Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CAROUSEL LOADING APPARATUS
[0001] This application claims priority to United States Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/636,242 filed on April 20, 2012 and entitled "Carousel
Loading
Machine".
Background
[0002] Loading machine systems come in varied forms. For example, some
loaders are for inorganic matter (e.g., toys, clothing) while others loaders
are for
organic matter (e.g., food articles including melons, potatoes, apples,
onions, citrus,
and the like). These loaders may operate in harsh environments, subject to
dust, dirt,
heat, long hours of operation, and the like. A carousel loader is a specific
type of
loader that loads receptacles on a rotating basis. For example, a carousel
loader may
include a series of bins distributed about a rotating hub.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0003] Embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of
exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a carousel loader in an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 illustrates bag clamps and a trough in an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3-6 illustrate varying views of bag clamps in an embodiment of the
invention;
FIG. 7 includes an exchangeable paddle for bag clamps in an embodiment of the
invention; and
FIG. 8 includes a system for operating code to drive a carousel loader.
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Detailed Description
[0004] Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like structures
may
be provided with like suffix reference designations. The drawings may only
show the
structures useful to understand the illustrated embodiments. Additional
structures
known in the art may not have been included to maintain the clarity of the
drawings.
"An embodiment", "various embodiments" and the like indicate embodiment(s) so
described may include particular features, structures, or characteristics, but
not
every embodiment necessarily includes the particular features, structures, or
characteristics. Some embodiments may have some, all, or none of the features
described for other embodiments. "First", "second", "third" and the like
describe a
common object and indicate different instances of like objects are being
referred to.
Such adjectives do not imply objects so described must be in a given sequence,
either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner. "Connected"
may
indicate elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other
and
"coupled" may indicate elements co-operate or interact with each other, but
they may
or may not be in direct physical or electrical contact. Also, while similar or
same
numbers may be used to designate same or similar parts in different figures,
doing
so does not mean all figures including similar or same numbers constitute a
single or
same embodiment. Terms such as "upper" and "lower" "above" and "below" may be
understood by reference to the illustrated X-Z coordinates, and terms such as
"adjacent" may be understood by reference to X-Y coordinates or to non-Z
coordinates.
[0005] An embodiment includes a carousel machine designed to slowly deliver
a
premeasured weighment of product to a receptacle (e.g., bag, box, sack,
container,
and bin). The receptacle, such as a bag, may be manually hung on pneumatic bag
clamps as the carousel rotates. This may help eliminate jamming of product
that
normally occurs on existing carousel baggers.
[0006] Figure 1 illustrates a carousel loader in an embodiment of the
invention.
Carousel loading apparatus 100 comprises 8 troughs, two of which are labeled
as
120, 121. While the embodiment of Figure 1 includes 8 troughs, other
embodiments
may include 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 or more troughs. Each of the
troughs is
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respectively coupled to a pusher plate, two of which are labeled as 105, 106.
Hub
190 (e.g., rotation point, axis, table, bearing, and the like) is coupled to a
motor (not
shown).
[0007] In an embodiment the pusher plates are respectively configured to
advance within the troughs to distribute loads of food articles into
receptacles while
the motor rotates the hub and troughs. For example, Figure 1 includes 8
troughs in
8 stages (labeled as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 in Figure 1). Stage 1 includes a
fully
retracted pusher plate 105 within trough 120, which has just been loaded with
product (e.g., oranges). Bag 110 is empty. Stage 2 shows another pusher plate
that
is partially advanced and has begun pushing oranges into a bag. Stage 3 shows
another pusher plate even further advanced and which has pushed even more
product into a bag. Stage 4 shows another pusher plate still even further
advanced
and which has pushed still even more product into a bag. Stage 5 shows yet
another pusher plate that is fully advanced and which has pushed the entire
initial
single load (which was originally loaded into the trough at state 1) into a
bag. Stage
6 shows a partially retracted pusher plate and, in addition, that the bag has
now
been removed after it was fully loaded. Bag clamps 140, 141 are now narrowed
as
compared to other bag clamps (such as those for the trough at stage 1 that are
expanded to fully open a bag). Stage 7 includes a more fully retracted pusher
plate.
