Pallet bag gathering apparatus and process for use

Abstract

Pallet bag gathering apparatus to gather pallet bags for use in an automated pallet bag packaging system, preferably for the packaging of fruits or vegetables. The pallet bag gathering apparatus may be automated, semi-automated or manual in nature.

Claims

1. A gathering frame to gather a pallet bag: a. wherein the gathering frame is configured to receive a pallet bag; b. wherein the gathering frame circumference is adjustable; c. wherein the gathering frame has a plurality of guide arms; and d. wherein the guide arms have a plurality of feeder wheels and plurality of guide stops.

2. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the gathering frame is configured to receive a pallet bag from about 150 to about 250 inches in circumference.

3. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the feeder wheels advance the pallet bag into a void space between the feeder wheels and the guide stops.

4. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the gathered pallet bag is fed from one or more pallet bag rolls.

5. The gathering frame of claim 3, wherein after gathering the pallet bag in the void space between the feeder wheels and the guide stops, the guide arms pivot the feeder wheel to not contact the gathering frame and the gathered pallet bag is removed from the gathering frame and placed on a pallet for loading materials thereon.

6. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the pallet bag is configured to receive an ACM.

7. The gathering frame of claim 6, wherein the ACM comprises a crystalline polymer.

8. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the pallet bag is from about 2 to about 8 mil and composed of an ultra-low-density polyethylene (ULDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), or linear-low-density polyethylene (LLDPE).

9. The gathering frame of claim 8, wherein the pallet bag is composed of a plastic monolayer, plastic laminates, multicomponent laminates and/or blends thereof.

10. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein the gathering process is automated.

11. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the gathering process is automated.

12. The gathering frame of claim 1, wherein pallet bag comprises an additive that has anti-fungal or anti-microbial properties.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The drawings are for illustrative purposes and do not depict every embodiment of the invention.

[0042] FIG. 1 is a depiction of a top-diagonal view of the pallet bag gathering apparatus.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a depiction of a rear view of the pallet bag gathering apparatus.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a depiction of a top down view of the pallet bag gathering apparatus.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a depiction of a side view of the pallet bag gathering apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] In the Summary of the Invention above and in the Detailed Description of the Invention, the Examples, and the Claims below, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention include all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, or a particular claim, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

[0047] The term comprises and grammatical equivalents thereof are used herein to mean that other components, ingredients, steps etc. are optionally present. For example, an article comprising (or which comprises) components A, B and C can consist of (i.e. contain only) components A, Band C, or can contain not only components A, Band C but also one or more other components. Where reference is made herein to a method comprising two or more defined steps, the defined steps can be carried out in any order or simultaneously (except where the context excludes that possibility), and the method can include one or more other steps which are carried out before any of the defined steps, between two of the defined steps, or after all the defined steps (except where the context excludes that possibility).

[0048] Where reference is made herein to sealed packages and sealed containers, and to sealing bags and other containers containing biological materials, it is to be understood that the sealing can be, but sometimes is not, hermetic sealing, due to poor heat seal operation, poor taping or poor closure.

[0049] Conventional methods for sealing bags and other containers can conveniently be used in this invention. Such conventional methods include, for example, the use of a cable tie to seal the neck of a polymeric bag. A seal made by conventional methods often is not a hermetic seal, and has the advantage that it permits equilibration of the pressures inside and outside the bag. If the container is sealed hermetically, it will generally be desirable to include one or more pinholes in the container, to achieve such equilibration and or through appropriate choice of ACM, for example BreathWay membranes alone or in combination with other ACMs. If two Breatheway ACMs are used, for example, one can avoid the need for pinholes even when hermetically sealed.

[0050] The less complete the sealing of the container, the less the influence of the permeability of the container on the packaging atmosphere within it. Thus, even a poor seal may be sufficient, or even desirable, for example when the desired O.sub.2 content of the packaging atmosphere lies between the O.sub.2 content of the atmosphere surrounding the package and the O.sub.2 content of the packaging atmosphere that would result if the seal was a hermetic seal. Under such circumstances, the sealing could be designed to permit a controlled amount of direct exchange between the packaging atmosphere and the atmosphere surrounding the container.

Pallet BagGenerating Internal Atmospheres

[0051] The Pallet bag may be a standard thickness, for example about 2 to about 8 mil, more preferably about 3 to about 4 mil and may be composed of any plastic material, low density polyethylene (LDPE) is a preferred plastic (since by using a mechanical locking device no heat sealing is neededbut heat sealing may be applied) but any plastic monolayer, plastic laminates or multicomponent laminates or blends may be used for example, PE, PP, PET, thermoplastic elastomer, stretch plastic, Nylon, paper/plastic laminates, and the like. Other bag materials and thicknesses may be used. However, it is desirable that the upper portions of the wall material should be sufficiently flexible to be used with the mechanical seal preferably used in the pallet packaging system herein.

