Patent ID: 7107742

Claim:
Automatic packing device for the filling of containers by means of superposed layers of products, in particular fruits such as oranges, of the type comprising: a device for transporting the products which is capable, from a flow of products delivered in bulk, of dividing this flow into two separate streams, two separate feed stations, each feed station being adapted to receive and arrange one of the two streams of products, and comprising a conveyor and, as a longitudinal downstream continuation of this conveyor, a plurality of parallel channels, each adapted to accommodate a plurality of products aligned one following the other in a row in this channel and in parallel rows in a same plane of reception of the products defined by the said channels, a central packing station having a device for positioning each container which is capable of holding the said container for the purpose of filling it, a pickup device capable of picking up alternately, in line with each feed station, a number of products forming a layer with dimensions matching the internal section of the container, and of depositing this layer in the said container so as to fill the latter by means of superposed layers of products fixed relative to one another, wherein it comprises a device for pivoting the channels of each feed station capable of simultaneously pivoting the said channels in a plane parallel to the plane of reception of the products defined by these channels, between a first position for filling the latter in which their longitudinal axis is oriented so as to form a first angle (α 1 ) with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, and a second position for discharging the channels which is adapted so that the products accommodated in the latter are aligned in orthogonal rows and columns and is obtained for a second angle (α 2 ) between the longitudinal axes of the conveyor and the channels, this second angle (α 2 ) being greater than the first angle (α 1 ), so that the products accommodated in the various adjacent channels are more tightly packed laterally one against the other in the second position than in the first position.