CA3217081A1 - Tomato bunch pagkaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for packaging tomato bunches (also known as tomatoes on a vine) with the correct weight of tomatoes is disclosed. The fact that the weight of the packaged tomato bunches is slightly above the required weight prevents the rejection of a shipment by the buyer from the grower. This is accomplished by adding a single pre weighed tomato to a pre weighed cut bunch reaching a weight slightly above the required minimum weight.

Description

Background of the Invention The present invention relates to the field of growing and packaging tomato bunches for sale in stores. There is a requirement that the weight of the packaged tomatoes is at least a certain value, the minimum weight. If the weight of a package of tomatoes is less than the guaranteed minimum then a complete shipment of packaged tomato bunches can be rejected by the buyer, resulting in a considerable economic loss to the grower.
Alternatively, if the grower packs above the required weight, he is losing a small amount of profit on each package, which over thousands of packages will become a significant loss of potential revenue.
A common term for the small tomato bunches is "tomatoes on a vine" and they come in many varieties that differ mainly by size and color. It is possible that several varieties are grown in a single greenhouse, and that these multiple varieties are packaged on the same packing line.
Typical package sizes for tomato bunches are 10 ounce and 28 ounce containers, however there does not seem to be any strict rules as to package sizes.
Summary of the Invention It is the object of this invention to provide a system that will automatically package tomato bunches, such that they slightly exceed the required weight of the package.
This will be accomplished in a multistep process as follows:
1) A number of single tomatoes are harvested and loaded onto a multi pocket conveyor system.

2) A robot unloads a single tomato from the multi pocket conveyor system weighing and placing it onto a storage tray system. The load cell for weighting Date Recue/Date Received 2023-10-19 the single tomatoes is located in the gripper of the robot. The weight of all single tomatoes located on the storage tray system is recorded along with their location.

3) A tomato bunch is weighed by an operator at a weigh scale and the controller determines how much the soon to be added single tomato should weigh. A
single tomato of the proper weight is then picked up by the robot from the storage tray and is then provided to add along with the tomato bunch to place into a container package.

4) The container packages are then conveyed to a shipping area for delivery to the store for sale to customers.
The multi pocket conveyor system is also unique in its construction.
Brief Description of the Drawings These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from reading a detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a drawing showing both a cluster of tomatoes and a single tomato.
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a cluster of tomatoes in a packing container.
FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a packing container with a cluster of tomatoes and a single tomato inside it.
FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a conveyor loaded with individual tomatoes. FIG. 5 is a drawing showing a conveyor.

Date Recue/Date Received 2023-10-19 FIG. 6 is a drawing showing the conveyor of FIG. 5 upside down.
FIG. 7 is a drawing showing a complete tomato packaging system.
FIG. 8 is a drawing showing a flow chart describing the system function.
Detailed Description With reference to FIG. 1 a cluster of tomatoes, 1, is shown as well as a single tomato, 2. The combined weight of the cluster of tomatoes, 1, and the weight of a single tomato, 2, of the correct weight will be combined to create a combination that is of the correct total weight.
With reference to FIG. 2 a combination, 5, of a cluster of tomatoes, 1, inside a container, 6, is shown. This combination, 5, is now ready for the addition of an additional tomato of the necessary weight to achieve the total correct weight.
With reference to FIG. 3 a combination, 10, of a cluster of tomatoes, 1, as well as a single tomato, 2, both inside a container, 6, is shown. This combined weight of the cluster of tomatoes, 1, and the weight of the single tomato, 2, is slightly above the required minimum weight.
With reference to FIG. 4 a section of a conveyor system, 15, is shown, consisting of an input conveyor, 16, loaded with single tomatoes, 2, also shown is an operator, 17.

Date Recue/Date Received 2023-10-19 With reference to FIG. 5 the input conveyor system, 16, of FIG. 4 is shown.
Key components of the input conveyor, 16, are the roller chain, 23, the drive and idler sprockets, 21, and the frame, 22.
With reference to FIG. 6 the input conveyor system, 25, of FIG. 5 is shown in an upside down position. Key components of the input conveyor, 25, are the drive motor, 26, the roller chain tension adjustment mechanism, 27, and the frame, 22.
With reference to FIG. 7 the complete tomato packaging system, 30, is shown.
Key components and operation of the complete tomato packaging system, 30, are as follows: the single tomatoes, 2, come in on two conveyors (one is also possible), 16, they are then picked up by two robots (one is also possible), 32, equipped with grippers, 34, and load cells, 33, the robots are enclosed in a safety cage, 31, that also encloses trays, 36, that hold the now weighed single tomatoes, 2, in a known location on the trays, 36, the operator, 17, places the container holding a tomato bunch, 37, onto the scale, 35, where it is weighed and then moved into the load position, 38, the robot, 32, then picks a single tomato, 2, from the tray, 36, that is the correct weight to add to the container holding a tomato bunch, 37, and deposits it into the container holding a tomato bunch, 37, to complete a package, 10, that is now ready to move to the packaging/shipping area being of the proper total weight for sale.
With reference to FIG. 8 a flow chart showing the operation of the complete tomato packaging system, 40, is shown. A discussion of the steps follows: the single tomatoes are loaded onto a conveyor, 47, then a robot picks up the single tomato from the conveyor, weighs it, and places in a known location on a tray, 48, at the same time tomato clusters are removed from a bin, 41, the tomato cluster is placed in a container and weighed, 42, the weight of the tomato cluster less the container is compared to the target weight and the required single tomato weight is calculated, 43, then the availability of a single tomato of the required weight is checked, 44, a decision is then Date Recue/Date Received 2023-10-19 made, 45, if the single tomato of the required weight is not available (no), the tomato cluster must be sent for processing, 46, if the answer is yes then the robot selects the proper single tomato and adds it to the container, 50, the package is then complete and is sent to shipping, 49, after which the process is repeated.
This invention has been described with reference to detailed descriptions of preferred embodiments. The details of the descriptions are given for the sake of explanation only and are not intended as limitations upon the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

Date Recue/Date Received 2023-10-19

Claims (5)

What is claimed is:

1. A system for packaging tomatoes that includes the following steps:
a) A large number of single tomatoes are weighed and stored in a tray, and b) A tomato cluster is weighed and a single tomato of a weight that when added to the tomato cluster will achieve a weight greater than a target weight, and c) The tomato cluster and the single tomato are placed in a container for shipping;
Thereby, creating a tomato package of the proper weight for sale.

2. A system for packaging tomatoes according to claim 1 that includes the use of a conveyor to transport the single tomatoes prior to weighing.

3. A system for packaging tomatoes according to claim 2 that includes the use of a robot to unload the conveyor and then weigh and load the single tomatoes onto a tray.

4. The system according to claim 1 where the weight of all of the single tomatoes, as well as their location on the tray is stored in a controller or a computer.

5. The system according to claim 1 where the controller or computer controls the movements of the robot in selecting single tomatoes.