[0052] Suitable flexible material for the bag may be PE, PP, Nylon, polyester, recycled or repurposed plastic, low cost paper/plastic laminates, and other laminates. Preferred materials include LDPE, Linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), ultra low density polyethylene (ULDPE). Depending on the method of applying the bag over the pallet, a stretch plastic may be preferred.

[0053] In one embodiment the pallet bag material contains one or more specialty additives, including additives having one or more of the following properties: anti-microbial; anti-fungal; photobiodegradable; oxo-photobiodegradable; UV blocker; anti-drag; anti-scratch; print enhancer; anti-static; anti-fog; pro-release; and pest repellant (e.g., ant, rodent). The material may optionally contain metallic silver particles, zeolites, organic micro-particles, titanium dioxide, and silica, as well as other additives to aid in the process and promotion of packaged biological materials.

[0054] Because heat sealing may be unnecessary when using a mechanical seal, the pallet bag material may be selected based on cost or moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) properties or puncture resistance or other reasons. Integral to the pallet packaging system is the use of atmosphere control technology, for example a BREATHEWAY membrane or microperforations as appropriate. Preferably the pallet packaging system uses a BREATHEWAY membrane, as described in other Apio/Landec patents and patent applications, including U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,254,354; 6,376,032; 6,548,132, and 7,329,452, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. Use of the membrane technology allows effective atmosphere control of oxygen and carbon dioxide for extension of shelf-life, taste, freshness, and other benefits, such as appearance.

[0055] The pallet bag/cover may optionally have a valve mechanism built into the bag that may be a one-way or two-way valve to assist in the speed and efficiency of removing the air in the bag and replacing with CO.sub.2 which may eliminate the need to cut and then retape the bag after CO.sub.2 injection.

[0056] The pallet bag may optionally be a custom designed bag which, when opened and placed over the pallet will have a flat top to lie smoothly over the top layer of product trays. This bag design will not leave any hanging ears, which otherwise require taping and add extra labor, cost and time. A preferred pallet bag may be designed to fit a unit load of 4840 (Standard Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) pallet) with varying heights and will come in a roll form. Alternatively, the pallet bag may be designed for use with a sea pallet, which commonly has a size of 1200 mm1000 mm. Alternatively, the pallet bag may be sized for a European pallet of 800 mm1200 mm used in some parts of Europe.

[0057] These bags in a roll will allow for easy automation.

The Pallet Bags

[0058] The pallet bags, in one aspect, form part of the present invention and can be used to drive efficiency, lower costs, and to render a clean looking finished pallet with the right atmosphere. In one embodiment, a fully automated system is used from using film in the shape of a long tube that can be automatically cut to size for a custom pallet height, with the top heat sealed and holes cut over which may be placed ACM membranes, such as BreatheWay membranes, or microperforations for atmosphere control.

[0059] FIGS. 1-4 show features of the pallet bag gathering apparatus.

[0060] Regarding FIG. 1, the depiction of the pallet bag gathering apparatus 100 shows guide arm 120 with feeder wheels 121 and guide stops 122. The guide arm 120 pivots away from the gathering frame 110 prior to feeding the pallet bag from the pallet bag rolls 150. The pallet bag rolls may be of different lengths and circumferences depending on the containers that will be packaged within the pallet bag. Controller 130 is used to program the process of feeding the pallet bag from roller 150 between the feeder wheels 121 and the gathering frame 110 to the void space between the feeder wheels 121 and the guide stops 122. The pallet bag feeder 140 may be automatically programmed to feed the pallet bag to the gathering frame 110 and may be programmed to automatically detach the pallet bag from the roll when the bottom of the bag proceeds beyond a set point.

[0061] Regarding FIG. 2, this alternative view from behind the pallet bag gathering apparatus 200 shows the controller 230 and the plurality of pallet bag rolls 250 loaded on spools for distribution therefrom to the gathering frame.

[0062] Regarding FIG. 3, this alternative view from above the pallet bag gathering apparatus 300 shows the top of the controller, the pallet bag rolls 350, the pallet bag feeder 340, the gathering frame 310 and the guide arm 120.

[0063] Regarding FIG. 4, this alternative view from the side of the pallet bag gathering apparatus 400 shows the pallet bag feeder 440, the gathering frame 410, the feeder wheels 411, and the guide stops 412.

[0064] Persons having ordinary skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations of the embodiments described herein. It is intended herein to include all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations.