WO1998000338A1

WO1998000338A1 - Packaging process and methods

Info

Publication number: WO1998000338A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1997/000087
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon Robert Ward; John Paul Koke
Original assignee: Sealed Air (Nz) Limited
Priority date: 1996-06-28
Filing date: 1997-06-30
Publication date: 1998-01-08
Also published as: AU3278897A

Abstract

A method of forming and presenting bags (6) for packaging comprising predetermining by measurement the length of the product (5) to be packaged when the product is adjacent measurement device (13) and causing control means (14) to activate a bag forming apparatus (1) to produce a bag (6) from a laminar (21) which bag is tailored to suit the size of the product (5) to be packaged.

Description

Packaging Process and Methods

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to packaging processes and methods.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of plastic film bags and wraps for meat or other products is continuing to increase.

PCT International Patent Application No. PCT/NZ94/00039 describes an apparatus and method for continuously forming and presenting bags for packaging. The disclosure of PCT/NZ94/00039 also provides a commentary on relevant background art and includes reference to prior published patents and other commercial activity in this field.

In the meat industry in particular there is a combined need for automation and product information, and the present invention addresses this need.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming and presenting bags for packaging comprising predetermining by measurement the length of a product to be packaged when the product is adjacent measurement device and causing control means to activate a bag forming apparatus to produce a bag from a laminar which bag is tailored to suit the size of the product to be packaged. The measurement of the size of product to be packaged is by length.

The measurement device senses and determines the length of the article, and converts the measurement into an electrical output which is relayed to the control means.

The measurement device can be an analogue measuring device.

The measurement device can be a touch sensitive switch.

The measurement device can be associated with a product rest.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for forming and presenting bags including bag forming and releasing means, means for predetermining by measurement the size of the product to be packaged and control means for activating the bag forming apparatus.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging comprising receiving and batch processing articles to be packaged, measuring individual articles from each batch as they are processed and causing control means to activate bag forming apparatus to produce a bag from a laminar.

Data from each batch of articles can be collated during processing with a view to print labelling each article from within a batch.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for batch processing according to the method as aforesaid, including

(a) means for conveying articles to be processed in batches to a loading and measuring apparatus, and (b) means for conveying the articles to an adjacent bagging apparatus.

The articles to be packaged can be conveyed in batch bins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of one possible apparatus of the present invention, and

Figure la ,is a diagrammatic perspective view of an encircled chute of Figure 1, and

Figure 2 is a plan view of a possible part plant layout utilising apparatus of the present invention, and

Figure 3 is a schematic drawing of apparatus and methodology of one aspect of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a side view of a typical bag making and dispensing apparatus to which the present invention relates, and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view of a meat packaging room layout according to another aspect of the present invention, and

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view of a further meat packaging room layout in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With respect to Figures 1, la and 2 of the drawings the present invention provides an apparatus generally indicated by arrow 1, which comprises a supporting frame 2 supporting or adjacent to package making apparatus 3, and a chute generally indicated by arrow 4 with respect to which product 5 to be packaged is delivered.

The package making and dispensing apparatus 3 can produce bags 6 and the apparatus can include a control and display console 7.

In the illustrated example the chute 4 can comprise a support 8 and a plurality of prongs 9.

Apparatus 1 can be placed adjacent a conveying means 10 which conveys meat carcass sides or quarters 11 to one or more work stations. Cuts are made from the carcasses 11 and loaded via table 12 onto chute 4.

As illustrated in Figure 3 an identification device 13 can be positioned to identify carcasses 11 as they pass a certain point. This information can be relayed to a computing device 14 communicable with the packaging apparatus 1 and the chute 4.

The packaging apparatus 1 can have associated therewith a printing device 15 which is capable of printing or encoding information 16 onto a label or directly on to a package such as a bag 6.

The chute 9 which can be of the type illustrated in Figure la is positioned adjacent the package making and printing device and is adapted to support meat cuts 5 which are delivered to it. The computing device 14 can be connected to a number of work stations.

