# US 2014/0190123 A1 · Plant for manual packaging of products, in particular fruit and vegetable products > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190123 A1 - Document ID: US20140190123A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/237,083 - Filed: 2012-09-14 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-23 - Assignees: Unitec S.P.A. - Inventors: Luca Benedetti - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190123A1 ## CPC - B65B 67/02: Packaging of articles or materials in containers - B65B 25/046: {in crates or boxes (B65B25/045 takes precedence)} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Plant for manual packaging of crates with fruit and vegetable products includes a first mobile horizontal belt conveyor on which products are placed, and which moves with a controllable motion and a second mobile conveyor on which is placed a plurality of crates. The two conveyors are arranged on parallel and horizontal but planes. The upper surface of the second conveyor is arranged at least partially overlying the position of the first conveyor. A return conveyor is arranged on the same horizontal plane as the first mobile conveyor, and moving in a direction opposite to the same. A third mobile conveyor may be provided, similar to the first conveyor, oriented and provided with a movement like the first conveyor and arranged, with respect to a median vertical plane of the upper belt of said return conveyor, in a position opposite and preferably symmetrical to said first conveyor. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Hand packaging work table for manual packaging of crates, particularly but not exclusively for fruit and vegetable products, comprising: a support structure of elongate shape supported on a plane; a first mobile conveyor belt; whose upper mobile surface is arranged on a horizontal plane; has a flat substantially elongate upper surface; travels with a closed-loop path; is supported by said structure and is suitable to support and transfer with a substantially horizontal movement the products placed on it; moves with a controllable motion; a second mobile belt conveyor whose upper mobile surface moves in the same direction and has a flat substantially elongate upper shape, is supported by said structure, and is suitable to move a plurality of crates; means suitable to guarantee the return path of the products that are not packaged, wherein: the upper surfaces of said two mobile conveyors are arranged on parallel and horizontal planes: and are arranged at a pre-defined and constant difference in height. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein said means suitable to guarantee the return path of the products not placed in the respective crate includes a single return conveyor, which moves substantially on the same horizontal plane of said first conveyor, which travels in the opposite direction to said first conveyor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Hand packaging work table according to claim 2, wherein said return conveyor is arranged completely below said second conveyor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein a third mobile conveyor is provided: having substantially the same characteristics of said first conveyor; arranged, with respect to a vertical plane substantially median to the sliding upper surface of said return conveyor, in a position opposite and preferably symmetrical to said first conveyor; oriented like said first conveyor, and suitable to travel in a motion parallel to the same. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein said return conveyor is suitable to also carry the products coming from said third conveyor, and that first deflecting means are arranged above said first and third conveyor and are suitable to deflect the products carried by said first and third conveyor toward and onto said common return conveyor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein second deflecting means are provided arranged above said return conveyor and suitable to deflect the objects carried by said return conveyor toward and onto said first and third conveyor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Hand packaging work table according to claim 6, wherein said first and/or said second deflecting means can be selectively activated, removed or inclined. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein the separation in height of the second conveyor with respect to the level of said first conveyor and/or of the third conveyor is adjustable preferably through the variation in height of said second conveyor by means of suitable adjusting and control devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein it includes one or more supporting means arranged externally to said first and/or third conveyor and aligned with them, and suitable to be used as supports or support planes for the operators of said hand packaging work table, wherein said support means are adjustable in height. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein below said first and third conveyor is obtained an empty space suitable to be used for inserting the folded legs of the operators seated on said support means. ### Claim 11 (depends on 4) Hand packaging work table according to claim 4, wherein: between said first conveyor and said return conveyor, and between said third conveyor and the same return conveyor are installed respective separation devices suitable to prevent in a selectively activated manner the products carried by said return conveyor from moving toward one or the other of said first or third conveyor, and vice versa. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein it includes a conveyor for rejected products, which is arranged in a position lower than said first and third conveyor, and preferably is located in a position below said return conveyor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) Hand packaging work table according to claim 12, wherein at least one guide is provided for rejected products, and that such guide: is installed in a substantially inclined orientation; is provided at the upper end with a feeding mouth; is provided at its lower end with a discharge mouth, substantially arranged above said rejected product conveyor. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) Hand packaging work table according to claim 1, wherein it includes a further conveyor for products selected in other ways, which is arranged in a position substantially above said return conveyor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 4) Hand packaging work table according to claim 4, wherein it is substantially symmetrical with respect to said vertical plane substantially median to the sliding upper surface of said return conveyor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) Hand packaging work table according to claim 2, wherein a third mobile conveyor is provided: having substantially the same characteristics of said first conveyor; arranged, with respect to a vertical plane substantially median to the sliding upper surface of said return conveyor, in a position opposite and preferably symmetrical to said first conveyor; oriented like said first conveyor, and suitable to travel in a motion parallel to the same. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) Hand packaging work table according to claim 3, wherein a third mobile conveyor is provided: having substantially the same characteristics of said first conveyor; arranged, with respect to a vertical plane substantially median to the sliding upper surface of said return conveyor, in a position opposite and preferably symmetrical to said first conveyor; oriented like said first conveyor, and suitable to travel in a motion parallel to the same. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) Hand packaging work table according to claim 2, wherein said return conveyor is suitable to also carry the products coming from said third conveyor, and that first deflecting means are arranged above said first and third conveyor and are suitable to deflect the products carried by said first and third conveyor toward and onto said common return conveyor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) Hand packaging work table according to claim 3, wherein said return conveyor is suitable to also carry the products coming from said third conveyor, and that first deflecting means are arranged above said first and third conveyor and are suitable to deflect the products carried by said first and third conveyor toward and onto said common return conveyor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) Hand packaging work table according to claim 4, wherein said return conveyor is suitable to also carry the products coming from said third conveyor, and that first deflecting means are arranged above said first and third conveyor and are suitable to deflect the products carried by said first and third conveyor toward and onto said common return conveyor.