Apparatus for Packing Leafy Produce into a Tray

Abstract

An automated machine for packing leafy produce into a tray involving a plunger, the plunger having an actuator arm and a footpad, the footpad having an upper surface and a lower surface, being in moveable relation to the actuator arm, for contacting the leafy produce.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11 / 232,830, entitled “Automated Plunger assembly, Machine and Method” filed on Sep. 21, 2005 (retitled “Apparatus for Packing Leafy Product into a Tray” by examiner's amendment), and claims priority thereto. The parent application and all amendments thereto are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Claims 1 through 8 herein were previously allowed in the parent application. Claims 9 through 16 are new.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to mechanized processing and packaging of agricultural products and produce.BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The currently existing art involves several machines for packing leafy produce, such as “spring mix,” spinach, lettuce, endive, arugula, and the like. One such instance of existing art is a packing machine that fills a container with leafy produce then fits a lid onto such container having the produce, but damages the leafy produce at the rim of the ...

Examples

first embodiment

[0012]FIG. 6 is side view of a plunger assembly comprising two plungers per transfer chute, wherein at least one plunger is disposed outside a transfer chute and a funnel, shown without a mounting bracket and without the support frame for clarity only, in accordance with the present invention.

second embodiment

[0013]FIG. 7 is side view of a plunger assembly comprising two plungers per transfer chute, wherein at least one plunger is disposed inside a product transfer chute and a funnel, shown without a mounting bracket and without the support frame for clarity only, in accordance with the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a front view of an automated packing machine, being serially disposed in an assembly line, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 9 is an upward perspective view of an automated packing machine, in accordance with the present invention, with a plunger assembly comprising one plunger per transfer chute.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a downward perspective view of the automated packing machine, as shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with the present invention, with a plunger assembly comprising one plunger per transfer chute.

[0017]FIG. 11 is an upward perspective view of an automated packing machine, shown without the support frame for clarity only, in accordance...

fifth embodiment

[0031]FIG. 8 illustrates, in a front view, an automated packing machine 1000, comprising automated plunger assemblies 100, 100′, being serially disposed in an assembly line, wherein the second apparatus 100′ acts as a secondary set of plungers, in accordance with the present invention. The primary chute 1002 comprises a flop gate 1002a, a flop gate actuator 1002b, and a flop gate control device 1002c, such as a solenoid switch, for controlling the flop gate actuator 1002b. The flop gate 1002a limits the amount of leafy produce 10 which is packed at a given packing interval.

[0032]Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 8, the automated machine 1000 for packing leafy produce 10 into a tray 20, comprises a conveyor 60 having a stepper 70 for accommodating and moving at least one tray 20, a tray filler generally comprising a hopper 80 for channeling the leafy produce 10 and a feeder 90 for receiving the channeled leafy produce 10 and for filling the leafy produce 10 into the at least one tray 20,...

PRIORITY CLAIM

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of application Ser. No. 11 / 232,830, entitled “Automated Plunger assembly, Machine and Method” filed on Sep. 21, 2005 (retitled “Apparatus for Packing Leafy Product into a Tray” by examiner's amendment), and claims priority thereto. The parent application and all amendments thereto are hereby expressly incorporated by reference. Claims 1 through 8 herein were previously allowed in the parent application. Claims 9 through 16 are new.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to mechanized processing and packaging of agricultural products and produce.BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The currently existing art involves several machines for packing leafy produce, such as “spring mix,” spinach, lettuce, endive, arugula, and the like. One such instance of existing art is a packing machine that fills a container with leafy produce then fits a lid onto such container having the produce, but damages the leafy produce at the rim of the ...

Examples

first embodiment

[0012]FIG. 6 is side view of a plunger assembly comprising two plungers per transfer chute, wherein at least one plunger is disposed outside a transfer chute and a funnel, shown without a mounting bracket and without the support frame for clarity only, in accordance with the present invention.

second embodiment

[0013]FIG. 7 is side view of a plunger assembly comprising two plungers per transfer chute, wherein at least one plunger is disposed inside a product transfer chute and a funnel, shown without a mounting bracket and without the support frame for clarity only, in accordance with the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a front view of an automated packing machine, being serially disposed in an assembly line, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 9 is an upward perspective view of an automated packing machine, in accordance with the present invention, with a plunger assembly comprising one plunger per transfer chute.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a downward perspective view of the automated packing machine, as shown in FIG. 9, in accordance with the present invention, with a plunger assembly comprising one plunger per transfer chute.

[0017]FIG. 11 is an upward perspective view of an automated packing machine, shown without the support frame for clarity only, in accordance...

fifth embodiment

[0031]FIG. 8 illustrates, in a front view, an automated packing machine 1000, comprising automated plunger assemblies 100, 100′, being serially disposed in an assembly line, wherein the second apparatus 100′ acts as a secondary set of plungers, in accordance with the present invention. The primary chute 1002 comprises a flop gate 1002a, a flop gate actuator 1002b, and a flop gate control device 1002c, such as a solenoid switch, for controlling the flop gate actuator 1002b. The flop gate 1002a limits the amount of leafy produce 10 which is packed at a given packing interval.

[0032]Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 8, the automated machine 1000 for packing leafy produce 10 into a tray 20, comprises a conveyor 60 having a stepper 70 for accommodating and moving at least one tray 20, a tray filler generally comprising a hopper 80 for channeling the leafy produce 10 and a feeder 90 for receiving the channeled leafy produce 10 and for filling the leafy produce 10 into the at least one tray 20,...

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