APPARATUS FOR FILLING CONTAINERS WITH PRODUCTS SUCH AS FRUITS

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for uniformly filling a container (27) with products such as fruits or the like up to a given total weight, in which apparatus the position of the container is changed during filling, depending on the instantaneous weight or level of the filling in the container. According to the invention, a "tongue" (22) which can be moved back and forth in substantially horizontal direction is provided below a product supply, the "tongue" assuming such a position, depending on the instantaneous weight of the filling, that the height of drop of the products is kept at a minimum at all times and the container is filled uniformly.

Description: The invention relates to an apparatus for uniformly filling a container with products such as fruits or the like up to a given total weight, in which apparatus the position of the container arranged on a container mounting is changed during filling, depending on the instantaneous weight or level of the filling in the container. Such an apparatus is known from Netherlands patent application 88.01769 or EP-A-0 352 841 on which the preamble of claim 1 is based. In that known apparatus the products are supplied by means of a conveyor belt that can be displaced in horizontal direction: it has thus been attempted to effect a uniform filling of the container during tilting. This solution, however, is altogether unsatisfactory because in spite of the displacement referred to, obstruction and arching arise at the point where the products pass into the container, and, moreover, a certain height of drop remains. The object of the invention is to remove this drawback. To that effect, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a tongue which can be moved in substantially horizontal direction is provided below the product supply, e.g. said conveyor belt, said tongue assuming such a position, depending on the instantaneous weight of the filling, that the height of drop of the products is kept at a minimum at all times and the container is filled uniformly. If the product supply is a conveyor belt as mentioned, this conveyor belt may be moved intermittently or slower, when the supply during a predetermined subperiod of time is too large, thereby preventing obstruction or arching at the point where the products pass into the container. It is also possible for the conveyor belt to be moved intermittently or slower according as the filling more closely approximates the total filling weight. In further elaboration of the invention, it is possible for the product supply belt to be moved slightly backwards when the total filling weight has been reached, so that the undesired discharge of excess products is prevented. In further elaboration of the invention, the movement of the "tongue" and the position of the container may be coupled to each other. This coupling can be realized via cams, cranks or eccentrics on a central drive, e.g. a shaft. The entire container and the tongue movement along with their drive can be accommodated in an independent frame and collectively supported by a weighing device, such as a load cell or the like, which controls the position of the container and position of the tongue via a processor. The independent frame with the weighing device may be supported by the basic frame or the ground via dampers or buffers, so as to prevent any harmful effects of external vibrations on the weighing device. Further, the central shaft may be coupled to an angular-position measuring device (e.g. a pulse generator), which controls the position of the shaft for each angle section set, depending on the instantaneous weight. Another possibility is that an angular-position measuring device is coupled to the central shaft, which controls the position of this shaft for each angle section set, depending on the instantaneous level of the filling in the container at the tongue. The output shaft of the drive may be coupled directly to the shaft that controls the movement of the container mounting and the movement of the tongue. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that appparatus for filling containers with products such as fruits are also known from US patent specifications 4,194,343 and 4,815,258. None of these two publications, however, discloses an apparatus fitted with a movable tongue as in the present application, which not only ensures a high degree of accuracy in filling up to the required total filling weight, but also provides for minimum drop of the products and uniformly flat filling at the top of the container to be filled. The absence of flaps such as used for instance in the above-mentioned Netherlands patent application 88.01769, makes it possible for the filling process to be supervised eminently during filling of the container. It is further observed that the products are discharged one after the other, forming layers, as it were, so that a high degree of accuracy in filling up to the required total weight can be realized, and minimal drop and an even uniform filling at the top of the container can be provided for. To clarify the invention, some embodiments of the apparatus for uniformly filling a container with fruits will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an apparatus for uniformly filling a container with products such as apples: Fig. 2 shows a part of the elevation of Fig. 1, but with the components in a different position; and Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 of a part of another embodiment of the apparatus for uniformly filling a container with products such as fruits. Referring to the drawings, an apparatus for uniformly filling a container with products such as fruits comprises a frame 1 fitted with a base adjusting members 2. Mounted on the frame 1 is an endless conveyor 3 comprising two reversing rollers 4 and 5, one of which is driven, and a tensioning roller 6. Further, mounted on the frame 1 is an independent frame 10, with interposition of buffers 11. Arranged between the frame 10 and the buffer 11 is a load cell 12. Mounted on the frame 10 is a central shaft 13, driven by motor 14. Further, mounted on the central shaft 13 is a crank 15 having a transmission rod 16 connected to it, the free end of which is pivotally connected to a mounting 17. The mounting 17 is further supported by a rod 18 whose free end is pivotally connected to a support table 19 mounted on the upper end of the frame 10. Arranged at the top of support table 19 are rollers 20, which serve as guides for a slide 21. At its front end, the slide 21 is provided with a tongue 22. Further, the slide 21 is driven by a lever 23, fixedly connected thereto, whose free end is fitted with a roller 24 cooperating with a cam disc 25 mounted on the central shaft 13. The roller 24 is at all times held in contact with cam disc 25 by means of a spring 26 arranged between the lever 23 and the frame 10. The means described enable the "tongue" to be moved back and forth horizontally, so that each product, in this case an apple 28, can be discharged at the desired location in the proper place in a container 27. To prevent damage to the products, a guide plate 29 is arranged at the discharge end of the conveyor belt 3 (the direction of travel is indicated by an arrow). For proper control of the assembly, there is mounted on frame 1 a processor 30, connected to a control panel 31, where, in addition to the instantaneous weight, the nominal total weight set can be read out. There is further provided a selector switch 32 for setting the selected container 27. As soon as the instantaneous weight has reached the nominal total weight, a signalling device 33 come into operation. The processor 30 is further connected to the load cell 12, the motor 14 and the angular-position measuring device 40. After the foregoing, the operation of the apparatus will be clear: the load cell 12 weighs the weight and transmits this information to the processor 30. The processor regulates the position of the mounting 17, depending on the weight, and further determines, via the central shaft 13, the angular position of the cam disc 25 and hence the position of the "tongue" 22. After the foregoing, Fig. 2 needs no further explanation. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, the control of the position of the mounting 17 is not effected depending on the weight measured, but by means of an optical device 40 oriented towards the discharge end of the guide plate 29. The optical device may, for instance, consist of a transmitter/receiver which measures the level of the products in the container 27 by means of reflection. It will be clear, however, that other systems can be used as well. It is noted that filling up may be done completely optically, but it is also possible to check the final weight by means of a weighing cell or the like, so that it is ensured that the amount of product delivered has the proper weight.

