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US 11,319,099 B2Granted
Fruit tray nesting device and methods of use
AssigneePackline Technologies, Inc.
InventorLorin Reed
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides devices, systems and methods for reliably inserting packing trays into packing crates. Thus, the present invention solves the problems of conventional packaging lines by providing a positioning device for depositing packing trays into packing crates. Particularly, the present invention can be incorporated into existing fruit and vegetable packing lines.
Claims19
An apparatus for placing a produce tray in a crate, comprising:
- a. a guide structure having a track and a crate caddy moveable along said track;
- and
- b. a platform for placement of said produce tray, said platform having an incline relative to the track,
- wherein said track underlies said platform and said track has a direction of travel that is parallel to an inclined edge of the platform such that a produce tray may be transferred down the inclined platform toward the crate caddy as the crate caddy moves the crate along the track, wherein the track passes through the inclined edge of the platform and a portion of the crate caddy passes through the inclined edge of the platform.
1 more element
A method of loading a tray into a container, comprising:
- a. placing a container in a container caddy of a guide structure having a track, said container caddy being moveable along said track, said container with a bed having a pre-determined size and shape therein;
- b. propelling said container caddy along said track;
- c. propelling a tray along a delivery platform having an incline relative to said track, wherein said tray has a perimeter shape that is complementary to the receiving niche of said container wherein the track passes through the incline of the platform and a portion of the track passes through the inclined surface of the platform;
- and
- d. delivering said tray accurately into said receiving niche, such that the entire perimeter shape of said tray is within the bed of the container.
2 more elements
An apparatus for placing a tray in a crate, comprising:
- a. a guide structure having a track and a crate caddy moveable along said track;
- and
- b. a platform for placement of said tray, said platform having an incline relative to the track, wherein said track underlies said platform and said track has a direction of travel that is parallel to an inclined edge of the platform and the inclined platform includes two longitudinal slots aligned with the track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.