초록 ▼

A device and method for filling open boxes, containing such products as electronic equipment, with loose fill. The boxes are fed one at a time to a conveyor in random order. A bar code applied to each box, giving the box size, is scanned. The boxes are longitudinally centered by electric eyes actuat

A device and method for filling open boxes, containing such products as electronic equipment, with loose fill. The boxes are fed one at a time to a conveyor in random order. A bar code applied to each box, giving the box size, is scanned. The boxes are longitudinally centered by electric eyes actuating a brake at a centering station along the conveyor. The boxes are then widthwise centered by a pair of successively actuated cylinders. A pump-up cylinder at the centering station is actuated to lift a centered box to a predetermined height set by said bar code. A fill valve for loose fill has a supply of loose fill at its upper end fed to it through a feed pipe by gravity, the loose fill flowing by gravity, once the valve is opened, until its feed pipe is plugged, and then it is shut off. The pump-up cylinder then lowers the box to the conveyor. A series of air-blasts, sent to the box further along the conveyor, levels any mountain of loose fill that forms during the feeding of the loose-fill.

대표청구항 ▼

A computer-controlled loose fill feeding device for a series of boxes of various sizes, each box having thereon a bar code corresponding to said box\s size and being open at the top thereof, comprising: a computer having setting means for setting control parameters, reading means for reading the bar

A computer-controlled loose fill feeding device for a series of boxes of various sizes, each box having thereon a bar code corresponding to said box\s size and being open at the top thereof, comprising: a computer having setting means for setting control parameters, reading means for reading the bar code on each box, said computer then adjusting said control parameters accordingly, a conveyor for moving the box horizontally, said conveyor having a brake, longitudinal centering means for centering the cylinders at a particular position determined by said bar code, and for simultaneously stopping the conveyor by actuating said brake, widthwise centering cylinders for centering the box relative to a predetermined position, a lift cylinder with a platform thereon for lifting the box to a fill height determined by said bar code and then stopping the lifting, filling means for filling the box by gravity with loose fill through a feed-in pipe until the feed-in pipe is clogged, and then automatically stopping the filling operation, lowering means for then lowering the lifting cylinder and the box down to the conveyor, and leveling means for blowing a series of blasts of air toward said loose-filled box, in order to level the loose fill in the box.