U.S. patent application number 16/512372 was filed with the patent office on 2020-04-16 for pallet bag gathering apparatus and process for use.
This patent application is currently assigned to Curation Foods, Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Curation Foods, Inc.. Invention is credited to Steven Bitler, Joe Reynoso.
Application Number | 20200115081 16/512372 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 70162256 |
Filed Date | 2020-04-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200115081 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bitler; Steven ; et
al. |
April 16, 2020 |
Pallet bag gathering apparatus and process for use
Abstract
Pallet bag gathering apparatus to gather pallet bags for use in
an automated pallet bag packaging system, preferably for the
packaging of fruits or vegetables. The pallet bag gathering
apparatus may be automated, semi-automated or manual in nature.
Inventors: |
Bitler; Steven; (Menlo Park,
CA) ; Reynoso; Joe; (Santa Maria, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Curation Foods, Inc. |
Santa Maria |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Curation Foods, Inc.
Santa Maria
CA
|
Family ID: |
70162256 |
Appl. No.: |
16/512372 |
Filed: |
July 16, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62698796 |
Jul 16, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/135 20130101;
B65B 35/30 20130101; B65D 33/01 20130101; B65D 71/0096 20130101;
B65D 2571/00012 20130101; B65D 81/24 20130101; B65D 81/2084
20130101; B65B 11/585 20130101; B65D 85/34 20130101; B65D 33/002
20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 35/30 20060101
B65B035/30; B65B 9/13 20060101 B65B009/13; B65D 81/24 20060101
B65D081/24 |
Claims
1. A gathering frame to gather a pallet bag: a. wherein the
gathering frame is configured to receive a pallet bag; b. wherein
the gathering frame circumference is adjustable; c. wherein the
gathering frame has a plurality of guide arms; and d. wherein the
guide arms have a plurality of feeder wheels and plurality of guide
stops.
2. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the gathering frame is
configured to receive a pallet bag from about 150 to about 250
inches in circumference.
3. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the feeder wheels
advance the pallet bag into a void space between the feeder wheels
and the guide stops.
4. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the gathered pallet bag
is fed from one or more pallet bag rolls.
5. The gathering frame of claim 3, wherein after gathering the
pallet bag in the void space between the feeder wheels and the
guide stops, the guide arms pivot the feeder wheel to not contact
the gathering frame and the gathered pallet bag is removed from the
gathering frame and placed on a pallet for loading materials
thereon.
6. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the pallet bag is
configured to receive an ACM.
7. The gathering frame of claim 6, wherein the ACM comprises a
crystalline polymer.
8. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the
pallet bag is from about 2 to about 8 mil and composed of an
ultra-low-density polyethylene (ULDPE), low-density polyethylene
(LDPE), or linear-low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).
9. The gathering frame of claim 8, wherein the pallet bag is
composed of a plastic monolayer, plastic laminates, multicomponent
laminates and/or blends thereof.
10. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the gathering process
is automated.
11. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of
the gathering process is automated.
12. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein pallet bag comprises an
additive that has anti-fungal or anti-microbial properties.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 62/698,796, filed on Jul. 16, 2018 and
relates to U.S. application Ser. No. 15/604,629, filed May 24,
2017, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/340,966, filed May 24,
2016, and the following commonly assigned applications, including
application Ser. No. 13/368,216, filed Feb. 7, 2012. Application
Ser. No. 13/368,216, filed Feb. 7, 2012 is a continuation of Ser.
No. 09/858,190, filed May 15, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,110,232.
Ser. No. 09/858,190 is also related to claims priority under 37 CFR
1.78(a)(5) from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/325,762, filed
May 26, 2000, which resulted from the conversion of application
Ser. No. 09/580,379, into a provisional application under 37 CFR
1.53(c)(2). This application is also related to (1) application
Ser. No. 09/989,682, filed Nov. 20, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.
7,601,374, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 09/858,190,
(2) application Ser. No. 12/553,852 filed Sep. 3, 2009, now U.S.
Pat. No. 8,092,848, which is a divisional of Ser. No. 09/989,682,
and co-filed applications from U.S. Provisional Patent Application
Nos. 62/698,908, 62/698,923, and 62/701,364. The entire disclosure
of each of those patents and applications is incorporated herein by
reference for all purposes.