Chute 4 can have associated therewith a product length measuring device, one form of which may be a length measuring device which measures the length of the product 5 and converts this into an electrical output which is then relayed to computing device 14. One suitable measuring device is an OMRON™ capacitance level measuring system, which comprises a probe and which is commonly used for liquid, powder and pellet levels in hoppers and such like. We have found that such a probe would be useful for measuring the length of meat cuts on a chute.

Conventionally the OMRON device is connected to a controller. We connect the probe to a PLC 14 (programmable logic controller) which also receives other data, which information can be extracted, and used to instruct the bagger and printer. As a matter of convenience the probe of the measuring device can be incorporated into central prong 17 of the chute 4.

Alternatively the product to be packaged can be placed on the chute 4 so that one extremity coincides with the free ends of the chute (as indicated), the length measuring device can compute the "free space" behind the product 5 and calculate product length as a result. For example the product length can be calculated as being the difference between the length of the meat cut 5 and the prongs 9.

The chute 4 can also have associated therewith a weighing device which weighs the meat cut 5 and relays this information to the computing device 14. As is illustrated by Figure 3 the product length, weight and other identification can be relayed to the computing device 14 and a packaging material such as a bag 6 specifically adapted for the packaged article can be produced, labelled and presented at a position adjacent to the chute 4.

Insofar as product length measuring is concerned, a further alternative is an ultrasonic distance estimator (such as that sold in New Zealand by Radio Spares under the Trade Mark RS), although there are other alternatives, such as video surveillance.

In a further alternative to the present invention a product measuring device (sometimes called a membrane switch) can be disposed lengthwise of a chute or adjacent a product to be packaged. The switch is a touch sensitive switch which can be in the form of a laminate strip of a face material, optical adhesive layer, a top circuit strip, a third spacer adhesive, a bottom switch resistive layer, and a mounting layer. The switch is activated by touch, resistance at the point of the touch is determined and translated to a control means which when determines the length of the bag to be dispensed. Switches of this type are supplied by Dynapro Thin Film Products, INC of Milwaukee, USA.

Figure 4 of the drawings illustrates a bag making apparatus which produces bags from tubestock. This particular apparatus provides a support arrangement generally indicated by arrow 20 with respect to which a roll of tubestock web 21 is mounted. The web 21 is fed via rollers 22, 23 to a sealing and cutting assembly generally indicated by arrow 24.

Typically support arrangements 20 such as that illustrated are provided with a braking means in the present case an adjustable shoe brake arrangement 25 performs this function. The elements of the sealing and cutting assembly 24 include an alignment roller 26, a nip roller assembly indicated by arrow 27, a sealing and cutting head indicated by arrow 28, drive means generally indicated by arrow 29 and dispensing means generally indicated by arrow 30.

Sealing and cutting assemblies such as that illustrated are well known. In the illustrated example nip roller assembly 27 includes a fixed roller 32, a reciprocal roller 33 which can be advanced and retracted relative to the fixed roller 32 by a cylinder 34. The assembly further includes a clamping and sealing head 35 and anvil 36 and cutter 37. The head 35 and cutter 37 are advanced and retracted by a cylinder 38.

The drive 29 comprises a motor 39, and a transmission including wheels 40, and a belt 41.

Dispensing means 30 includes two spaced wall members 42 defining a passage for a bag 31 formed by the sealing and cutting head 24.

The bag making and dispensing apparatus illustrated is for dispensing bags from an "overhead" position and as such it is desirable that means such as rollers, suction cups, or the like be provided so that a bag can be suspended in the dispensing means 30 for manual release. In the present case a cylinder driven suspension clamp 43 which operates against an anvil face 44 performs this function.

