METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GRADING AND ORIENTATING ITEMS INTO PORTIONS

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for grading, orientating and packaging items of elongated non-symmetrical shape. In particular the method and apparatus relate to arranging elongated items such as fish into boxes/portions according to their weight and/or size, and their orientation or after reorientation of the items. Further the invention relates to the problem of arranging items into portions according to one or more predetermined characteristics as well as arranging and directing item filled portions fulfilling the same specific criteria to a specific location and marking the portions (boxes) accordingly.

Description: METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GRADING AND ORIENTATING ITEMS INTO PORTIONS. INTRODUCTION The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for grading, orientating and packaging items of elongated non-symmetrical shape. In particular the method and apparatus relate to arranging elongated items such as fish into boxes/portions according to their weight and/or size, and their orientation or after reorientation of the items. Further the invention relates to the problem of arranging items into portions according to one or more predetermined characteristics as well as arranging and directing item filled portions fulfilling the same specific criteria to a specific location and marking the portions (boxes) accordingly. BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION TO THE INVENTION. What often characterize food processing is the nature of the raw material and the irregularities in size, shape, weight and orientation of items flowing through the processing system. This is in particular true in the processing and packaging of fish, such as salmon which is frequently packaged directly into boxes, with or without the head. Generally on a fish processing lines, the process is initiated with gutting and cleaning the fish. The fish is thereafter arranged either manually or mechanically onto a transporter most often with common orientation, e.g. all the fish heads facing the same direction. The next step in the processing is most often to identify the size and/or weight of the fish. This is usually done by weighing on a conveyor scale or volume determination by a vision equipment. Based upon the weight of the fish, a computer operating the whole system instructs a grader machine arranged after the scale to direct the fish into a optimal grading compartment taking into account predetermined parameters. When packaging fish or putting into boxes in an effective manner it is important to arrange every other fish in mutually opposite direction to minimize transport space as well as packaging space and material. The goal of the method described here is to minimize the transport and the packaging space required as well as optimizing the arrangement of the product items into the end-package boxes. Usually the items arrive sequentially on a conveyor belt and pass an electronic scale that records the item weight and sends a signal to a computer. The computer calculates, according to known methods the optional grading for a particular item to be sent into and dispatches a signal to the appropriate grading machine. The grader will then initiate an arm mechanism or similar direction means to direct the item to the particular grading compartment or portion. Traditionally, when processing whole fish the orientation or arrangement of the fish, is performed manually, most often after gutting and cleaning of the fish. This is labor intensive and ineffective and such operation will slow down the capacity of the system. BRIEF DESCTIPTION OF THE INVENTION The problem described here before has now been solved by means of the present invention, which provides a method and apparatus for arranging fishes into a particular grading compartment or transport box with predetermined orientation to minimize the package space needed. The invention comprises an apparatus for grading items into portions according to one or more detectable characteristics of the items, in particular arranging elongated non-symmetrical items such as fish into collecting bins, including rearranging the length orientation of at least part of the items directed into the particular bin to minimize/optimize the bin space required, comprising: a) a control/system computer, b) a detecting means such as a flow scale for weighing and optionally identifying other characteristics of the items such as length orientation, c) an optional detection means for determine the location of each item, d) an in-feed conveyor and an optional out-feed conveyor for advancing the items, e) a plurality of arranging stations for directing the items away from the in-feed conveyor into one or more item- or intermediate item collecting compartments or stations, and rearranging the length orientation of at least part. of the items. One preferred embodiment of the invention is in a presently most preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein said arranging stations further comprise opposite arranged pairs of gripping arms and thereto connected chutes for further conveying the items towards a specific collecting bin or intermediate collecting bins or station preferably arranged underneath said arranging stations. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the cutes are semi-circular and downward turned. In further another preferred embodiment of the present invention the cutes are conical towards the out-feed end. Finally the cutes are pipe- formed with releasable opening mechanism at the out-feed end. A method for grading items into portion is in a presently most preferred embodiment of the present invention and according to one or more detectable characteristics of the items, in particular grading elongated non-symmetrical items such as fish into collecting bins, including rearranging the length orientation of at least part of the items directed into the particular compartments to minimize/optimize the bin packaging space required having at least part of the item with opposite arranged length orientation, comprising the steps of: a) conveying items to be graded, b) detect one or more characteristic of said items as they are conveyed, such detection optionally being weighing, c) according to predetermined request, set grading criteria for collecting portions, d) check available collecting compartments and if detected items fits the selected criteria for one or more portions, assign the item to the compartment with best fit (highest priority), if not re-circulate or reject, e) in accordance to previous assignment to that particular compartment instruct a length orientation mechanism to direct the item accordingly into the portion to achieve opposite arranged length orientated items in the particular compartment, f) upon fulfilling the grading requirement, including the length orientation, locate available slot on a takeaway conveyor and release the portion there into for further handling. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention the operation of step a - f is controlled by control computer interacting with one ore more of the following: a) in-feed system, b) ordering system, c) bin assigning and packaging system. In yet another preferred embodiment each and every item is rotated approximately about 90° in a first conveying plane and thereafter approximately about 180° in a second conveying plane before introduced into the portion. In another aspect of the present invention each and every item is either rotated approximately 90° to either left or right in a first conveying plane and thereafter approximately 180° downward in a second conveying plane before introduced into the portion. Finally the arranged length orientation comprise directing the items into guiding chutes rearranging the orientation of the items into the portions. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following the present invention, and in particular preferred embodiments thereof, will be described in greater details in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows perspective view of the apparatus for grading and rearranging the length orientation of the items, Fig. 2 shows the apparatus in fig. 1 from the side, Fig 3 shows the apparatus in fig. 1 and 2 from the end, Fig 4 shows a side view of the apparatus for grading connected to takeaway conveyor and a bin filling station, Fig 5 shows the arrangement of pre-treatment process are and the flow of items prior to their arrival to the grading and length orientation rearranging apparatus. DETAILIED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION In general the present invention is based upon the idea of arranging items into portions and the portions into transport bins according to specific request of a customer with minimal deviation in the weight requirements as well as optimizing the space/bin requirements by rearranging the length orientation of the items in such a way that every other item closely placed have opposite length orientation. Figure 1 - 3 shows a part of the grader (27) designed to arrange the items into portions and rearranging the length orientation of the items. A conveyor belt (51) is shown for transporting items (not shown) in a conveying direction marked with an arrow (55). Alongside the conveyor belt a plurality of gripping arms (42) able to swing out to catch an item passing thereon and direct it out of the conveyor stream into the opening area (56) of associated chutes (41). When the item enters into the chute (41 ) it is rotated first in horizontal plan about 90° and thereafter 180° in vertical plan as the item is ejected from the chutes (41) output end (57) and into portioning compartment (43). As can be seen the output end (57) of the chute has releasable opening device (54) allowing the system to store one or more items directed to the chute until appropriate for release. Further the portioning compartment (43) have means (52) to facilitated opening thereof and subsequent release of its content for example to a takeaway conveyor (58). It is to be understood that presentation of this embodiment of the invention is only to illustrate one example Figure 4 shows the grader connected to a takeaway conveyor (58) conveying the items to bin filling station (29). As the item portioning bins (43) becomes filled the content is, according to instruction from the control computer, released into a predefined slot (45) on the conveyor. The content of the slot is then released to appropriate bin (28) in the bin filling station (29) and further conveyed over a check weighing station (30) to control that the filling of a particular container is in accordance to the clients order. Figure 5 shows the arrangement of a pre-treatment work area (60) in before the grader (27). A detecting means (59) is illustrated as arranged prior to delivery of items to the grader (27). The above is only an illustration of one example of the numerous available embodiment of the invention. A more detailed illustration of the workflow will be provided below. As mentioned in the introduction the invention is directed to - but not limited to - food processing lines - where items in the end of processing are collected into portions of a specified size. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the method is applied in connection with a system for grading and packaging whole salmon and comprising a conveyer belt for conveying the item from a first position to a second position, see Fig. 1 - 5. The first position is a weighing station (59) where the raw materials for instance hole fish which is weighed and its length orientation is checked. Therefrom the fish is conveyed onto a grader (27), in principle of a standard type but specially build to rearrange the length orientation of items, in addition of its general grading functions. The grader, and in particular its accessories is build in such a manner that it is possible to store one ore more items in intermediate compartment before they are released onto a takeaway conveyor (58) as a completed portion. The storing can be effected in the chute (41 ) making a passage for the objects from the conveyor belt (51 ) to collecting compartment (43). Each chute is equipped with releasable opening means (54) for releasing one or more items into the collecting compartment (43). The release/opening of the compartment (43) is synchronized with a delivery of a item box (28) to the box filling station (29). As the portion is released to a slot (45) on the takeaway conveyor (58) a specific box has been assigned to receive the particular portion. The portion is dropped more or less automatically into the box. After filling of the box a quality check is conducted (see fig 5, item 30). It thus will be appreciated that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. It will be realized, however, that the foregoing preferred specific embodiment has been shown and described for the purpose of this invention and are subject to change without departure from its basic principles. Therefor, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents encompassed with the spirit and scope of the following patent claims.

