movement (see arrow x in figure 4) of the first conveying means 2.

Means are provided for opening the bags 10 present above the conveyor belt 14, in such a way that a cabbage product A present therein can roll out of this bag. In figure 3 is shown the cabbage product designated by B which rolls out of the bag 10, and the cabbage product designated by D that has landed on the conveyor belt 14.

As can be seen in the figures the conveyor belt has a width such that, as seen in the direction at right angles to the direction of movement of the conveyor belt, a row of products can be placed thereon; in this example of an embodiment four cabbage products E.

The conveyor belt 14 connects to a part 15 that is provided with means for taking up one or more cabbage products from the conveyor belt 14 and delivering these in the crate or container 16.

The means for opening the bags 10 above the conveyor belt 14 are formed by one or more stop valves 18 provided at the bottom side 17 of the guide path 9, such, that by opening of a stop valve 18 the guide means 7 will at that place fall out of the

guide path 9 and will take along the rear side 6 of the bag 10 whereby this is folded open, such that the cabbage product A present therein will roll out of the bag 10.

As can be seen in figure 2b the bottom side 17 of the guide path 9 at the place of a stop valve 18 is provided with an inclined or sloping arm 19 for the guiding of the downward movement of the guide means 7 after this has fallen out of the guide path 9. The arm 19 is provided with a stop 20. Through this measure it is achieved that the fall of the cabbage product out of the guide path 9 is somewhat slowed down by the arm 19 of the guide path 7 in which the stopper 20 is provided.

As can be seen in figures 2a and 2b the mat 4 in this example of an embodiment is formed by a flexible plastic. A textile or a fabric is also possible. The mat 4 is provided with an opening 21, in this example of an embodiment a round opening, by means of which the product is better secured in its place.

In the example shown the first conveying means is formed by two tubular pin chains 22,23 that run parallel, in between which the bags 10 are connected. The bags 10 are formed by a pair of pens 24, 25 of a chosen material, such as metal or plastic, in between which pens the plastic bag 4 is connected, whereby the front pen 24 with both its outer ends is connected in the chains 22,23 and the rear pen 25 with both its outer ends is placed in two parallel guide paths 9 which run below the paths of movement of the chains, such, that the rear pen 25 can be dragged along in the guide paths 9.

With a favourable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention, and as is shown in the figures 3,4 and 5, in between the first conveying means 2 or the main chain 3 (22,23) and the conveyor belt 14 receiving elements 26 are provided for the receiving and positioning of a product. These receiving elements 26 are provided with opening means, such that a product, after it has rolled out of a bag 10, can be received by a receiving element 26 provided underneath it, as can be seen in figure 3, where the cabbage product C lies in a receiving element 26. After the opening of the receiving element 26 the cabbage product can be deposited onto the conveyor belt 14, as can be seen in figure 3 at the product designated by D.

A receiving element 26 is formed by two flaps of material 27,28 which flaps each at an upper side 29 are pivotally connected to a frame part, while the bottom sides 30

of the flaps 27, 28 are directed towards each other, such that the planes 31 of the flaps are inclined and the flaps together form a V-shape. Openings means are provided for pivoting the flaps at their pivoting point 29 such that the planes 31 of the flaps 27,28 take a substantially vertical position, such that the space between the bottom sides 30 of the flaps 27,28 is large enough to allow a product to pass through there, as can be seen in figure 3 at the cabbage product D.

These receiving elements 26 serve the purpose of receiving and positioning the cabbage product C as soon as this falls out of a bag 10. The flaps 27,28 are made out of for instance a plastic material and can pivot independently, whereby the V-shape of the flaps is maintained by a spring or torsion damper (not shown in the drawing), so that the cabbage product C by means of its weight can push the flaps 27,28 a little open during its fall out of the bag 10. The fall is thereby slowed down and the product is positioned by the flaps 27,28.

As soon as the flaps are opened pneumatically, electrically or otherwise the product will fall further in the apparatus onto the conveyor belt 14.

In the shown embodiment further is present a frame structure 31 movable in the vertical direction in and out of a crate or container 16, whereby the frame structure 31 is provided with at least one carrier 32, formed by a frame 33 with a supporting surface 34 for the support of a cabbage product E, whereby the frame 33 is pivotally connected to the frame structure 31. The frame 33 can be adjusted from a first position, in which the supporting surface 34 is substantially horizontal en can support a product E, to a second position, in which the supporting surface 34 is in an inclined or substantially vertical position, as can be seen in the drawing at the place of the bottom side 35 of the frame structure 31, and whereby a product F can roll from there into the crate or container, which, as shown in the drawing, has already been partly filled up with the products G.

The supporting surface 34 can be made out of a flexible material, such as a flexible plastic material, a textile or a fabric.

In the frame structure 31 two parallel tubular pin chains mounted to the frame structure 31 are provided which run around the frame (not shown in the drawings), in between which the frame 33 of the carrier 32 at one side 36 is pivotally connected, while the other side 37 of the frame is provided with a cord, chain or thread 38 which is connected to the frame 36 of a carrier 32 above it. During the movement

downwards of the chains the carrier 32 is folded out and this is maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the cord 38. During the movement upwards of the chains, at the rear side of the frame structure, the carrier 32 is folded and has a substantially vertical position.

The conveyor or supporting belt 14 can be formed by a frame that is displaceable along a horizontal axis (not shown in the drawing) and is provided with a belt made out of for instance PVC, and which is provided with small carriers 37.

This frame with the conveyor belt 14 is provided at right angles to the main chain 3.

Hereby the products are turned about 90 degrees in the transport direction.

By providing a number of opening points in the guide path 9 and receiving elements 26 behind each other a row of products can be placed down behind each other.

When moving the first conveying means 2 or conveyor belt 2 several products arrive one behind the other at the supply line 2, and in which empty-or filled bags 10 move past. A plc counts the products and opens one by one the stop valves 18 in the guide path 9 so that a row of products is formed onto the supporting belt 14.

As soon as a row is full, either the frame will be moved or the belt 14 will move on one step so that again an empty place will become available for another row of products. It is intended that the supporting belt can hold a row of products and will deposit the products row by row into the carriers 32.

There are several ways for stacking the products in the crate by means of the apparatus.

The conveyor belt can be stopped while the frame 15, hereafter also called stacker, is allowed to make a reciprocating horizontal movement and in this manner the products are spread onto the surface of the crate or container 16.

A somewhat smaller conveyor belt 14 and stacker 15 can be chosen, whereby the conveyor belt 14 is stopped and the crate or container 16 is put onto a rotating platform. By rotating the crate or container and at the same time stacking the products in the crate by means of the stacker the crate is filled in an even manner in a circle ; only the corners cannot be filled completely.

Further, it is possible to let the conveyor belt 14 make a horizontal movement and the stacker the vertical movements in order to fill up the crate 16 completely. As soon as the conveyor belt 14 slides out and products are deposited thereon by the first conveying means or the supply belt 2 through the receiving elements 26, the conveyor belt 14 cannot slide in again and receive products. The supply belt 2 can then be stopped and one can let the combination of the conveyor belt 14 and the stacker 15 finish its cycle of discharging in order to subsequently start up again the supply. One can also choose a second combination of conveyor belt 14a and stacker 15a behind the first combination which takes over the handling of products from the supply belt, so that the first combination can finish its cycle of discharging, and after this is empty start again with a cycle. By this the handling of the two combinations 14,15 respectively 14a, 15a remains constant and two crates or containers 16 can be filled at the same time.

The systems described of stacking of the products in crates or containers can be applied in, among others, the following manners.

The apparatus can be applied in the field as well as in the barn.

In the field the apparatus can be suspended from a frame in a lifting pole of an agricultural tractor; this can be mounted to a self driving machine, onto a roller base and be pulled by a tractor.

In a shed the apparatus can be used behind a cleaning machine or a sorting line to stack the product again.

The loading of the machine can take place manually as well as with the help of another machine. For instance the products can be harvested manually and be placed onto the supply belt; also it is possible to harvest the products by means of a machine and to place these automatically onto the supply belt.

In a situation described above onto one of the horizontal belts a number of rows of products is loaded, until the belt is full. Then the apparatus switches to the second horizontal belt and the first belt goes on to place the products by means of carriers 32

of the stacking device 15 into the crate or box. With this system always two stacking elements are necessary.

By forming the receiving elements or fall-through flaps in such a way that these are adapted to hold onto the products for a certain period, the apparatus can obtain a greater capacity and it becomes possible to operate continuously with only one stacking device.

Thereby, in an embodiment, the receiving element is formed by a pair of plates of material, which plates each at an upper side are pivotally connected to a frame part, while the bottom sides of the flaps are directed towards each other, such that the planes of the plates are inclined, whereby the one plate, in the direction downwards, is longer than the other plate, such that the bottom outer end of the one plate rests against the plane of the other plate and the plates together form a Y-shape. The plates can also be of the same length so that they together form a V-shape. Thereby the plates can be formed out of a non flexible material, such as a metal or a rigid plastic material. Further, in an embodiment the receiving elements are located just below the first conveying means, whereby the plates, more in particular each at its upper side can be pivotally connected to the arms 19. The stopper 20 is not necessary in this embodiment.

The receiving elements, for instance a row of four receiving elements with in each element a product, now hold the product for a fixed period of time. The conveyor belt stops, after which the four receiving elements are opened and the four products at the same time are placed next to each other in a row onto the conveyor belt. The conveyor belt otherwise remains empty. The conveyor belt starts to move and moves the row in the direction of the stacker and places the products at the same time at one go in a carrier of the stacker, which at its turn moves the products downwards into the crate or container and places them there.

Thereby the apparatus is provided with means, by which the assembly of conveyor belt and stacker can slide in and out relative to the frame of the apparatus in a horizontal direction, and whereby the stacker can make, in the horizontal direction, a backwards and forwards movement over de bottom of the crate or container standing on the ground, so that this is filled up in an even manner.

The apparatus according to the invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Instead of by means of the stacker described above, it is possible to stack the products from the conveyor belt into the crate by means of for instance a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which is vertically mounted at the upper part of the apparatus and of which the rod is directed downwards, and which is provided with take up means for taking up a row of products from the conveyor belt and for placing the products downwards in the crate or container. The take up means thereby can be formed by for instance two discs which together form a gripper which can be closed and opened, while the take up means further can be provided with a sensor for sensing the depth of the crate and by means of which the control of the cylinder for the movement upwards to the conveyor belt, and downwards to the crate, of the take up means and the opening and closing of the take up means can take place.

In a further embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention the second conveying means, instead of by a conveyor belt, can be formed by a pair of extending arms which are pivotally connected to the frame and which are provided with take up means for directly receiving a row of products form the first conveying means or the receiving elements and placing these into the crate or container. An arm can thereby be formed by the rod of an hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, which cylinder is pivotally connected to the frame, such that the arm in the horizontal position of the cylinder can be extended in the horizontal direction up to close to the first conveying means and in the vertical position of the cylinder can be extended downwards into the crate or container.