VEGETABLE PRODUCTS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products.

Background Art

With particular reference to the food industry sector, the marketing of fresh fruit and vegetable products packaged in trays or bags is well known, i.e., fresh fruit and vegetable products that are packaged and ready for consumption and which undergo minimal technological processes after harvesting.

Generally, fruit and vegetable products once harvested are subjected to the phases of sorting, washing and drying and then sent to packaging lines where they are enclosed in bags or in trays, with possible use of protective atmosphere. Each package has a predetermined total weight and a predetermined composition, that is, the combination of different types of fruit and vegetable products.

This means that a package contains the same kind of fruit and vegetable product but having different types of the same that differ from each other, e.g., in weight or quality of the same.

For example, with particular reference to the tray packaging of cherry tomatoes, generally each package has one or more branches of cherry tomatoes of greater length and size arranged above an intermediate layer having one or more branches of cherry tomatoes of intermediate length and size, in turn, arranged above cherry tomatoes without branches.

This composition is variable according to production needs and allows for a significant reduction in material waste.

The composition of each package and the arrangement of fruit and vegetable products within the latter is of paramount importance, since the fact that the best-looking fruit and vegetable products are arranged superiorly and, therefore, immediately visible to consumers, promotes the sale of the latter, enticing the consumer to purchase them. Currently, the sorting and packaging procedure is carried out manually.

In detail, a plurality of operators stand along the packaging lines, typically comprising a plurality of conveyor belts carrying the fruit and vegetable products and arranged side by side.

Each operator is instructed in sorting a type of fruit and vegetable product and arranging it inside a tray according to the final composition to be obtained.

In detail, operators are arranged aligned in succession with each other along the packaging line and each of them manually selects a type of fruit and vegetable product by arranging it inside the tray according to the composition and weight of the latter to be obtained.

For example, in the case of packaging cherry tomatoes having a composition consisting of five small-sized cherry tomatoes, two branches of intermediatesized cherry tomatoes and one branch of large-sized cherry tomatoes, a first operator selects the small- sized cherry tomatoes and arranges them inside the tray, a second operator selects branches of intermediate- sized cherry tomatoes and arranges them inside the tray above the small-sized ones and, finally, a third operator selects branches of large- sized cherry tomatoes by arranging them above the others.

It is easy to appreciate how such operations entail large management costs, as far as both the system management and personnel are concerned.

In fact, in order for a satisfactory production standard to be ensured, it is necessary to have a large number of personnel and, if the need arises to change the composition of the package, each operator must be re-trained on the type of fruit and vegetable product he or she must select, causing long machine downtimes.

It is easy to appreciate how the need to automate these operations is particularly acute in order to reduce system management and personnel costs while increasing production output.

To meet at least part of this need, a system has been implemented which is provided with a plurality of conveyor belts above which a plurality of containers is placed having predetermined sizes and intended to be filled by the operators.

These containers operate as calibrators and, once manually filled with the predetermined composition, are emptied onto the tray where, subsequently, an operator arranges them in the predetermined order.

However, it is easy to appreciate how such systems do not meet production needs, especially in the face of the need to change package composition.

In fact, even in this case it is necessary to instruct each operator to precisely and accurately select a type of fruit and vegetable product by arranging it within the container.

The sorting precision and accuracy of each operator is crucial so that the same composition is ensured for all packages.

It is enough for an operator to make a mistake in sorting the relevant type of fruit and vegetable product that the entire package will not have the required quality standards, thus reducing the incentive for consumers to purchase.

Therefore, it is of paramount importance to ensure the same predetermined composition to all packages.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products which allows automating the selection of the type of fruit and vegetable product to be arranged within the composition, thus reducing system management and personnel costs.