Claims: PATENT CLAIMS 1 . An apparatus for grading items into portions according to one or more detectable characteristics of the items, in particular arranging elongated non-symmetrical items such as fish into collecting bins, including rearranging the length orientation of at least part of the items directed into the particular bin to minimize/optimize the bin space required, comprising: f) a control/system computer, g) a detecting means such as a flow scale for weighing and optionally identifying other characteristics of the items such as length orientation, h) an optional detection means for determine the location of each item, i) an in-feed conveyor and an optional out-feed conveyor for advancing the items, j) a plurality of arranging stations for directing the items away from the in-feed conveyor into one or more item- or intermediate item collecting compartments or stations, and rearranging the length orientation of at least part of the items. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said arranging stations further comprise opposite arranged pairs of gripping arms and thereto connected chutes for further conveying the items towards a specific collecting bin or intermediate collecting bins or station preferably arranged underneath said arranging stations. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said cutes are semi-circular and downward turned. 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein said cutes are conical towards the out-feed end. 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein said cutes are pipe-formed with releasable opening mechanism at the out-feed end. 6. Method for grading items into portions according to one or more detectable characteristics of the items, in particular grading elongated non-symmetrical items such as fish into collecting bins, including rearranging the length orientation of at least part of the items directed into the particular compartments to minimize/optimize the bin packaging space required having at least part of the item with opposite arranged length orientation, comprising the steps of: g) conveying items to be graded, h) detect one or more characteristic of said items as they are conveyed, such detection optionally being weighing, i) according to predetermined request, set grading criteria for collecting portions, j) check available collecting compartments and if detected items fits the selected criteria for one or more portions, assign the item to the compartment with best fit (highest priority), if not re-circulate or reject, k) in accordance to previous assignment to that particular compartment instruct a length orientation mechanism to direct the item accordingly into the portion to achieve opposite arranged length orientated items in the particular compartment, I) upon fulfilling the grading requirement, including the length orientation, locate available slot on a takeaway conveyor and release the portion there into for further handling. 7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the operation of step a - f is controlled by control computer interacting with one ore more of the following: d) in-feed system, e) ordering system, f) bin assigning and packaging system. 8. Method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein each and every item is rotated approximately about 90° in a first conveying plane and thereafter approximately about 180° in a second conveying plane before introduced into the portion. 9. Method according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein each and every item is either rotated approximately 90° to either left or right in a first conveying plane and thereafter approximately 180° downward in a second conveying plane before introduced into the portion. 10. Method according to any one of the claims 6 - 9, wherein the arranged length orientation comprise directing the items into guiding chutes rearranging the orientation of the items into the portions.

Inventors: ELVARSSON ASGEIR, HALLDORSSON THORKELL, THORVALDSSON BJORN, ELVARSSON, ASGEIR, HALLDORSSON, THORKELL, THORVALDSSON, BJORN
Applicants: ELVARSSON ASGEIR, HALLDORSSON THORKELL, MAREL HF, THORVALDSSON BJORN, ELVARSSON, ASGEIR, HALLDORSSON, THORKELL, MAREL HF., THORVALDSSON, BJORN
Application year: 2000
Main classification: B65B35
IPC codes: B07C5, B65B25, B65B35