[0002] This invention relates to the packaging of respiring and
non-respiring biological materials, particularly various berries.
This invention is useful in packaging any and all fresh fruit and
vegetables. In particular, it is useful in increasing the speed of
the packing operation, reduces worker fatigue, increases
reproducibility, decreases errors, and allows for automation of the
packaging process for a variety of pallet sized packaging of
biological materials.
[0003] Respiring and non-respiring biological materials, e.g.
fruits and vegetables, consume oxygen (O.sub.2) and produce carbon
dioxide (CO.sub.2) at rates which depend upon the stage of their
development, the atmosphere surrounding them and the temperature.
In modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), the objective is to produce
a desired atmosphere around respiring and non-respiring materials
by placing them in a sealed container whose permeability to O.sub.2
and CO.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 is correlated with (i) the partial
pressures of O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2 in the air outside the package,
and (ii) the temperature, to produce a desired atmosphere within
the container and (iii) the gas permeation properties of the chosen
package materials and components. In many cases, the container
includes an atmosphere control member having a high permeability to
O.sub.2 and CO.sub.2. In controlled atmosphere packaging (CAP), the
objective is to produce a desired atmosphere around respiring and
non-respiring materials by displacing some or all of the air within
a container by one or more gases, e.g. nitrogen, O.sub.2, CO.sub.2
and ethylene, in desired proportions. Reference may be made, for
example, to U.S. Pat. No. 3,360,380 (Bedrosian), U.S. Pat. No.
3,450,542 (Badran), U.S. Pat. No. 3,450,544 (Badran et al.), U.S.
Pat. No. 3,798,333 (Cummin et al), U.S. Pat. No. 3,924,010 (Erb),
U.S. Pat. No. 4,003,728 (Rath), U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,324 (Hill),
U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,524 (Wade), U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,863 (Jones),
U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,875 (Anderson), U.S. Pat. No. 4,879,078
(Antoon), U.S. Pat. No. 4,910,032 (Antoon), U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,703
(Antoon), U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,745 (Harris), U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,290
(Wallace et al.) U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,331 (Antoon), U.S. Pat. No.
5,063,753 (Woodruff), U.S. Pat. No. 5,160,768 (Antoon), U.S. Pat.
No. 5,254,354 (Stewart), U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,394 (Herdeman), U.S.
Pat. No. 5,433,335 (Raudalus et al.), U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,841
(Herdeman), U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,658 (Raudalus et al.), U.S. Pat.
No. 5,658,607 (Herdeman), U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,293 (De Moor) and
U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,032 (Clarke et al), International Publication
Nos. WO 94/12040 (Fresh Western) and WO 00/04787 (Landec), and
European Patent Applications Nos. 0,351,115 and 0,351,116
(Courtaulds). The disclosure of each of these patents and
publications is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety
for all purposes.
[0004] The preferred packaging atmosphere for fresh respiring and
non-respiring fruit or vegetables often depends on the age of the
fruit or vegetables and the changes (if any) which are desired.
Generally, for example, the preferred O.sub.2 content during
storage of unripe fruits is lower than the preferred O.sub.2
content during subsequent ripening at a higher temperature. This
fact causes problems for both MAP and CAP. For example, in MAP,
although the O.sub.2 permability of the container generally
increases with temperature (especially if it contains an atmosphere
control member comprising a crystalline polymer having an
appropriate melting point, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,376,032
and International Publication No. WO 00/04787), the increase is
often insufficient to avoid the need for significant compromise
between the preferred atmospheres at different stages. In CAP, it
is theoretically possible to monitor the packaging atmosphere and
to change it as often as is necessary to maintain the preferred
level of O.sub.2 (and other gases).
[0005] But this is difficult and expensive, and often impractical.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,799,495 discloses a system in which
biologically respiring and non-respiring material, e.g. fruit, is
transported and ripened in a sealed container, and is first
surrounded by a first atmosphere and thereafter by a second
atmosphere, the second atmosphere containing more oxygen than the
first. The atmospheres are controlled by injection of appropriate
gases directly into the container.
[0006] For the transportation of berries, for example, it is
typically desirable to use pallet packaging to generate a
controlled or modified atmosphere inside the pallet to extend
shelf-life of produce, minimize microbial growth, maintain color,
and maintain freshness.
