Apparatus for Packing Leafy Produce into a Tray

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-07-02
MEDINA JOSE L +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present inventive concept pertains to the mechanized packing of a product, such as leafy produce, into a tray without damage and minimizing processing time. In a preferred embodiment, an automated machine for packing leafy produce into a tray generally comprises: one or more transfer chutes for receiving the portions and guiding each tray-sized individual portions into one of the trays; flop gates within the chutes to control the flow of produce through the various chutes; a conveyor for moving the trays into a position below the transfer chute's discharge o

Problems solved by technology

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 container, thereby shortening the shelf l

Method used

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  • Apparatus for Packing Leafy Produce into a Tray
  • Apparatus for Packing Leafy Produce into a Tray
  • Apparatus for Packing Leafy Produce into a Tray

Examples

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Example

[0022]FIG. 1 illustrates, in a perspective view, an automated packing machine 1000, comprising a plunger assembly, in accordance with the present invention. The plunger assembly 100 for packing leafy produce 10 into a tray 20, comprises at least one plunger 30, each at least one plunger 30 having at least one actuator arm 40 and at least one footpad 50, the at least one footpad 50 having an upper surface 50a and a lower surface 50b, being in moveable relation to the at least one respective actuator arm 40, for contacting the leafy produce 10. The moveable relation comprises a structure 40a (not shown) for articulating the at least one footpad 50 about each respective at least one actuator arm 40. The articulating structure 40a is disposed at a location selected from a group consisting essentially of a periphery of the footpad 50 at the upper surface 50a, a centerline of the footpad 50 at the upper surface 50a, and a location between a centerline of the footpad 50 and a periphery of ...

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PUM

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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 ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B65B67/00
CPCB65B25/04B65B1/24
Inventor MEDINA, JOSE L.PRADO, CARLOS
Owner MEDINA JOSE L
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