GB2254595A - Box emptying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

In a box emptying machine, a box emptying mechanism 12 includes two supports 36, 38 which are swung into position to support a box A by extending a ram 44. Ram 22 is then extended to pivot the box about pivot 15 to empty the box. A conventional lid mechanism 24 closes the box and releases the crop onto a conveyor 52. When the box is emptied it is returned to the horizontal position and ram 44 is retracted to swing the supports 36, 38 out from underneath the box, to the positions 36', 38'. The box is lowered onto a platform 50 which is then lowered to move the box clear of the emptying mechanism. The supports 36, 38 are swung back into place ready to receive a full box. The mechanism can operate again as soon as a full box is in position, the empty box having been moved clear by the lowering of the platform 50. <IMAGE>

Description

BOX EMPTYING MACHINE The present invention relates to a box emptying machine.

EP-A-0395288 describes a box emptying machine which has provision for placing a full box on the machine before removing the previously emptied box. This greatly facilitates handling of the boxes as the fork-lift truck driver can bring up a full box, deposit it directly on the machine, and then remove the previously emptied box, and so on. In the machine of EP-A-0395288 a vertically movable support moves between a ground level position and a raised position where it brings the top of the box against a cover which forms part of the box emptying system. A fixed support is provided just below the position where the movable support brings the box into engagement with the cover, the movable support moving past the fixed support. Thus, an emptied box can be held by the fixed support while the movable support is moved down to receive a full box.Alternatively, the movable support can lower the emptied box to ground level while the full box is deposited on the fixed support. Either method of operation requires the removal of the emptied box before the sequence for emptying the full box can begin.

The present invention provides a box emptying machine comprising a first support arranged to tilt the box between a loading position, where a full box is loaded on the machine, and a box emptying position, and a second support separate from the first support and arranged to lower an emptied box from the full box loading position to an unloading position clear of the loading position.

Thus, an emptied box is moved away from the loading position while on the machine, so that a full box can be placed in the loading position and the emptying sequence started immediately the full box is in place.

Preferably, the first support comprises release means for releasing the emptied box onto the second support.

The first support may comprises an arm which is swung from underneath the box, where it supports it, to allow the box to rest, or to lower it onto, the second support.

The paths of movement of the first and second support do not cross.

Other preferred features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying claims.

The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are a side view of a box emptying machine forming an embodiment of the invention, in which Figure 1 shows a box being emptied, Figure 2 shows the emptied box being returned to the loading position, and Figure 3 shows the emptied box lowered to the removal position and a full box loaded into the loading position; and Figure 4 is a front view of the machine of Figures 1 to 3, in the Figure 3 position.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, a box emptying machine 2 forming an embodiment of the invention comprises two upright frame members 4 supported on feet 6 and braced by struts 8. Cross-members 10 join the frame members 4 and feet 6.

A box emptying mechanism 12 comprises two side rails 14 pivotally attached to respective upper ends 15 of the uprights 4. The rails 14 each form part of a rectangular side frame 16 which has a bottom rail 18 attached to the upper end 20 of a hydraulic ram 22.

The side frames 16 carry a lid mechanism 24 and a box release mechanism 26.

As seen in Figure 1, the lid mechanism 24 is pressed against the top of a box A and is in two parts hinged together, a first part 28 is pressed flat against the open top of the box A, and the second part 30 is swung between open (Fig. 1) and closed (Figures 2 and 3) positions by a ram 32. Rams 34 raise and lower the lid mechanism 24 onto the box A. The mechanism 24 runs in guides 25.

The box release mechanism 26 comprises front and rear supports 36, 38 which are mounted on the lower corners of the side frames 16 by arms 40 which are pivotally mounted mid way along their length on the frames 16.

Arms 42 connect the other ends of the arms 40 to hydraulic rams 44. When the rams 44 are extended, the arms 42 are parallel to the bottom rails 18 and the supports 36,38 are swung inwards for supporting a box between the side frames 16. With the arms 42 in a straight line it can be seen that an over centre mechanism is formed, and the supports 36, 38 cannot pivot downwards until the ram 44 is retracted.

Two rear rails 46, 48 extend between the side rails 14 to support the box during tipping. The lower rail 48 includes a sensor to detect when a box is placed on the machine ready for emptying.

Also seen in Figure 1 are a movable support platform 50 for lowering an emptied box, and a conveyor 52 on to which the contents of the box, such as potatoes and other crops, are emptied.

In operation of the machine 2, the ram 22 is retracted to hold the side frames 16 in the position of Figure 2.

Ram 44 is extended to swing the supports 36, 38 inwards (Figure 1) and ram 34 is extended to raise the lid mechanism 24.

A full box A is loaded onto the machine. The box is supported on the support 36,38, between the side frames 16, and rests against the rear rails 46,48. The sensor on rail 48 detects the presence of the box and activates the machine. The ram 34 is retracted to bring the lid 28,30 down onto the box and ram 22 is extended to swing the box over about the upper ends 15 of the uprights 4.

The box is tipped a varying amount depending on the crop, but typically between 1000 and 1800 from its initial position. The lid portion 30 is opened by ram 32 to release the crop onto the conveyor 52. Side covers 54 prevent spillage of the crop. When the box is emptied the ram 22 is closed to return the box emptying mechanism 12 to the horizontal position. The box may be jerked once or twice by suddenly returning its travel to ensure the box is completely emptied.

When the box emptying mechanism is returned to the horizontal position (Figure 2), the ram 34 is extended to raise the lid mechanism 24, and ram 44 is retracted to swing the supports 36, 38 outwards, clear of the underside of the box, indicated by 36' 38' in Figures 2 and 3. The box A is lowered onto the platform 50 which is positioned just below the supports 36,38.

Platform 50 is lowered by a scissors jack 5 (shown schematically in Figure 4), to the position seen in Figure 3. The ram 44 is then extended to swing the supports 36,38 back into the position for loading a new box B (Figure 3) onto the machine. As soon as the box B is loaded, the box emptying mechanism 12 can commence operation as the emptied box A has been moved clear of the mechanism 12.

The hydraulic rams and the scissors lift 56 may be replaced by other mechanisms, and the supports 36, 38 may support the box at the sides rather than the front and rear.

It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the described embodiment and it is desired to include all such modifications as fall within the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS:

1. A box emptying machine comprising a first support arranged to tilt the box between a loading position, where a full box is loaded on the machine, and a box emptying position, and a second support separate from the first and arranged to lower an emptied box from the full box loading position to an unloading position clear of the loading position.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first support comprises a support member which is movable between a first position where it supports a box during emptying and a second position clear of the box.

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the first support lowers the emptied box down onto the second support.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, comprising a pair of support members which are pivotally mounted on side frames and are held in the box supporting position by an over centre mechanism.

5. A box emptying machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.