[0007] Currently, Strawberries are hand-picked in the field, placed
into plastic clam shell enclosures that are then placed into
cardboard trays and cardboard trays are stacked onto a wooden
pallet to a height of about 100-120 inches containing about 1000
lbs. of berries. The pallet of packaged berries is transported to a
cooler and the temperature reduced to about 32.degree. F.
[0008] The cooled pallet is then placed by forklift onto a
structurally robust metal support and transfer mechanism at which
time jaws or clamps encircle the cardboard trays of berries, lifts
up the trays as one unit and workers put a combination of cardboard
and plastic sheeting onto the pallet and then the trays of berries
are lowered back onto the pallet. Workers then staple or tack the
about 6 inch flap of plastic sheet that extends beyond the pallet
edges to the trays of berries. A pallet bag is lowered onto the
pallet from above to overlap with the tacked up sheet. Tape (about
6 inch wide) is then used to seal the pallet bag to the sheet while
the, for example, 1000 lb. pallet spins on the support system. A
slit or hole is made in the side of the pallet bag and a probe
inserted that can remove some of the inside air and replace with
carbon dioxide to a target concentration. See, U.S. Pat. No.
7,770,366, which is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
[0009] However, there are several problems with the prior system,
including: [0010] i. The plastic sheet between the pallet and berry
trays cannot be applied in the field because the plastic sheet is
often damaged during transport leading to leaks in the bag; [0011]
ii. The prior system is slow and subject to human error since it
requires so many manual steps to apply the current bag system;
[0012] iii. The prior system requires a large footprint within the
cooler since the overall system must be structurally strong enough
to hold, move, raise, rotate and manipulate a 1000 lb. pallet with
structural strength to spare while providing a safe work
environment to works manually applying the packaging to the pallet;
[0013] iv. The prior system has a high failure rate, as defined by
pallet bags not maintaining the target atmosphere due to manual
error resulting in rips, tears, leaks at the seal where the bag and
bottom sheet meet and are taped, etc. In particular the taped seal
is a source of significant leak failure; [0014] v. The prior
system, equipment, and slow manual process time lead to a slow
system; [0015] vi. The prior system is prone to worker health
issues due toworkers bending over, stapling sheet, lifting, and
other labor-intensive involvement; and [0016] vii. Without the use
of the BreathWay.RTM. membrane, the current system can develop high
CO.sub.2 levels that lead to off-odor, off-taste and a short
shelf-life.
[0017] Some of these problems are addressed using a single-bag
system with the use of a designed gas permeable membrane, such as
the BreathWay.RTM. membrane described in patents cited and
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety and by
automating the system such as in U.S. application Ser. No.
15/604,629 and the co-filed U.S. Provisional applications titled
"Pallet Bag" and "Automated Process and Apparatus for Packaging
Biological Materials," which are incorporated herein by reference
in their entirety.
[0018] However, in an embodiment of that system the load of
biological materials (e.g., berries), is placed on a pallet wherein
the pallet must be prepared with a pallet load bag that can be
lifted around the load and sealed to establish the packaging
environment for the materials. From the prior art methods of
packaging other pallet loads of such materials, the typical
approach is to manually gather the bag to place around the pallet
for subsequent raising and sealing around the load of materials.
This manual process is time-consuming, subject to non-repeatability
errors, and prevents an automated overall packaging approach.
[0019] The embodiments of the present invention address this
problem by adding critical automation to improve the speed and
quality of the process, addressing the aforementioned problems.
[0020] The first area of the invention includes the following
aspects.
[0021] A first aspect of the invention includes a pallet bag
gathering apparatus having a plurality of roller wheels designed to
advance a pallet bag onto an adjustable frame capable of
duplicating the dimensions of the pallet to be used in the
automated pallet bag packaging system. The apparatus can be used to
gather pallet bags of any dimensions but is particularly useful
when it is designed to gather and compress pallet bags with the
following properties: [0022] i. The length of the pallet bag for
use in the automated gathering apparatus may be about 50 to about
150 inches long, preferably about 113 inches to about 120 inches
long; [0023] ii. The circumference of the pallet bag is from about
150 inches to about 250 inches, preferably about 175- about 200
inches, most preferably about 186 inches in circumference; [0024]
iii. The bag composition is typically polyethylene (PE), generally
low density polyethylene (LDPE) which may have additives and
features to improve durability; [0025] iv. The pallet bag typically
is gusseted, with the sides folded inward; [0026] v. The bags may
optionally have one or more holes, for example, about 18 inches
from the top of the bag, each of the holes being covered by an
atmosphere control membrane (ACM), preferably the patented ACMs
sold by Landec Corporation under the tradename BreatheWay, such
membranes may be the same or different; [0027] vi. The location of
the ACM membranes is on or near the top surface of the pallet bags
is preferred and desirable to minimize blockage from load shifting
during shipment; and [0028] vii. The pallet bags and ACMs are
designed with dimensions to accommodate each different type of
produce due to different respiration rates and quantities.
