Improved apparatus for filling containers with horticultural products and relative method

Abstract

Apparatus for filling containers with horticultural products, built and operating in such a manner as to utilize at least one horizontal transporting conveyor, a moving structure arranged at the output edge of said conveyor and provided with displacement and engagement means to incline said containers, through a partial rotation, from a first inclined position with respect to the horizontal plane, in which the mouth of the container remains contiguous with the output edge of the conveyor, and subsequent working positions in which the same container moves progressively through less inclined positions until it returns to the normal horizontal position. Said mobile structure includes a U-shaped oscillating frame whose open side is designed to position itself in front of said output edge of the transporting conveyor, and blocking means, typically shaped jaws, supported by said oscillating frame and suitable to selectively engage and disengage the outer perimeter of the container, so as to initially cause the container to rotate to a predetermined inclination, and subsequently return in reverse rotation to the normal position, in which the container is released and removed.

1 . Apparatus for the filling with horti-fructural loose products of each of a plurality in series of containers or small boxes, and comprising:
 at least one transporting conveyor moving on an horizontal plane with a motion on a closed path,   at least a moving structure arranged at the output edge of said conveyor, and provided with displacement and engaging means able of oscillating in an articulated way said container from:   a first raised position wherein the plane of the loading aperture of said container is inclined, at a maximum pre-defined n angle, with respect to the plane of said conveyor, said loading aperture maintained contiguous to said output edge of said transporting conveyor,   to successive working positions wherein said container takes progressively less inclined positions, until the horizontal position of said loading aperture,   wherein said conveyor, in said inclined positions of said container, is able of moving forward to said container so that, by gravity, said horti-fructural loose products fall into said container, wherein said moving structure comprises:   an oscillating frame, substantially shaped as an “U”, whose open side is apt of being placed in front of said output edge of said transporting conveyer,   blocking means engaged by said oscillating frame and able of selectively:   - being arranged, at least partially, around and into contact to the outer perimeter of said container, and of being disengaged from said outer perimeter.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to claim wherein said blocking means do comprise:
 one or more jaws arranged inside said oscillating frame and able of being shifted with a translatory motion with respect to the frame itself and be engaged and selectively be disengaged in a controlled and simultaneous way, and on the same direction but with opposed sense, against two opposed rims of said container, each of said opposed rims being arranged on a respective plane substantially parallel to the motion direction of said transporting conveyor.   
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said jaws are partially concave to the inner portion of said oscillating frame, and are placed on the opposed sides of it. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said oscillating frame is apt of rotating on an axis:
 orthogonal to said motion direction of said transporting conveyor,   and basically firm to the position of said outlet edge.   
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said oscillating frame is able to be rotated around said orthogonal axis through one or more hydraulic cylinders, preferably by double effect, each of which being engaged between a portion which preferably is a rear portion, of said oscillating frame, and a respective resistance point, which is solid to the structure of said apparatus. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises a lifting means:
 provided with a lifting surface which is basically flat,   arranged in correspondence and below said output edge of said transporting conveyor,   able of selectively lifting and lowering one of said containers to the level wherein the respective upper rims are raised to the level of said jaws .   
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged, which are able of acting said jaws, and in that said means are mounted on said oscillating frame. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises command and control means of said oscillating frame, of said jaws and of said lifting surface able of acting them according to the sequence which includes the following steps:
 a) loading the container on said lifting surface when lowered,   b) raising said lifting surface, and subsequent stopping it,   c) closing said jaws around the upper rims of said container,   d) rotating said oscillating frame to a pre-determined inclination,   e) acting said transportation conveyor for a definite time interval depending on at least an external and pre-defined variable, and successive stopping of said conveyor,   f) reverse rotation of said oscillating frame to the initial position,   g) opening of said jaws,   h) lowering of said lifting surface,   i) unloading said container from said lifting surface.   
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said external and pre-defined variable is, as alternative:
 a pre-defined time interval,   the volume of the products loaded into said container,   the weight of the products loaded into said container,   the length of the path of said conveyor, whose load is introduced into said container between successive stops,   a photocell or a functionally equivalent device, able of measuring the filling level of the container.   
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises command and control means able:
 of activating the motion of said conveyor at the beginning of the rotation of said oscillating frame,   and of causing the activation of said hydraulic means so as said oscillating frame is progressively rotated towards the starting position during the operation of said conveyor.   
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the operation of said conveyor and/or the rotational motion of said oscillating frame are automatically made dependent on the detection of the presence/absence of such products on the conveyor itself. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein it comprises a lifting means:
 provided with a lifting surface which is basically flat,   arranged in correspondence and below said output edge of said transporting conveyor,   able of selectively lifting and lowering one of said containers to the level wherein the respective upper rims are raised to the level of said jaws.   
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein it comprises a lifting means:
 provided with a lifting surface which is basically flat,   arranged in correspondence and below said output edge of said transporting conveyor,   able of selectively lifting and lowering one of said containers to the level wherein the respective upper rims are raised to the level of said jaws.   
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein it comprises a lifting means:
 provided with a lifting surface which is basically flat,   arranged in correspondence and below said output edge of said transporting conveyor,   able of selectively lifting and lowering one of said containers to the level wherein the respective upper rims are raised to the level of said jaws.   
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein it comprises a lifting means:
 provided with a lifting surface which is basically flat,   arranged in correspondence and below said output edge of said transporting conveyor,   able of selectively lifting and lowering one of said containers to the level wherein the respective upper rims are raised to the level of said jaws.   
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged, which are able of acting said jaws, and in that said means are mounted on said oscillating frame. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged, which are able of acting said jaws, and in that said means are mounted on said oscillating frame. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged, which are able of acting said jaws, and in that said means are mounted on said oscillating frame. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged, which are able of acting said jaws, and in that said means are mounted on said oscillating frame. 
     
     
         20 . Apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged, which are able of acting said jaws, and in that said means are mounted on said oscillating frame.