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US 4,907,396 AGranted
Apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit
AssigneeMcClusky Machinery Sales & Service
InventorsStanley McClusky, Jerry L. Boyd
Life of this patent
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AssigneeMcClusky Machinery Sales & Service
InventorsStanley McClusky, Jerry L. Boyd
Estimating the term…
An apparatus and method for packaging citrus fruit or discrete articles in a tightly packed pattern or arrangement closely resembling that of a hand packed box. A two-part telescoped box is conveyed in inverted position to a box filling and counting station, the box including an box inner part in which the side and end flaps are in open relation at the box filling station. At the counting station, fruit is being oscillated transversely of their path of travel so as to singulate the fruit into a plurality of counting stations arranged in a row and in a valley. When the row count has been satisfied, all of the fruit in the row are lifted upwardly for discharge into the open box. When the full count is satisfied, the filled box with fruit extending above the top of the outer box is moved to a box handling station in which the inner box is lifted to a height where the side and end flaps of the inner box may be folded over the top fruit. The box is then conveyed into a box vibrating and pressure applying station in which the box is conveyed through a passageway which slowly decreases in height from its entrance to its exit end. In travel of the box along this passageway, the sides of the box are held by moving side conveyors, the bottom of the box contacts a bottom conveyor and the side and end flaps which have been folded over are brought into contact with a top belt conveyor which progressively increases pressure against the closed inner box part. When the box exits the vibratory and pressure applying station, the box enters a box invertor in which the box is turned 180.degree. in order to present the outer box on top, which when removed, discloses a top layer of fruit arranged in uniform closely spaced rows.
In a method for packaging citrus fruit in a box having an outer box part and an inner box part having side and end flaps the steps of:
A method of filling a box with a selected number of articles including the steps of:
An apparatus for packing citrus fruit in a tightly packed pattern in a box means having outer and inner telescoped boxes, the inner box having end and side flaps, comprising, in combination:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.