Comestible packaging apparatus

US4051645A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Aaron J. Warkentin · Orange Cove, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 26, 1976
• Grant date: Oct 4, 1977
• Expiry date: Oct 26, 1996

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65B25/045
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Apples are packaged by introducing them in a water bath in which they float upwardly into an open bottom porous cage. After the cage is filled with apples it is moved laterally in the water bath to an apple loading zone for packaging in a wooden bin. The wooden bin is initially placed at such zone below the apple filled cage. The bin and cage are then raised out of the water to an elevation between a bin feed conveyor and a bin discharge conveyor. When and as the bin is being raised upwardly through the water the apples from the cage fall into the bin and once such apple filled bin reaches the above mentioned elevation an empty bin on the feed conveyor is moved to dislodge the apple-filled bin onto the discharge conveyor with the empty bin then remaining on the elevator and being subsequently moved downwardly through the water to a position below expectant arrival of another apple-filled cage. The apparatus to a certain extent is duplicated in that there are two apple receiving stations and correspondingly two open bottom cage bottom cages and while one cage is being filled with apples floating up through its open bottom, the other cage may be raised and lowered at the apple packag…