Within this aim, one object of the present invention is to devise a system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products which allows for changes in the package composition while eliminating machine downtime and still ensuring the same system production output.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a system for weighing and packaging which allows ensuring the same composition of fruit and vegetable products, thus eliminating the risk of the incidence of human error related to their selection.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products which can overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art within the framework of a simple, rational, easy and effective to use as well as cost-effective solution.

The aforementioned objects are achieved by this system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view from above of the system according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an axonometric view of the system according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a detailed view of the packaging area of the system according to the invention;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view from above of the system according to the invention in accordance with a second embodiment.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally indicates a system for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products.

The system 1 comprises a load-bearing structure 2 supporting means of transport 3 of fruit and vegetable products 4 to be packaged along at least one direction of forward movement 6 and at least one packaging area 7 of the fruit and vegetable products 4 defined along the direction of forward movement 6.

The means of transport 3 comprise a plurality of independently motorized conveyor belts 8, each of the conveyor belts 8 is intended to move at least one type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable product 4 along the direction of forward movement 6.

In detail, the means of transport 3 comprise at least two conveyor belts 8.

With particular reference to the embodiment of the system 1 shown in the figures, the means of transport 3 comprise six conveyor belts 8 on each side of the system 1. It cannot however be ruled out from the scope of this disclosure that the means of transport 3 comprise three, four, five, seven, eight etc. conveyor belts 8.

The conveyor belts 8 are associated with the load-bearing structure 2 by interposition of connecting means, not visible in the figures, and of the type of bushing elements or motorized supporting wheels. Each conveyor belt 8 is wrapped around the connecting elements in such a way as to ensure the tension thereof and the definition of a continuous supporting surface 9 of the fruit and vegetable products 4.

Preferably, the type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4 comprises at least one of either: color, kind and quality of the fruit and vegetable products 4.

In detail, the term “type of fruit and vegetable products” refers to fruit and vegetable products 4 having at least one characteristic different from each other. As visible in the figures, for illustrative and non-limiting purpose only, with reference to the packaging of cherry tomato branches, these are understood to belong to different types with reference to the length of the branches of the latter.

In this regard, as shown in the figures, the types C, B, A of cherry tomatoes refer to the length of the branches of the latter.

In fact, three types C, B, A of cherry tomatoes can be seen in the figures, identifiable as a first type C wherein the cherry tomatoes are detached from the branch, a second type B wherein the cherry tomatoes are attached to a branch of intermediate length, that is, having three or four cherry tomatoes attached thereto and, finally, a third type A of cherry tomatoes having a branch of considerable length, that is, having at least five cherry tomatoes attached thereto.

Alternatively, this characteristic may consist of an aesthetic variation that defines the quality thereof such as variations in color, or different kinds.

In fact, the fact cannot be ruled out from the present disclosure that a fruit and vegetable product 4 may comprise products belonging to different kinds such as, e.g., tomatoes, courgettes and potatoes.

In addition, the system 1 comprises weighing means 10 associated with the load-bearing structure 2 and configured to weigh the fruit and vegetable products 4 to be packaged.

The weighing means 10 comprise a plurality of load cells, each of the load cells 10 being configured to measure the weight of the type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable product 4 loaded on a corresponding conveyor belt 8.

In detail, each of the conveyor belts 8 comprises a plurality of positioning portions 11 having a predetermined length and intended to support the fruit and vegetable products 4, the load cells 10 are configured to measure the weight of each of the positioning portions 11.

Advantageously, the positioning portions 11 are defined by a plurality of abutment elements of the vulcanized belt type associated with the upper surface of each conveyor belt 8.

In order to enable the control of the movement of the conveyor belts 8, the system 1 comprises at least one management and control unit 12 configured to make packages 13 having a predetermined total weight and/or a predetermined composition 14 of the fruit and vegetable products 4 and operatively connected to the means of transport 3 and to the weighing means 10.

Preferably, the management and control unit 12 is of the type of a PLC or a microcontroller, or a computer configured for data processing.

In fact, the latter is programmable with the predetermined composition 14 of the package 13.

