Claims
- 1. A packing apparatus comprising:
a first platform having a product contact surface and being pivotable about an axis parallel to and spaced from said product contact surface between a first position wherein said product contact surface faces in a first direction and a second position wherein said product contact surface faces in a second direction; and a second platform comprising a box support having a box contact side and a box holder for holding a box having a closed bottom and open top on said box support, said second platform being movable between a first position and a second position, and said box support being pivotable between a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation.
- 2. The packing system of claim 1 wherein said first direction and said second direction are separated by an angle of about 180 degrees.
- 3. The packing system of claim 1 wherein said box support includes a positioning device for positioning a box on said second platform.
- 4. The packing system of claim 3 wherein said box support includes at least one retaining member for retaining the box on the box support.
- 5. The packing system of claim 3 wherein said box support includes at least one gripper for gripping an edge of the box open top.
- 6. The packing system of claim 5 wherein said at least one gripper comprises four grippers.
- 7. The packing system of claim 1 wherein said box contact side comprises a plurality of free-spinning rollers.
- 8. The packing system of claim 1 including at least one track for guiding the movement of said second platform between the first position and the second position.
- 9. The packing system of claim 8 including a drive belt extending between a first wheel and a second wheel and a drive operably coupled to said drive belt, wherein said second platform is coupled to said drive belt.
- 10. The packing system of claim 9 wherein said drive belt is parallel to at least a portion of said at least one guide track.
- 11. The packing system of claim 3 wherein the box support includes a first wall and said positioning device comprises a second, movable, wall and an actuator for moving said movable wall with respect to said first wall.
- 12. The packing system of claim 1 including an actuator for pivoting said box support with respect to said second platform.
- 13. The packing system of claim 1 including a feed conveyor for feeding boxes to said box support.
- 14. The packing system of claim 13 including a discharge conveyor for receiving boxes from said box support.
- 15. A method of packing a product comprising the steps of:
providing a first platform having a product support surface facing in a first direction; placing a product to be packaged on the product support surface; providing a second platform including a box support having a box contact surface; aligning said second platform with a first conveyor and receiving on said box support a box having a closed bottom and an open top; securing the box to the box support with the closed bottom in contact with the box contact surface; pivoting the box support so that the box contact surface faces the first platform product support surface and the box open top faces the product; moving the second platform towards the first platform until the product passes through the box top opening; pivoting the first platform and the box support platform until the box open top faces in the first direction; moving the second platform away from the first platform; pivoting the first platform until the product support surface faces in the first direction; aligning said second platform with a second conveyor; and, releasing said box onto said second conveyor.
- 16. A packing apparatus comprising:
a first platform having a product contact surface and being pivotable about an axis parallel to and spaced from said product contact surface between a first position wherein said product contact surface faces in a first direction and a second position wherein said product contact surface faces in a second direction; and a second platform comprising: a box support having a first wall and a box contact side; a positioning device for positioning and holding a box on said box support comprising a second, movable, wall and an actuator for moving said movable wall with respect to said first wall; at least one gripper for gripping an edge of a box having a closed bottom and open top on said box support; said second platform being movable between a first position and a second position, and said box support being pivotable between a first angular orientation and a second angular orientation with respect to said first platform; at least one guide track for guiding the movement of said second platform between the first position and the second position; a drive belt extending between a first wheel and a second wheel and a drive operably coupled to said drive belt, wherein said second platform is coupled to said drive belt; and an actuator for pivoting said box support.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM TO PRIORITY
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application serial No. 60/290,342, filed May 14, 2001, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60290342 |
May 2001 |
US |