Claims: An apparatus for uniformly filling a container (27) with products such as fruits or the like up to a given total weight, in which apparatus the position of the container (27) is changed during filling, depending on the instantaneous weight or level of the filling in the container (27), characterized in that a tongue (22) which can be moved back and forth in a horizontal direction is provided below a product supply (3), said tongue (22) assuming such a position, depending on the instantaneous weight of the filling, that the height of drop of the products is kept at a minimum at all times and the container (27) is filled uniformly. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the product supply (3) consists of a flat belt, characterized in that said belt starts to travel intermittently or more slowly in the case of too large a supply during a predetermined subperiod of time, thereby preventing obstruction or arching at the point of transition to the container. An apparatus according to claim 1, in which the product supply (3) consists of a flat belt, characterized in that said flat belt starts to travel intermittently or more slowly according as the total weight is being approximated more closely, so that an accurate total weight is achieved. An apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3, characterized in that the product supply belt (3) starts to move backwards slightly when the required total weight has been reached, so that further discharge of products is prevented. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the tongue (22) and the varying position of the container (27) are coupled to each other. An apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that said coupling is accomplished via cams, cranks, or eccentrics on one central drive, e.g. a shaft (13). An apparatus according to one or more of claims 1-6, characterized in that the entire container and the tongue (22) movement, along with their drive, are accommodated in an independent frame and collectively supported by a weighing device (12), such as a load cell, which controls the position of the container (27) and the position of the tongue (22) via a processor. An apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the independent frame (10) with the weighing device is supported by the basic frame (1) or the ground via dampers or buffers (11), so as to prevent harmful effects of external vibrations on the weighing device. An apparatus according to claim 6, 7, and 8, characterized in that an angular-position measuring device (40) (e.g. a pulse generator) is coupled to the central shaft (13), which measuring device controls the position of the shaft for each angle section set, depending on the instantaneous weight as determined by the weighing device. An apparatus according to claim 6 and/or 7, characterized in that an angular-position measuring device (40) is coupled to the central shaft (13), which measuring device controls the position of this shaft for each angle section set, depending on the instantaneous level of the filling in the container (27) at the tongue (22). An apparatus according to one or more of claims 6-10, characterized in that the output shaft of the drive is coupled directly to the shaft of the movement of the container mounting and of the movement of the tongue (22).

Inventors: TAS, ADRIANUS WILHELMUS
Applicants: TAS, ADRIANUS WILHELMUS
Application year: 1991
Main classification: B65B25
IPC codes: B65B25