The management and control unit 12 is provided with a user interface 24, of the type of a keyboard or a touch- screen monitor, configured to allow the entry of the total weight of the package 13, of the composition 14 of the package 13 and of the weights of types C, B, A of each fruit and vegetable product 4.

This solution is of paramount importance because the fact that the management and control unit 12 is programmable with the predetermined composition 14 allows the composition itself of the package 13 to be changed depending on the production needs, thus avoiding machine downtime.

It is specified that within the scope of this disclosure the term “predetermined composition” refers to the combination of types C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4 contained in the package.

For example, in the case one wishes to obtain a package of cherry tomatoes having a predetermined total weight of 500 g and comprising a combination of types C, B, A, such a predetermined composition 14 consists of the combination of two cherry tomatoes belonging to the first type C, a branch of cherry tomatoes belonging to the second type B and a branch of cherry tomatoes belonging to the third type A.

For this purpose, the predetermined composition 14 is defined according to the predetermined total weight and to the combination of predetermined weights of each type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4.

In fact, each type of fruit and vegetable product 4 corresponds to a characteristic weight.

For example, the first type C of cherry tomatoes corresponds to a first characteristic weight, the second type B of cherry tomatoes corresponds to a second characteristic weight and the third type A of cherry tomatoes corresponds to a third characteristic weight.

Accordingly, each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4 is identified by the management and control unit 12 by means of the characteristic weight.

The management and control unit 12 comprises at least one storage unit 15 for storing the weight and/or of the type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4 loaded on each of the conveyor belts 8 and at least one command unit 16 operatively connected to the means of transport 3 for the movement of each of the conveyor belts 8 according to the weight value measured by the load cells 10 and/or to the type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4 in such a way as to prepare the predetermined composition 14 in the packaging area 7.

This means that the storage unit 15 is configured to store the predetermined total weight of the package 13 and the weights of each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4, i.e. the characteristic weight of each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4.

In this regard, it is worth pointing out that the command unit 16 is configured to allow the conveyor belts 8 to move by a distance equal to the predetermined length.

This distance which is equal to the predetermined length of the positioning portions 11 allows the latter to be moved closer to the packaging area 7 and the placement thereof on the load cells 10.

In detail, the load cells 10 are arranged, along the direction of forward movement 6, in the proximity of the packaging area 7.

The load cells 10 are adapted to measure the weight of each of the positioning portions 11 when arranged in the proximity of the packaging area 7.

Advantageously, the load cells 10 are arranged adjacent to the packaging area 7, the command unit 16 is adapted to allow the movement of each of the conveyor belts 8 according to the measured weight of each of the positioning portions 11 when arranged on the load cells 10.

As visible in the figures, the load-bearing structure 2 comprises a first portion 17 and a second portion 23 provided with the means of transport 3 and with the weighing means 10 respectively, the packaging area 7 is arranged centrally to the first portion 17 and to the second portion 23.

This means that the first portion 17 and the second portion 23 are provided with conveyor belts 8 and load cells 10, respectively.

The first portion 17 and the second portion 23 have the same structure and are provided with the same structural components.

In detail, the first portion 17 and the second portion 23 are arranged symmetrically with respect to the packaging area 7 arranged centrally to the latter.

This means that the direction of forward movement 6 defined by the conveyor belts 8 of the first portion 17 and the direction of forward movement 6 defined by the conveyor belts 8 of the second portion 23 converge towards the packaging area 7.

In this regard, it should be pointed out that the command unit 16 is configured to allow the alternating and consecutive movement of the conveyor belts 8 of the first portion 17 and of the second portion 23 according to the measured weight of the type C, B, A by the load cells 10 of the first portion 17 and of the second portion 23 and of the predetermined total weight of the package 13.