[0029] In a second aspect the pallet bag gathering apparatus has
the following features: [0030] i. A gathering frame that is made of
a rigid material such as metal that is from about 150 inches to
about 250 inches, preferably about 175- about 200 inches, most
preferably about 186 inches in circumference and shaped to fit the
pallet bag; [0031] ii. The gathering frame may be adjustable to
accommodate pallet bags of different circumferences; [0032] iii.
The gathering frame has feed wheels that automatically advance the
bag over the frame until it is stopped by the guide stops at the
ends of the plurality of guide arms; [0033] iv. The number of guide
arms may vary but in one embodiment each side has four guide arms,
though two to six may be used alternatively, said guide arms being
flexibly attached to the gathering frame wherein each guide arm has
a feed wheel at one end and a guide stop at the other end; [0034]
v. The guide arms are flexible with sufficient tension to secure
the gathered pallet bag to the gathering frame but flexible enough
to allow the pallet bag to pass under the guide wheel into the
gathering area; [0035] vi. The gathering area is the area of the
guide arm between the feed wheel and the guide stop, wherein the
area must be sufficient to collect the entire length of the pallet
bag; [0036] vii. The guide wheels are controlled by a controller
which may operate manually to start when the top of the pallet bag
is fed into the guide wheels or preferably programmed to start
advancing the bag upon sensing the bag has been fed to
substantially all guide wheels and to continue until the end of the
pallet bag advances to contact the gathering frame; and [0037]
viii. Optionally, the gathering frame is positioned above a pallet
or a pallet is placed below the gathering frame to transfer the
gathered pallet bag to the pallet for use in the automated pallet
packaging system.
[0038] In a Prior to use the guide arms are initially in a release
position wherein the guide wheels are not in contact with the
gathering frame but the guide stop is in contact with the gathering
frame proximate to the top portion of the gathering frame. In one
embodiment the guide arm pivots at the guide stop such that the
guide wheels are not in contact with the gathering frame. A pallet
bag is dispensed from the bag rolls and the top opening of the
pallet bag is fed under the guide wheels, at which time the guide
arm is made to pivot to a position where it is in contact with the
outside portion of the pallet bag, wherein the inside portion of
the pallet bag is pressed against the gathering frame by the guide
wheels. Said guide arms may be from about 1 foot to about 2 feet in
length preferably, though the preferred length can be determined as
needed to accommodate the gathered pallet bag. The guide arms have
a space between the guide wheel and the guide stop that is
approximately rectangular in shape with a width of approximately
the diameter of the guide wheel, which may be about 3 inches to
about 6 inches and a length from about 1 foot to about 2 feet. This
space is used to collect the gathered pallet bag.
[0039] After the pallet bag is fed under the guide wheels, which
may be automatic or manually fed, and the guide wheels are pivoted
to contact the outside of the pallet bag, then gathering process
can be initiated either manually or automatically by sensing the
pallet bag has been fed to a point beyond the contact point of the
guide wheels to the gathering frame. The guide wheels move in a
direction to feed the pallet bag into the space between the guide
wheel and the guide stop on the gathering frame. The gathering
process in a preferred embodiment takes less than about twenty
seconds, preferably less than ten seconds. When the bottom of the
gathered bag is secured against the lower part of the gathering
frame, the guide wheels stop either manually or automatically by
sensing the resistance of the bag or by sensing the bottom of the
bag against the gathering frame. To remove the gathered bag from
the gathering frame the guide wheels may be pivoted away from the
gathering frame such that the wheels are no longer in contact with
the outside surface of the pallet bag. The gathered pallet bag may
then be lowered from the gathering frame and preferably placed on a
pallet in preparation for moving the pallet with the gathered
pallet bag to a station of an automated pallet bag packaging system
to receive a load of biological materials for packaging within the
pallet bag.
[0040] Alternatively, the pallet bags may be gathered, removed and
stacked for use in the automated pallet bag packaging system.
Alternatively, the pallet gathering apparatus is integrated into
the pallet bag packaging system such that a gathered bag is
automatically deposited on a pallet for loading biological
materials on such pallet, extending the pallet bag over the
biological materials, and sealing the bag.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] The drawings are for illustrative purposes and do not depict
every embodiment of the invention.
[0042] FIG. 1 is a depiction of a top-diagonal view of the pallet
bag gathering apparatus.
[0043] FIG. 2 is a depiction of a rear view of the pallet bag
gathering apparatus.
[0044] FIG. 3 is a depiction of a top down view of the pallet bag
gathering apparatus.
[0045] FIG. 4 is a depiction of a side view of the pallet bag
gathering apparatus.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] In the Summary of the Invention above and in the Detailed
Description of the Invention, the Examples, and the Claims below,
reference is made to particular features (including method steps)
of the invention. It is to be understood that the embodiments of
the invention include all possible combinations of such particular
features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in
the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention,
or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent
possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other
particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the
invention generally.
[0047] The term "comprises" and grammatical equivalents thereof are
used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps etc.
are optionally present. For example, an article "comprising" (or
"which comprises") components A, B and C can consist of (i.e.
contain only) components A, Band C, or can contain not only
components A, Band C but also one or more other components. Where
reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined
steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or
simultaneously (except where the context excludes that
possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps
which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two
of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where
the context excludes that possibility).
[0048] Where reference is made herein to sealed packages and sealed
containers, and to sealing bags and other containers containing
biological materials, it is to be understood that the sealing can
be, but sometimes is not, hermetic sealing, due to poor heat seal
operation, poor taping or poor closure.
[0049] Conventional methods for sealing bags and other containers
can conveniently be used in this invention. Such conventional
methods include, for example, the use of a cable tie to seal the
neck of a polymeric bag. A seal made by conventional methods often
is not a hermetic seal, and has the advantage that it permits
equilibration of the pressures inside and outside the bag. If the
container is sealed hermetically, it will generally be desirable to
include one or more pinholes in the container, to achieve such
equilibration and or through appropriate choice of ACM, for example
BreathWay membranes alone or in combination with other ACMs. If two
Breatheway ACMs are used, for example, one can avoid the need for
pinholes even when hermetically sealed.
[0050] The less complete the sealing of the container, the less the
influence of the permeability of the container on the packaging
atmosphere within it. Thus, even a poor seal may be sufficient, or
even desirable, for example when the desired O.sub.2 content of the
packaging atmosphere lies between the O.sub.2 content of the
atmosphere surrounding the package and the O.sub.2 content of the
packaging atmosphere that would result if the seal was a hermetic
seal. Under such circumstances, the sealing could be designed to
permit a controlled amount of direct exchange between the packaging
atmosphere and the atmosphere surrounding the container.
Pallet Bag--Generating Internal Atmospheres
[0051] The Pallet bag may be a standard thickness, for example
about 2 to about 8 mil, more preferably about 3 to about 4 mil and
may be composed of any plastic material, low density polyethylene
(LDPE) is a preferred plastic (since by using a mechanical locking
device no heat sealing is needed--but heat sealing may be applied)
but any plastic monolayer, plastic laminates or multicomponent
laminates or blends may be used for example, PE, PP, PET,
thermoplastic elastomer, stretch plastic, Nylon, paper/plastic
laminates, and the like. Other bag materials and thicknesses may be
used. However, it is desirable that the upper portions of the wall
material should be sufficiently flexible to be used with the
mechanical seal preferably used in the pallet packaging system
herein.
[0052] Suitable flexible material for the bag may be PE, PP, Nylon,
polyester, recycled or repurposed plastic, low cost paper/plastic
laminates, and other laminates. Preferred materials include LDPE,
Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra low density
polyethylene (ULDPE). Depending on the method of applying the bag
over the pallet, a stretch plastic may be preferred.
