Improved apparatus for automatically opening crates of different dimensions

Abstract

Apparatus for opening in an automatic mode and in a continuous sequence the closed side walls of a plurality of crates, preferably for horticultural products, and preferably lying vertically one on another so as to form a relative first stack, suitable for carrying out the operations for carrying a first stack to a first arrival and loading station, lifting vertically said two pairs of opposite walls, transferring said open crates to a second stack, and subsequently carrying said stack outside the apparatus; the apparatus includes command and control means suitable to store the parameters that correspond to a plurality of types of crates having different dimensions, enter into said command and control means a coded instruction representative of a particular type of crate, and automatically make it so that said command and control means process and transmit to the controls, structures, operating bodies, devices, actuators present in the apparatus appropriate signals that are suitable to determine therein the correct operation corresponding to the type of selected crate.

1 . An apparatus to fully automatically open the side and reclined walls of a plurality of crates preferably for agricultural products, provided with a bottom plane and with two pairs of opposed walls, each of them hinged on said bottom plane, which are arranged in the same and ordered way, and vertically laid one on the other so as to form a respective first stack, and able of performing the following operations:
 a) carrying said first stack into a first loading station,   b) vertically raising two opposed walls of the upper crate by respective rotation with respect to said bottom plane,   c) vertically rising of the other two opposed walls of the upper crate by respective rotation with respect to said bottom plane,   d) blocking of at least one of said side walls to an adjacent side wall,   e) horizontally transferring said open crate into a position outside the vertical projection of said first stack, wherein after said operation in a), and before said operation in b), said first stack is lifted to a level such as the crate in the upper position and with the reclined side walls, reaches a pre-determined level into said first working station,   f) lowering of said crate until a support level of the respective bottom plane on a second working station able of forming a train of opencrates,   wherein said blocking d) and transferring e) operations are carried out through the use of a centre operating body able:
 of being initially lowered until it is introduced into an opened crate, 
 being acted so as to increase one horizontal size and to contact the side edges of two opposed walls, and to engage by pushing said two edges to corresponding edges of the other two walls, 
 to keep on engaged by pushing said crate and to be horizontally transferred, possibly after a lifting motion, so as to automatically transfer said crate, 
   wherein said centre operating body is able to be lowered for strokes, which can be selectively differentiated, with respect to a common initial level.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said operating body is connected to horizontal means for the motion transmission whose horizontal size is selectively controllable through respective distancing members, the opposed ends of which are joined to respective command boxes, each of them being provided with at least a respective blocking means horizontally oriented, said distancing members being able of selectively increasing a corresponding size so that said couple of supports do engage with two opposed walls of the upper crate so that said crate is lifted and successively transferred on an horizontal plane. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first station is able of lifting, one by one, a train of stacks of closed crates, and comprising:
 two supporting frames which are parallel and horizontally extended, each provided with a couple of respective lifting mountings able of supporting a respective stack of closed crates,   working devices able of impressing to said supporting frames a shifting train which includes:
 increasing of the reciprocal horizontal distance from a first distance to a second distance, 
 synchronous lowering of said supporting frames, 
 re-approaching of said supporting frames to the starting distance, 
 incidental final lifting of same said supporting frames for a predefined amount. 
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said supporting frames comprise means able of changing, in a selectively controlled way, the distance between the mountings of each respective mounting couple. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said second station is able of building-up and lowering, one by one, a train of stacks of open crates, and comprising:
 two supporting frames two supporting frames which are parallel and horizontally extended, each provided with a couple of respective lowering mountings able of supporting a respective stack of open crates,   working devices able of impressing to said supporting frames a shifting train which includes:
 increasing of the reciprocal horizontal distance from a first distance to a second distance, 
 synchronous lifting of said supporting frames, 
 re-approaching of said supporting frames to the starting distance. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said supporting frames comprise means able of changing, in a selectively controlled way, the distance between the mountings of a respective couple of mountings. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises:
 a first frame formed as a right parallelepiped with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   a second frame remarkably similar to the first frame with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   wherein said vertical planes, are parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction of alignment of the stacks of closed crates,   wherein said two frames form two side, vertical and symmetrical portions   and means able of modifying the transverse distance between said side portions in the way orthogonal to said common direction through devices able of selectively adjusting said distance, preferably a couple of trimming set screws which are aligned to each other and parallel to said transverse distance engaged to a respective side to a gearing box, and to the opposed side to a respective of said structures, wherein said same gearing box is joined to a command axis able of being activated into rotation.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said vertical axis and relevant central body and said operating body, and said couples of lifting mountings re symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing on the centre of said vertical axis and orthogonal of said common direction. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it comprises control and command means able of:
 storing the parameters/data corresponding to a plurality of crates types showing different sizes,   introducing into said control and command means a coded instruction representing a specific type of crate and automatically obtaining that said control and command means do elaborate and send to said operating devices, members, devices actuators, suitable signal able of determine in them the correct operations corresponding to the selected type of crate.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said first station is able of lifting, one by one, a train of stacks of closed crates, and comprising:
 two supporting frames which are parallel and horizontally extended, each provided with a couple of respective lifting mountings able of supporting a respective stack of closed crates,   working devices able of impressing to said supporting frames a shifting train which includes:
 increasing of the reciprocal horizontal distance from a first distance to a second distance, 
 synchronous lowering of said supporting frames, 
 re-approaching of said supporting frames to the starting distance, 
 incidental final lifting of same said supporting frames for a predefined amount. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein it comprises:
 a first frame formed as a right parallelepiped with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   a second frame remarkably similar to the first frame with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   wherein said vertical planes, are parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction of alignment of the stacks of closed crates,   wherein said two frames form two side, vertical and symmetrical portions   and means able of modifying the transverse distance between said side portions in the way orthogonal to said common direction through devices able of selectively adjusting said distance, preferably a couple of trimming set screws which are aligned to each other and parallel to said transverse distance engaged to a respective side to a gearing box, and to the opposed side to a respective of said structures, wherein said same gearing box is joined to a command axis able of being activated into rotation.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein it comprises:
 a first frame formed as a right parallelepiped with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   a second frame remarkably similar to the first frame with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   wherein said vertical planes, are parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction of alignment of the stacks of closed crates,   wherein said two frames form two side, vertical and symmetrical portions   and means able of modifying the transverse distance between said side portions in the way orthogonal to said common direction through devices able of selectively adjusting said distance, preferably a couple of trimming set screws which are aligned to each other and parallel to said transverse distance engaged to a respective side to a gearing box, and to the opposed side to a respective of said structures, wherein said same gearing box is joined to a command axis able of being activated into rotation.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein it comprises:
 a first frame formed as a right parallelepiped with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   a second frame remarkably similar to the first frame with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   wherein said vertical planes, are parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction of alignment of the stacks of closed crates,   wherein said two frames form two side, vertical and symmetrical portions   and means able of modifying the transverse distance between said side portions in the way orthogonal to said common direction through devices able of selectively adjusting said distance, preferably a couple of trimming set screws which are aligned to each other and parallel to said transverse distance engaged to a respective side to a gearing box, and to the opposed side to a respective of said structures, wherein said same gearing box is joined to a command axis able of being activated into rotation.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein it comprises:
 a first frame formed as a right parallelepiped with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   a second frame remarkably similar to the first frame with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   wherein said vertical planes, are parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction of alignment of the stacks of closed crates,   wherein said two frames form two side, vertical and symmetrical portions   and means able of modifying the transverse distance between said side portions in the way orthogonal to said common direction through devices able of selectively adjusting said distance, preferably a couple of trimming set screws which are aligned to each other and parallel to said transverse distance engaged to a respective side to a gearing box, and to the opposed side to a respective of said structures, wherein said same gearing box is joined to a command axis able of being activated into rotation.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein it comprises:
 a first frame formed as a right parallelepiped with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   a second frame remarkably similar to the first frame with at least two vertical columns arranged on a same vertical plane, joined on the bottom and on the top by two respective horizontal bars, wherein said first frame is able of lodging said first station,   wherein said vertical planes, are parallel to each other and also parallel to the common direction of alignment of the stacks of closed crates,   wherein said two frames form two side, vertical and symmetrical portions   and means able of modifying the transverse distance between said side portions in the way orthogonal to said common direction through devices able of selectively adjusting said distance, preferably a couple of trimming set screws which are aligned to each other and parallel to said transverse distance engaged to a respective side to a gearing box, and to the opposed side to a respective of said structures, wherein said same gearing box is joined to a command axis able of being activated into rotation.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said vertical axis and relevant central body and said operating body, and said couples of lifting mountings re symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing on the centre of said vertical axis and orthogonal of said common direction. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein said vertical axis and relevant central body and said operating body, and said couples of lifting mountings re symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing on the centre of said vertical axis and orthogonal of said common direction. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein said vertical axis and relevant central body and said operating body, and said couples of lifting mountings re symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing on the centre of said vertical axis and orthogonal of said common direction. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein said vertical axis and relevant central body and said operating body, and said couples of lifting mountings re symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing on the centre of said vertical axis and orthogonal of said common direction. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said vertical axis and relevant central body and said operating body, and said couples of lifting mountings re symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane passing on the centre of said vertical axis and orthogonal of said common direction.