The command unit 16 activates the movement of each conveyor belt 8 depending on the weight measured by each load cell 10, i.e., as the load cells 10 measure the weight of each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable product 4, the command unit 16 activates the movement thereof so that the fruit and vegetable products 4 flow into the packaging area 7 depending on the predetermined composition 14 to be obtained and on the predetermined total weight.

For example, considering the aforementioned composition of cherry tomatoes to be obtained, the command unit 16 activates the movement of the relevant conveyor belts 8 depending on the weight of the type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable product 4 measured by the corresponding load cell 10.

In fact, the command unit 16 is configured to indiscriminately allow the activation of the conveyor belts 8 of the first portion 17 and of the conveyor belts of the second portion 23 in such a way as to ensure packaging continuity. This means that, e.g., to obtain the composition of cherry tomatoes described above, the command unit 16 activates: the movement of three conveyor belts 8 wherein the load cells 10 have measured the weight corresponding to the first type C of cherry tomatoes or, alternatively, consecutively activates three displacements of the same conveyor belt 8 wherein the load cells 10 have measured the weight corresponding to the first type C of cherry tomatoes; and at the same time the movement of two conveyor belts 8 wherein the load cells 10 have measured the weight corresponding to the second type B and to the third type A of cherry tomatoes, respectively.

In this way, a combination of types C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4, e.g., cherry tomatoes, defining the predetermined composition 14 flows into the packaging area 7.

At this point, the predetermined composition 14 should be placed inside a packaging tray 22.

For this purpose, the system 1 comprises at least one conveyor element 18 arranged at the point where the packaging area 7 is located and adapted to allow the movement of the fruit and vegetable products 4, in this case of the predetermined composition 14, along a direction of packaging 19 substantially transverse to the direction of forward movement 6.

Preferably, the direction of packaging 19 is orthogonal to the direction of forward movement 6.

The conveyor element 18 is a conveyor belt of the type known to the branch engineer.

In order to complete the packaging of the predetermined composition 14, the system 1 comprises at least one packaging line 20 connected to the packaging area 7 and comprising movement means 21 of the predetermined composition 14 of the fruit and vegetable products 4 along a direction of movement 5 opposite the direction of forward movement 6.

As visible in the figures, the direction of movement 5 is parallel and has opposite direction with respect to the direction of forward movement 6.

The packaging line 20 is of the type known to the branch engineer and comprises, in turn, at least one conveyor belt accessible to one or more operators O and suitable for the transfer of the predetermined composition 14 within the packaging tray 22.

In addition, in accordance with a second embodiment of the system according to the invention, shown in Figure 4, it is specified that the latter is entirely similar to what has been described so far in this disclosure.

In addition, the second embodiment of the system 1 according to the invention has the means of transport 3 comprising at least one auxiliary conveyor belt 25 adapted to convey at least one packaging tray 22 of the fruit and vegetable product 4. In this case, the fruit and vegetable product 4 is a product without branches.

Advantageously, the weighing means 10 comprise at least one auxiliary load cell 26 configured to measure the weight of the packaging tray 22 loaded onto the auxiliary conveyor belt 25.

In detail, the storage unit 15 is configured to measure the weight of the packaging tray 22 loaded on the auxiliary conveyor belt 25, wherein the command unit 16 is operatively connected to the means of transport 3 for the movement of each of the conveyor belts 8, 25 according to the weight value measured by the load cells 10, 26 and/or to the type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4 so as to prepare the predetermined composition 14 and the packaging tray 22 at the point where the packaging area 7 is located. In addition, this second embodiment has an additional auxiliary conveyor belt 27 arranged above the conveyor belts 8, 25.

Before the detailed explanation of the operation of this system it should be specified that each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable product 4 is loaded onto the respective conveyor belts 8 in accordance with a predetermined loading layout.

In this regard, it is specified that the management and control unit 12 is programmable for receiving data input such as, e.g., the loading layout.

It is specified that in the context of this disclosure, the term “loading layout” relates to the order in which the operators O arrange fruit and vegetable products 4 on each conveyor belt 8.

