Fruit tray nesting device and methods of use
AssigneePackline Technologies, Inc.
InventorLorin Reed
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims31
An apparatus for placing a produce tray in a crate, comprising:
- a. a track and a crate caddy movable along said track;
- and
- b. a platform for placement of said produce tray,
- wherein said track underlies said platform and said track has a direction of travel such that a produce tray may be transferred from the platform toward the crate caddy as the crate caddy moves the crate along the track, and the track passes through a portion of platform.
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A method of loading a tray into a container, comprising:
- a. placing a container in a container caddy movable on a track;
- b. propelling said container caddy along said track, wherein a portion of the track passes through a surface of the platform;
- c. propelling a tray along a delivery platform;
- and
- d. delivering said tray accurately into said container, such that the entire perimeter shape of said tray is within the bed of the container.
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A method of loading a tray into a container, comprising:
- a. placing a container in a container caddy movable on a track;
- b. propelling said container caddy along said track in a first direction toward a nesting station;
- c. propelling a tray along a delivery platform in a second direction toward said nesting station to delivering said tray into said container such that the entire tray is within the bed of the container;
- and
- d. propelling said container with said tray nested therein along the track in an opposite direction from said first direction toward another station.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.