[0053] In one embodiment the pallet bag material contains one or
more specialty additives, including additives having one or more of
the following properties: anti-microbial; anti-fungal;
photobiodegradable; oxo-photobiodegradable; UV blocker; anti-drag;
anti-scratch; print enhancer; anti-static; anti-fog; pro-release;
and pest repellant (e.g., ant, rodent). The material may optionally
contain metallic silver particles, zeolites, organic
micro-particles, titanium dioxide, and silica, as well as other
additives to aid in the process and promotion of packaged
biological materials.
[0054] Because heat sealing may be unnecessary when using a
"mechanical seal", the pallet bag material may be selected based on
cost or moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) properties or
puncture resistance or other reasons. Integral to the pallet
packaging system is the use of atmosphere control technology, for
example a BREATHEWAY.RTM. membrane or microperforations as
appropriate. Preferably the pallet packaging system uses a
BREATHEWAY.RTM. membrane, as described in other Apio/Landec patents
and patent applications, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,254,354;
6,376,032; 6,548,132, and 7,329,452, each of which is incorporated
by reference in its entirety. Use of the membrane technology allows
effective atmosphere control of oxygen and carbon dioxide for
extension of shelf-life, taste, freshness, and other benefits, such
as appearance.
[0055] The pallet bag/cover may optionally have a `valve" mechanism
built into the bag that may be a one-way or two-way valve to assist
in the speed and efficiency of removing the air in the bag and
replacing with CO.sub.2 which may eliminate the need to cut and
then retape the bag after CO.sub.2 injection.
[0056] The pallet bag may optionally be a custom designed bag
which, when opened and placed over the pallet will have a flat top
to lie smoothly over the top layer of product trays. This bag
design will not leave any hanging ears, which otherwise require
taping and add extra labor, cost and time. A preferred pallet bag
may be designed to fit a unit load of 48''.times.40'' (Standard
Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet) with varying
heights and will come in a roll form. Alternatively, the pallet bag
may be designed for use with a sea pallet, which commonly has a
size of 1200 mm.times.1000 mm. Alternatively, the pallet bag may be
sized for a European pallet of 800 mm.times.1200 mm used in some
parts of Europe.
[0057] These bags in a roll will allow for easy automation.
The Pallet Bags
[0058] The pallet bags, in one aspect, form part of the present
invention and can be used to drive efficiency, lower costs, and to
render a clean looking finished pallet with the right atmosphere.
In one embodiment, a fully automated system is used from using film
in the shape of a long tube that can be automatically cut to size
for a custom pallet height, with the top heat sealed and holes cut
over which may be placed ACM membranes, such as BreatheWay.RTM.
membranes, or microperforations for atmosphere control.
[0059] FIGS. 1-4 show features of the pallet bag gathering
apparatus.
[0060] Regarding FIG. 1, the depiction of the pallet bag gathering
apparatus 100 shows guide arm 120 with feeder wheels 121 and guide
stops 122. The guide arm 120 pivots away from the gathering frame
110 prior to feeding the pallet bag from the pallet bag rolls 150.
The pallet bag rolls may be of different lengths and circumferences
depending on the containers that will be packaged within the pallet
bag. Controller 130 is used to program the process of feeding the
pallet bag from roller 150 between the feeder wheels 121 and the
gathering frame 110 to the void space between the feeder wheels 121
and the guide stops 122. The pallet bag feeder 140 may be
automatically programmed to feed the pallet bag to the gathering
frame 110 and may be programmed to automatically detach the pallet
bag from the roll when the bottom of the bag proceeds beyond a set
point.
[0061] Regarding FIG. 2, this alternative view from behind the
pallet bag gathering apparatus 200 shows the controller 230 and the
plurality of pallet bag rolls 250 loaded on spools for distribution
therefrom to the gathering frame.
[0062] Regarding FIG. 3, this alternative view from above the
pallet bag gathering apparatus 300 shows the top of the controller,
the pallet bag rolls 350, the pallet bag feeder 340, the gathering
frame 310 and the guide arm 120.
[0063] Regarding FIG. 4, this alternative view from the side of the
pallet bag gathering apparatus 400 shows the pallet bag feeder 440,
the gathering frame 410, the feeder wheels 411, and the guide stops
412.
[0064] Persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize
certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations
of the embodiments described herein. It is intended herein to
include all such modifications, permutations, additions and
sub-combinations.
* * * * *