Produce tray filler
US10287044B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 2, 2016 |
| Grant date | May 14, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 2, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B1/32
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for filling a produce tray with agricultural produce includes a tray loading station with a fill hopper for receiving the agricultural produce, a produce compression station including at least one tuck finger platen, and a conveyer including a plurality of tray carriers for moving the produce tray from the tray loading station to the produce compression station. Some embodiments of the invention also include a split chute for transferring the agricultural produce from the fill hopper to the produce tray and a trolley for selectively positioning the split chute under the fill hopper or tuck finger platen. Another embodiment of the invention includes a tuck finger platen for compressing agricultural produce near the center of the tray less than agricultural produce near the interior walls of the produce tray. Yet another embodiment of the invention includes steps in a method for loading agricultural produce into a produce tray.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.