Stage 8 includes a fully retracted pusher plate and a newly loaded bag. The
bag
may have just as easily been removed in stages 6-8 instead of stage 5.
Further, the
new bag may have just as easily been added in stages 6-7 instead of stage 8.
[0008] Figures 2-5 show varying perspectives of bag clamps. Figure 2 shows
outer bag clamps 240, 241. These clamps are coupled to a trough that couples
to a
hanging bag. The trough includes an output end portion where articles are
emptied
into a hanging bag. The output end portion includes a horizontal planar floor
255
non-orthogonally coupled to sidewalls 256, 257 and the floor and sidewalls are
all
monolithically formed with one another. Because they are monolithically
formed,
there is no need for screws or seams (e.g., that couple a wall to a floor)
that may
provide a bacteria harboring environment. Floor 255 includes a maximum width
258.
Bag clamps 240, 241 are width adjustable (i.e., can adjust to handle different
width
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bag openings via, for example, arms 245, 246). Thus, they have a setting that
statically (i.e., statically throughout product filling states 1-5) holds a
bag open at a
width equal to the maximum width 258 and an additional setting that statically
holds
additional bags open an additional width greater than the maximum width 258.
Thus, a smaller 1 lb bag may have a small opening which is generally equal to
width
258. However, a larger 25 lb bag may have a larger opening that is centered
about
floor 255 but nevertheless has a wider opening than width 258. Thus, the
embodiment of Figure 2 accommodates both small and large bags and loads. In
one
embodiment width 258 is about 4.5"; however width 258 is not so limited and in
other
embodiments width 258 is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or more inches. In
one
embodiment each trough is configured to hold up to 25 lbs of food articles but
other
embodiments may include troughs for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35 lb loads or more.
[0009] Figures 3-5 further explain an embodiment of bag clamps (where a
clamp
is a fixator that fixes one item to another and is not specific to any one
particular type
of fixation device). Such an embodiment includes bag clamps that are
configured for
adjustable load widths (i.e., differently sized bag openings). The embodiment
includes at least two inner clamps 443, 444 to expand a bag and at least two
outer
clamps 441, 440 to hold the bag against the two inner clamps. Figures 4 shows
clamps 440, 441, 443, 444 in a state ready to receive a bag. Figure 5 shows
clamps
540, 541, 543, 544 in a state ready to receive a bag. Figure 5 is just a
different
perspective than that of Figure 4 but still shows clamps 540, 541, 543, 544 in
a state
ready to receive a bag. Figure 6 shows clamps 640, 641, 643, 644 in a state
holding
a bag.
[0010] By comparing Figures 4 and 6, one can see that a portion of the bag
clamps (443, 444) (a) move toward one another to couple a bag to the bag
clamps
(end result shown in Figure 4), and (b) away from one another to expand the
bags to
receive (end result shown in Figure 6) articles (e.g., food articles, toys,
etc.).
Further, an additional portion of the bag clamps (440, 441) (a) move away from
one
another to couple the bag to the bag clamps (end result shown in Figure 4),
and (b)
towards one another to grip the first, second, and third bags between the
portion
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(443, 444) and additional portion (440, 441) of bag clamps (end result shown
in
Figure 6).
[0011] Figures 3 and 4 illustrate a pneumatic actuator/air cylinder 347,
447.
When the actuator drives in one direction coupler 342 operates such that clamp
arm
348 moves in a direction opposite that of clamp arm 349. Thus, a space between
clamps 544 and 540 is formed to receive a bag portion and a space between
clamps
541 and 543 is formed to receive another bag portion.
[0012] Figure 7 includes an exchangeable paddle for bag clamps in an
embodiment of the invention. In an embodiment the bag clamps each couple to a
set of differently sized paddles configured to hold open differently sized
bags. Clamp
arm 761 may couple to clamp arm 648 to quickly couple paddle 744 to the
system.
Paddle 744 may be just one paddle in an entire kit of differently sized
paddles (e.g.,
with widths of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 inches or more). Quick attach
coupler 760
helps quickly couple arms 648, 761 to one another.
[0013] Returning to Figure 1, each of the pusher plates advances from a
back
end portion of a trough, through the trough, and to the output end portion of
the
trough to distribute the articles into the receptacles (although in other
embodiments
the push plate may traverse only a portion of the length of trough, table, and
the
like). Focus (for sake of brevity) is now made on just two representative
troughs of
the 8 troughs in system 100. Troughs 120, 121 are located opposite one another
across hub 190. Troughs 120, 121, pusher rod 130 (coupled to actuator 131) and
pusher plates 105, 106 are configured to advance pusher plate 106 while
retracting
pusher plate 105 and advance pusher plate 105 while retracting pusher plate
106
(i.e., pusher plates 105, 106 reciprocate with one another). Further, in an
embodiment pusher plate 106 is configured to maximally advance within trough
121
when pusher plate 105 is maximally retracted within trough 120.
[0014] In an embodiment the motor rotates hub 190 and the 8 troughs through
an
arching path that is greater than 180 degrees. For example, in Figure 1 the
arching
path is a full 360 degrees but in other embodiments the arch may be 90
degrees,
270 degrees, and the like. By looking at stages 1-5, a pusher plate is
configured to
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advance within the trough to progressively distribute the load of food
articles into the
bag along multiple locations of the arching path. By "progressive" one sees
the bag
gradually fill over the series of stages instead of just filling in a rather
instantaneous
dump of product during a solitary stage. Thus, Figure 1 shows progressive
article
distribution at various points (along and between stages 1-5) along a 360
degree
path.
[0015] A more general discussion of varying embodiments now follows.
[0016] Bag materials may be made include varied materials such as, for
example,
polypropylene, polyethylene open mesh, paper, nylon mesh, and combinations
thereof. The bags may be in various styles such as, for example, header bags
and
the like. Boxes, such as cardboard boxes, may also be filled in various
embodiments. Boxes may be handled by the bag clamps. For example, a lid flap
of
a box (or a sidewall portion of a box) may be secured between the inner and
outer
bag clamps on both the left and right sides of the box (e.g., a lid flap fits
between
441, 443 and another lid flap fits between 444, 440). Thus, a "bag clamp" is
just
nomenclature and is not limited to bags but is more generally applicable to
receptacles. The terms "bag clamp" and "receptacle clamp" are interchangeable
as
used herein.
[0017] In an embodiment all product contact surfaces are polished stainless
steel
(e.g., floor 255, walls 256, 257) or food grade plastics (e.g., push plate
205).
[0018] In an embodiment a carousel has variable speeds of operation and may
work in a continuously rotating mode of operation. The carousel may be driven
by a
motor coupled to a slip clutch that will pause rotation of the machine in the
event of a
mechanical conflict with an object (e.g., product jamming such that a door or
chute is
no longer operable). A slip clutch may drive a center shaft on a round steel
table top
to which one or more conveyor troughs are mounted.
[0019] In an embodiment each conveyor trough has a set of width adjustable
pneumatic bag clamps to firmly grip a bag in the open position to receive
product.
Inner and outer clamps move in unison (i.e., both are moving at at least one
specific
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moment in time) apart and together for maximum bag clamping. Clamping pressure
is pneumatically adjustable.
[0020] In embodiment, various bag clamp paddle sizes (e.g., paddle 744) are
available such as 1.5" wide for 1- 3 lb bags, 5" wide for 3 ¨ 15 lb bags, and
7" wide
for 15-25Ib bags.
[0021] In an embodiment the carousel loader (a.k.a., bagger) is fed a pre-
measured batch of product from a weighing or counting machine. Bags are
manually (or robotically) placed on 8 heads (e.g., Figure 1, system 100) by
one or
more operators (laborers). Filled bags may be manually released and removed
from
the system by pressing a clamp release button and physically removing the
filled bag
from the carousel. In another embodiment filled bags are released by using an
automatic take-off unit that grabs the filled bag before the carousel releases
the bag
(this occurs automatically via an operator adjustable take-off cam that
contacts a
clamp release valve closing the bag clamps and releasing the filled bag to the
take-
off unit).
[0022] In an embodiment rotation of the carousel is started by pressing a
pushbutton on the control box. An operator manually/robotically hangs a bag
via bag
clamps on each of the 8 heads in positions 6, 7 or 8 (See Figure 1). In these
positions of rotation the bag clamps (e.g., 140, 141) are released and closed
together so the operator can stretch a bag over the clamps. When raising the
bag
over the clamps the operator contacts a trigger wand (e.g., wand 250 of Figure
2)
with the back of his or her hand. The wand sends an air pulse to a valve that
activates a cylinder (e.g., cylinder actuator 447 of Figure 4) and
pneumatically opens
the bag and clamps it in place awaiting product.
[0023] In an embodiment mounted above station 1 (not shown) is a weighment
holding collector that accumulates a discharged weighment form a weighing
machine. This collector has opening doors through which product is emptied
into a
trough.
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[0024] In an embodiment object A (Figure 1) is a photo-eye that reads if
there is a
bag on the bag clamps of each of the 8 heads. If there is no bag, the
weighment
holding collector will not open. If there is a bag and there is product in the
weighment
holding collector the collector will open depositing a batch of product into a
trough. If
the weighment holding collector is empty the rotation will stop and system 100
will
wait for a weighment to be deposited in the holding collector and the system
will
automatically restart and resume production.
[0025] In an embodiment when the conveyor trough at station 1 (Figure 1)
has
received a weighment from the weighment holding collector an air switch
mounted
below the trough will activate via a fixed cam that will send a signal to an
air valve
feeding one of the 4 air cylinder actuators (mounted in the center of the
carousel,
one of which is labeled 131 in Figure 1). The air cylinder consists of a body
and rod
130. In one embodiment the rod extends a maximum of 24" out one end of the
cylinder (see station 5) but is able to extend out each side of the cylinder.
When the
shaft is extended 24" out one side of the cylinder body (see station 5) it is
only
sticking out 2" from the other side of the cylinder body (see station 1). When
a
pusher plate is mounted to each end of the cylinder rod then one cylinder
performs a
pushing operation on 2 conveyor troughs so 4 cylinders operate 8 troughs. When
the
cylinder is fully retracted in station 1 (opening the full width of the
conveyor trough) it
is fully extended in trough 121 opposite trough 120 and the pusher plate
running on
cam follower bearings has extended through the trough pushing the entire
product
into the open bag.
[0026] In an embodiment cylinder speed is adjustable via flow control
valves.
Every cylinder will activate every time directly following top dead center at
position 1
(i.e., will begin advancement immediately after stage 1). This means that at
just past
top dead center on position 5 each cylinder will retract so that by the time
that trough
has reached position 1 the pusher plate is fully retracted ready to receive
another
weighment.
[0027] Various embodiments have a number of advantages.
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[0028] An embodiment includes no vibrators to advance product into
receptacles.
Vibrators are noisy and destructive to components and products.
[0029] An embodiment includes 8 filling heads as opposed to 6 filling
heads. This
allows the embodiment to have slower rotation speeds to get the same bags per
minute production as a 6 head system operating at a faster rotation speed.
Slower
rotation speeds translate to longer bag hanging time availability, and longer
bag
filling times¨which results in smoother loading and less damage to the
product.
[0030] In an embodiment there are no lift shafts necessary to raise a
tilting floor
(lift shafts and tilt floors both require a great deal of maintenance and
create a pinch
point as a wheel transits a ramp).
[0031] In an embodiment there are little to no additional parts (other than
inner
bag clamp paddles) needed to restrict the opening when running a 1 pound bag
from
a larger bag. Conventional carousels require the operator to add additional
pieces to
singulate the product when running to a small bag opening on a 1 pound bag
(while
previously working with a larger bag).
[0032] An embodiment is easier to clean than traditional carousel loaders
because there are few or no gaps in the troughs so there is a little to no
accumulation of dirt and wax that other carousels suffer. Further, bag clamps
and
cylinders are protected from dirt and wax because the trough is a fixed piece
(e.g.,
no raised floor that when raised greatly exposes actuators and the like to
dirt and
debris).
[0033] An embodiment provides more versatility on weighment sizes and
product
sizes. For example, system 100 handles 1 pound bags with %" round product
(e.g.,
small limes) to at least 6" round products in 25Ib bags (e.g., melons) with
only inner
clamp changeover necessary (e.g., see Figure 7). This drastically reduces
change
over time (between small to large products and vice versa) and hassles.
[0034] An embodiment is not dependant on gravity (like a tilting floor or
funnel
opening for the product to move). Thus, flat products move as well as round
products.
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[0035] In an embodiment there are no bag feed belts for each trough (which
require drive and idler rolls, bearings, belting, drive and idler shafts,
motor, chains,
universal joints, key stock, set screws, guards, slip ring commutators for
electricity
dispersion¨all pieces translating to additional maintenance, and additional
costs).
[0036] An embodiment includes no reflectors and photo-eyes to read location
of a
head (end of trough) like some traditional carousel baggers.
[0037] Further, embodiments are not specific to any one type of counting
and
weighing machine.
[0038] An embodiment, such as the trough design of Figure 2 (including
floor 255
coupled to walls 256, 257) provides singulation (the ability to move product
into the
receptacle one product at the time or close thereto) on all weighments from 1-
25 lbs
with no adjustments necessary.
[0039] An embodiment includes a food grade plastic pusher plate mounted to
each end of an air cylinder which rides on sealed maintenance free cam
follower
bearings for a long life with little to no friction.
[0040] An embodiment includes a trough mounted from the back (near a fully
retracted pusher plate), away from product touch areas (near where an operator
may
be working near the output end portion of the trough) so no screws, bolts or
fasteners exist to come loose and fall out (possibly getting into the bags)
and no
mounting holes or screw heads exist (where contamination can develop).
[0041] An embodiment is configured so that when fully assembled, even with
weighment holding collector and electrical control cabinet, the embodiment
still fits
into a standard width semi trailer with no disassembly of the machinery
necessary.
[0042] An embodiment includes a front shield (element 491 of Figure 4) on
each
trough that is constructed of clear food-grade polycarbonate for observation.
The
shield is adjustable to provide settings for bigger or smaller bag sizes
(adjusting the
position using a pinch knob such as knob 760).
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[0043] In an embodiment the bag clamping mechanism on each of the 8 heads
consists of left and right inner clamps (443, 444) which may be available in,
for
example, 3", 5" and 7" widths for different bag sizes from ranging from 1 ¨ 25
lbs.
[0044] In an embodiment the inner (443, 444) and outer (440, 441) clamps on
each side of a head (left and right sides) are tied together with a connecting
rod 342.
The outer clamps are adjustable ("in" for narrow bags or "out" for wider
bags). The
inner and outer clamps are driven together or apart by a single air cylinder
347 per
head. When the inner clamps are closed together to allow for an operator to
hang a
bag, the outer clamps are driven apart giving the operator access to the inner
clamps
without the outer clamps impeding the bag hanging process.
[0045] When the operator hangs a bag on the closed clamps the operator
contacts rod 450 (which is attached to an air switch) with the back of his or
her hand.
This supplies a burst of air to a valve and switch that drives the air
clamping cylinder
347. This opens the inner clamps and closes the outer clamps pinching the bag
in
place.
[0046] As mentioned above, an embodiment allows small and large weighments
(e.g., 1 ¨ 25 lbs) and small to large products (e.g., key limes, small
potatoes,
oranges, onions, and grapefruit). The trough is designed so that there is no
funnel
effect where product will jam while entering the bag. The embodiment (e.g.,
Figure 2)
requires no additional pieces to be added when running small bags, small
weighments, and small products. In an embodiment the trough is 24.5" long, 12"
wide, and 11" deep allowing more than enough room for up to 25 lb weighments
or
more.
[0047] In an embodiment the shape of the trough is such that the bottom
center
(floor 255) may use a small 1Ib bag on up to 25 lb bags and more. The
sidewall/floor
coupling angle encourages singulation of product by directing product to the
center
of the bag. The pusher plate helps promote product being delivered to the bag
slowly
as the carousel rotates (unlike traditional carousel baggers that deliver the
entire
weighment of product to the bag at once).
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[0048] In an embodiment, the width of the trough meets the width of the bag
(e.g.,
see Figure 2) so no funneling of product is necessary. The product is pushed
forward
along the trough into the bag.
[0049] In an embodiment product, such as 10 lbs of oranges, proceeds with
natural singulation to the center of the trough dictated by the shape of the
trough.
The bag clamps are wider than the base of the trough so product is pushed
from, for
example, a 4" opening (e.g., dimension 258) in the base of the trough to a 6"
opening
where the bag is clamped ensuring that all product falls quickly into the bag
without
jamming (because the available bag opening is equal to or larger than the base
of
the trough in an embodiment).
[0050] In an embodiment the pusher plate is connected to and driven by an
air
cylinder. A conventional air cylinder consists of a body and a ram that
extends out
from or retracts into the air cylinder body. However, an embodiment includes
an air
cylinder that also uses a rod and a body but the rod extends out of each end
of the
body of the cylinder (see Figure 1). In an embodiment, when the rod is
extended out
from the air cylinder on one end the rod sticks out 25" on one side of the
cylinder and
1 1/2" out the other side of the cylinder. When used in conjunction with 8
conveyor
troughs system 100 uses only 4 air cylinders to do the work of 8 conventional
air
cylinders. The two heads opposite each other share an air cylinder 131 that is
connected to the pusher plates 105, 106 in each of the opposing troughs. In
Figure 1
heads 1 & 5, 2 & 6, 3 & 7, and 4 & 8 each share air cylinders. When head #1
(trough
120) has the pusher plate fully retracted the opposite head #5 (trough 121) is
serviced by the same air cylinder 131 and at this point has the pusher plate
fully
extended having pushed the entire product into the bag.
[0051] Thus, various embodiments concern a continuously rotating machine
element consisting of 8 bag clamped filling troughs designed to slowly move a
weighment of product from the filling trough to the pre-hung bags as the
machine
rotates.
[0052] While conventional carousel baggers are designed to work with
weighments from 3 ¨ 20 lbs, any smaller weighment and the opening to the bag
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becomes a funnel shaped restriction resulting in damaged product or jamming of
product that does not get into the bag (i.e., the output of the conventional
trough is
wider than the input to the bag). Flat floor 255 is configured such that the
bag width
of a 1 lb bag is accommodated with outwardly angled sides above the floor (and
maximum width 258 may vary in other embodiments to go even smaller for smaller
bags and vice versa for larger bags). In an embodiment each trough has a
height of
11", length of 26", and provides enough volume to hold a 25 lb weighment
(although
in other embodiments a single system may include differently sized troughs to
accommodate different articles or size of articles). The width of troughs in
floor
system 100 works with 1 lb bags with no restrictions and further accommodates
up
to 25 lb bags with a naturally occurring singulation of product based on the
trough
design (resulting in no jamming of any standard sized produce at weighments
from 1
- 25 lbs and beyond).
[0053] An embodiment includes a method of filling pre-made bags or boxes
with
weighments of product. While food products have been discussed above
embodiments are not limited to the same and may accommodate any articles that
need loading.
[0054] Embodiments include troughs with a shape that helps prevent product
blockage, a bag clamping mechanism that moves both the outer and inner bag
clamps as a unit for maximum bag clamping, and the use of 4 air cylinders each
with
a pusher rod extending through the body of the air cylinder to each move a
pusher
plate in 8 filling troughs (i.e., a non 1:1 ratio between actuator and pusher
plate).
[0055] Embodiments may include programming to operate systems such as
system 100 (e.g., to advance the pusher plate to distribute the articles over
the
course of an arched path). Embodiments may be implemented in code and may be
stored on a non-transitory storage medium having stored thereon instructions
which
can be used to program a system to perform the instructions. The storage
medium
may include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks,
optical
disks, solid state drives (SSDs), compact disk read-only memories (CD-ROMs),
compact disk rewritables (CD-RWs), and magneto-optical disks, semiconductor
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devices such as read-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs)
such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), static random access
memories (SRAMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash
memories, electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs),
magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing
electronic
instructions.
[0056] Embodiments may be implemented in many different system types.
Referring now to Figure 8, shown is a block diagram of a system in accordance
with
an embodiment of the present invention. System 500 may be used to implement
code/logic for operating system 100 (e.g., to advance the pusher plate to
distribute
the articles over the course of an arched path). Multiprocessor system 500 is
a point-
to-point interconnect system, and includes a first processor 570 and a second
processor 580 coupled via a point-to-point interconnect 551. Each of
processors
570 and 580 may be multicore processors. The term "processor" may refer to any
device or portion of a device that processes electronic data from registers
and/or
memory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data that may
be
stored in registers and/or memory. First processor 570 may include a memory
controller hub (MCH) and point-to-point (P-P) interfaces. Similarly, second
processor 580 may include a MCH and P-P interfaces. The MCHs may couple the
processors to respective memories, namely memory 532 and memory 534, which
may be portions of main memory (e.g., a dynamic random access memory (DRAM))
locally attached to the respective processors. First processor 570 and second
processor 580 may be coupled to a chipset 590 via P-P interconnects,
respectively.
Chipset 590 may include P-P interfaces. Furthermore, chipset 590 may be
coupled
to a first bus 516 via an interface. Various I/O devices 514 may be coupled to
first
bus 516, along with a bus bridge 518, which couples first bus 516 to a second
bus
520. Various devices may be coupled to second bus 520 including, for example,
a
keyboard/mouse 522, communication devices 526, and data storage unit 528 such
as a disk drive or other mass storage device, which may include code 530, in
one
embodiment. Code may be included in one or more memories including memory
528, 532, 534, memory coupled to system 500 via a network, and the like. In
one
embodiment, use of the term control logic includes hardware, such as
transistors,
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registers, or other hardware, such as programmable logic devices (535).
However,
in another embodiment, logic also includes software or code (531). Such logic
may
be integrated with hardware, such as firmware or micro-code (536). Further, an
audio I/O 524 may be coupled to second bus 520.
[0057] An embodiment includes a carousel loading apparatus comprising:
first, second, and third troughs respectively coupled to first, second, and
third pusher plates; and a hub coupled to a motor and the first, second, and
third
troughs; wherein the first, second, and third pusher plates are respectively
configured to advance within the first, second, and third troughs to
distribute first,
second, and third loads of food articles into first, second, and third
receptacles while
the motor rotates the hub and the first, second, and third troughs.
[0058] An embodiment includes pneumatically operable bag clamps, coupled to
each of the first, second, and third troughs, to couple the first, second, and
third
receptacles to the first, second, and third troughs; wherein the first,
second, and third
receptacles include first, second, and third hanging bags.
[0059] An embodiment includes wherein the first, second, and third troughs
respectively include output end portions where the first, second, and third
loads of
food articles are emptied from the first, second, and third troughs into the
first,
second, and third hanging bags.
[0060] An embodiment includes wherein the output end portions each include
a
horizontal planar floor non-orthogonally coupled to sidewalls and the floor
and
sidewalls are all monolithically formed with one another.
[0061] An embodiment includes wherein each floor includes a maximum width
and the bag clamps include a setting that statically holds the first, second,
and third
bags open a width generally equal to the maximum width and an additional
setting
that statically holds additional bags open an additional width greater than
the
maximum width.
[0062] An embodiment includes wherein the bag clamps are configured for
adjustable load widths.
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[0063] An embodiment includes wherein the bag clamps each couple to a set
of
differently sized paddles configured to hold open differently sized bags.
[0064] An embodiment includes wherein a portion of the bag clamps (a) move
towards one another to couple the first, second, and third bags to the bag
clamps,
and (b) away from one another to expand the first, second, and third bags to
receive
the first, second, and third loads of food articles.
[0065] An embodiment includes wherein an additional portion of the bag
clamps
(a) move away from one another to couple the first, second, and third bags to
the
bag clamps, and (b) towards one another to grip the first, second, and third
bags
between the portion and additional portion of bag clamps.
[0066] An embodiment includes wherein the horizontal planar floor has a
maximum width of less than 4.5".
[0067] An embodiment includes wherein the bag clamps coupled to the first
trough comprise at least two inner clamps to expand the first bag and at least
two
outer clamps to hold the first bag against the two inner clamps.
[0068] An embodiment includes wherein each of the first, second, and third
troughs is configured to hold up to 25 lbs of the first, second, and third
loads of food
articles.
[0069] An embodiment includes wherein each of the first, second, and third
pusher plates advance from a back end portion of the first, second, and third
troughs, through the first, second, and third troughs, and to the output end
portions
of the first, second, and third troughs to distribute the first, second, and
third loads of
food articles into the receptacles.
[0070] An embodiment includes wherein the first and second troughs are
located
opposite one another across the hub and a pusher rod, coupled to the first and
second pusher plates, is configured to advance the first pusher plate while
retracting
the second pusher plate and advance the second pusher plate while retracting
the
first pusher plate.
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[0071] An embodiment includes wherein the first pusher plate is configured
to
maximally advance within the first trough when the second pusher plate is
maximally
retracted within the second trough.
[0072] An embodiment includes wherein the motor rotates the hub and the
first,
second, and third troughs through an arching path that is greater than 180
degrees.
[0073] An embodiment includes wherein the first pusher plate is configured
to
advance within the first trough to progressively distribute the first load of
food articles
into the first receptacle along multiple locations of the arching path.
[0074] An embodiment includes a carousel loading apparatus comprising: a
plurality of troughs respectively coupled to a plurality of pusher plates and
a motor;
wherein the pusher plates are respectively configured to advance within the
troughs
to distribute a plurality of articles into a plurality of receptacles while
the motor
rotates the troughs.
[0075] An embodiment includes bag clamps, coupled to troughs, to couple the
receptacles to the troughs; wherein the receptacles include a plurality of
hanging
bags.
[0076] An embodiment includes wherein the bag clamps are configured for
adjustable load widths.
[0077] An embodiment includes wherein: a portion of the bag clamps (a) move
toward one another to couple the bags to the bag clamps, and (b) away from
each
other to expand the bags to receive the articles; and an additional portion of
the bag
clamps (a) move away from one another to couple the bags to the bag clamps,
and
(b) towards one other to grip the bags between the portion and additional
portion of
bag clamps.
[0078] An embodiment includes wherein each of the pusher plates advance
from
a back end portion of the troughs, through the troughs, and to the output end
portions of the troughs to distribute the articles into the receptacles.
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[0079] An embodiment includes wherein the troughs are located opposite one
another and a pusher rod, coupled to first and second plates of the pusher
plates, is
configured to advance the first pusher plate while retracting the second
pusher plate
and advance the second pusher plate while retracting the first pusher plate.
[0080] An embodiment includes wherein the motor rotates the troughs through an
arching path that is greater than 180 degrees.
[0081] An embodiment includes wherein the pusher plates are configured to
advance within the troughs to progressively distribute the articles into the
receptacles
along multiple locations of the arching path.
[0082] While the present invention has been described with respect to a
limited
number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous
modifications
and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover all
such
modifications and variations as fall within the scope of this present
invention.