In operation the nip roller assembly 27 is controlled to advance the web 21 either continuously or on an on demand basis. The sealing the cutting head is operable to seal and cut a selected length of web to produce bag after bag, or in on demand mode, the bag is held for subsequent manual release by clamp 43. The arrangement illustrated by figure 4 has been generalised for the sake of clarity. To form a bag from web 21 advanced by the nip roller assembly 27, upper and lower jaws associated with the head 35 secure the web 21 leaving a space between for cutler 37 to be advanced. The lower jaw makes a cross-wise seal in the web and the web is released in the form of a bag 31 by advancing cutler 31. The clamp clasps the sealed and released end of a bag against anvil face 44. At that stage the end of bag 31 extends from the chute 30.

In many packaging situations produce of different lengths is bagged. Selection of bag length has hitherto been controlled by an operator on the basis of observation of product length and the subsequent selection of bag length from a "range". However such a method, relying as it does on human judgement, is not totally accurate and it is desirable that product length be more accurately tailored to avoid wastage. The present invention provides means by which product length can be accurately measured when the product is adjacent a measuring device which senses and determines the length of the product converts this measurement into an electrical output which is relayed to control means for operating the sealing and cutting assembly described herein has the advantage that it need not be set in a particular place in a packaging area but it can be attached by a flexible electrical connection to control means and readily set up in any position that is desired.

With respect to figure 5 of the drawings and according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of packaging based on "batch" processing. Measurements of characteristics of individual articles within a batch are taken processed and relayed to control means which determines an appropriate packaging size and can print or record data relating to each article. In the example illustrated two meat processing lines are generally indicated by arrow 50. Each process line includes manual loading and trimming positions 51, 52. After trimming secondary cuts are diverted for further processing via stations 53 whilst prime cuts can be directly loaded onto continuously presented sets of loading horns each indicated by arrow 54. Each set of loading horns is conveyed to bagging positions 55 where the product is packaged. En route or at the bagging positions data from each individual product item can be collated and recorded, including that of product length and weight. Product can then be conveyed to other downstream operations at 56 such as vacuumisation, dipping and packaging into boxes.

With respect to figure 6 of the drawings, larger meat cuts such as those processed in a beef processing line may also be batched in a layout with respect of which manual trimming stations 60 are positioned between a carcass suspension rail 61 and a conveyor 62 upon which bins 63 are conveyed. Each bin I, II, III receives cuts exclusively from previously identified carcasses I, II, III and the bins are transported to a centralised data measurement centre and packaging system such as that previously described.

The apparatus in process of the present invention meets the combined need for packaging automation, recordal of product history and relevant consumer information.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE:

1. A method of forming and presenting bags for packaging comprising predetermining by measurement the length of a product to be packaged when the product is adjacent measurement device and causing control means to activate a bag forming apparatus to produce a bag from a laminar which bag is tailored to suit the size of the product to be packaged.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the measurement of the size of product to be packaged is by length.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the measurement device senses and determines the length of the article, and converts the measurement into an electrical output which is relayed to the control means.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the measurement device is an analogue measuring device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the measurement device is a touch sensitive switch.

6. A method as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the measurement device is associated with a product rest.

7. Apparatus for forming and presenting bags according to any one of claims 1 to 6 including bag forming and releasing means, means for predetermining by measurement the size of the product to be packaged and control means for activating the bag forming apparatus.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said means for measurement of the size of a product to be packaged measures product length and/or weight.

9. A method of packaging comprising receiving and batch processing articles to be packaged, measuring individual articles from each batch as they are processed and causing control means to activate bag forming apparatus to produce a bag from a laminar.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein data from each batch of articles are collated during processing with a view to print labelling each article from within a batch.

11. Apparatus for batch processing according to the method of claims 9 or 10, including

(a) means for conveying articles to be processed in batches to a loading and measuring apparatus, and

(b) means for conveying the articles to an adjacent bagging apparatus.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 including apparatus for forming and presenting bags in accordance with any one of claims 7 to 8.

15. Apparatus for batch processing according to the method of claims 9 and 10 wherein the articles to be packaged are conveyed in batch bins.

16. A method of forming and presenting bags substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

7. Apparatus for forming and presenting bags substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.