This means, e.g., that the management and control unit 12 is programmed so as to know which type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable product 4 is arranged on each conveyor belt 8.

In this regard, it is specified that the loading layout takes on paramount importance in the operation of the system in accordance with the present invention.

In fact, the loading layout is configured to take into account the positioning of the operators O along the packaging line 20 so as to speed up the packaging operations thereof.

In other words, the fruit and vegetable products 4 which have to be arranged above the package, e.g. the cherry tomatoes belonging to the third type A, are arranged on the ending conveyor belts 8 so that, once the cherry tomatoes reach the packaging area 7 and then the packaging line 20, they can be easily grasped and arranged above the other types of fruit and vegetable products 4.

The operation of the system according to the invention is as follows. The operator O programs the management and control unit 12 by setting the predetermined total weight of the package 13 and the predetermined composition 14 of the latter.

This means that the storage unit 15 stores the predetermined total weight of the package 13 and the relevant weights corresponding to each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable product 4.

In this way, the management and control unit 12 is programmed according to a predetermined loading layout, i.e., the management and control unit 12 knows the types C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4 loaded onto the relevant conveyor belts.

Next, one or more operators O arrange the fruit and vegetable products 4 on the positioning portions 11.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention, the operators O arrange the fruit and vegetable products 4 on the relevant conveyor belts according to the loading layout.

Next, each positioning portion 11 arrives in the proximity of the packaging area 7 where the load cells 10 are located which measure the weight of each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable product 4.

Depending on the weight measured by the latter and on the predetermined composition 14 to be made, the command unit 16 activates the corresponding conveyor belts 8.

In this way, the types C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4 are conveyed to the packaging area 7 and, in turn, conveyed to the packaging line 20 so that they can be grasped by the operators O for later insertion into the packaging tray 22. It is important to highlight that the command unit 16 is configured to allow each conveyor belt 8 of the first portion 17 and each conveyor belt 8 of the second portion 23 to be activated alternately and consecutively depending on the predetermined composition 14 to be obtained, so as to ensure production continuity and avoid machine downtime.

In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a process for weighing and packaging fruit and vegetable products. The process comprises at least the following phases of: placing at least a first type A of fruit and vegetable product 4 to be packaged on a motorized conveyor belt 8 to allow it to be moved, along a direction of forward movement 6, towards a packaging area 7; placing at least a second type B of fruit and vegetable product 4 to be packaged on an additional motorized conveyor belt 8 to allow it to be moved, along the direction of forward movement 6, towards the packaging area 7; programming a management and control unit 12 having at least one predetermined total weight of a package 13 of fruit and vegetable products 4 and/or having a predetermined composition 14 of the package 13; measuring the weight of each type C, B, A of fruit and vegetable products 4 by means of weighing means 10 arranged on each of the conveyor belts 8, the management and control unit 12 being configured to allow the conveyor belts 8 to move according to the measured weight and/or to the type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4.

In detail, the process comprises at least one phase of comparison and processing of the measured weight of the type C, B, A of the fruit and vegetable products 4 arranged on each of the conveyor belts with the predetermined total weight of the package 13, the conveyor belts 8 being moved according to the predetermined total weight to be obtained and to the predetermined composition 14.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the fact is emphasized that the special expedient of providing a plurality of load cells associated with each of the conveyor belts in combination with the fact of providing a management and control unit which can be programmed depending on the total weight of the package to be obtained and on the composition of the latter, makes it possible to automate the packaging of the fruit and vegetable products, greatly increasing the speed of packaging.

In addition to this, the fact of providing a programmable management and control unit makes it possible to change the package composition while avoiding machine downtime and maintaining packaging efficiency unaltered.

In addition, the fact of automating the procedure of fruit and vegetable product selection and of composition set-up allows eliminating the incidence of human error by ensuring all packages have the same composition.