Apparatus for packing christmas trees in netting covers

Abstract

 An apparatus (4) for packing Christmas trees in netting covers, including a funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) with a device (8) for providing a tubular net around a tree which is passed through the inlet opening (6), a combined gripping and pulling device (10) adapted for seizing the root end of a Christmas tree and pulling it through the inlet opening (6) for simultaneous compressing and packing the Christmas tree in the netting cover, the apparatus (4) furthermore including a lower conveyor belt (12) for conveying the packed Christmas tree rearwardly to a pallet jack (14) with a packing unit (16) and a pallet (18) with associated side supports (20), wherein the apparatus (4) within the inlet opening (6) includes an upper conveyor belt (22) which is adapted to exert a downward directed pressure on a Christmas tree while being packed into the netting covering and supported on the lower conveyor belt (12), and wherein the packing unit (16) includes a box-shaped packing frame (24) which is adapted to be elevated from a low initial position as the packing frame (24) and the pallet (18), respectively, are filled with Christmas trees. By means of simple technical measures it is hereby possible to achieve an apparatus with improved function in connection with packing of Christmas trees in netting covers and to achieve the immediate approval of the packing unit of the apparatus by the relevant authorities.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for packing Christmas trees in netting covers and of the type specified in the introduction of claim 1.

Background of the Invention

[0002] With regard to compressing and at the same time protecting Christmas trees during packing and shipping, it is commonly known to provide a Christmas tree with an enclosing bag-shaped netting cover which is passed around its branches from a wide end of the tree such that the Christmas trees take up less space and at the same time are protected during transport which frequently occurs on specially designed transport pallets or frames.

[0003] DK 174177 B1 and EP 1313645 B1 describe an apparatus and a method for netting trees, comprising an inlet opening and a device for providing a tubular elastic net around a tree when the tree is moved through the device. The device for providing an elastic tubular net around a tree is separated from the inlet opening and includes a tube around which the net is externally provided as the end of the net is bent around an end of the tube facing the inlet opening and extending into the tube.

[0004] This prior art apparatus has been encumbered with drawbacks in the form of upper passive rollers intended for exerting a downward pressure on upwardly facing branches of the Christmas trees which are moved on a lower conveyor belt, which in practice has appeared to cause damage in the form of broken branches on the Christmas trees. This has entailed a relatively large and unacceptable percentage of scrapped trees and reduced sales prices.

[0005] DK 172598 B1 describes a method and a device for compressed packing of Christmas trees and decorative greenery on pallets, crates or similar with side supports.

[0006] Particularly in connection with the latter device for compressed packing of the Christmas trees there have been serious problems connected with driving bans resulting from excessive height during transport on public roads. Moreover, there have been problems with the Working Environment Authority due to lack of screening of dangerous apparatus parts.

Object of the Invention

[0007] On that background it is the object of the invention to indicate a new and improved apparatus of the kind mentioned in the introduction and which by means of simple technical measures enable achieving an apparatus with improved function in connection with packing in netting covers, and to achieve an apparatus which can receive immediate approval by the relevant authorities with regard to the packing unit of the apparatus.

Description of the Invention

[0008] The apparatus according to the invention is peculiar in that within the inlet opening the apparatus includes an upper conveyor belt which is adapted to exert a downwardly directed pressure on a Christmas tree while being packed into the netting covering and supported on the lower conveyor belt, and that the packing unit includes a box-shaped packing frame which is adapted to be elevated from a low initial position as the packing frame and the pallet, respectively, are filled with Christmas trees.

[0009] By means of simple technical measures it is hereby possible to achieve an apparatus with improved capacity and function in connection with packing of Christmas trees in netting covers and to achieve the immediate approval of the packing unit of the apparatus by the relevant authorities.

[0010] The apparatus according to the invention is suitably designed such that the box-shaped packing frame furthermore includes a work position, e.g. a platform, for a person who provides for concurrently transferring packed Christmas trees from an upper end of the lower conveyor belt to the packing frame of the packing unit.

[0011] In other words, the apparatus according to the invention may advantageously be arranged to be operated by two persons of which one preferably is the driver of the tractor, namely one person for inserting Christmas trees through the funnel-shaped inlet opening and one person placed on the platform at the vertically displaceable packing frame occupied with transferring packed Christmas trees to correct mutual positions on the pallet inside the packing frame, where the latter can be elevated successively according to need as the packing frame and the pallet are filled.

[0012] The apparatus according to the invention can very simply be designed such that the lower conveyor belt at the upper end is connected with the packing frame such that the upper end of the lower conveyor belt automatically follows the packing frame in height.

[0013] With the intention of optimising the function of the apparatus according to the invention it may advantageously be designed such that the combined gripping and pulling device at opposing sides is displaceably seated in a longitudinal apparatus frame which at the front supports the upper conveyor belt and the funnel-shaped inlet opening with associated device for applying the tubular netting around a Christmas tree.

[0014] In order to facilitate rearwards movement of the packed Christmas tree, the apparatus according to the invention can be designed in a simple way such that the gripping device is adapted to be pivoted aside when the combined gripping and pulling device is disposed at a position farthest from the funnel-shaped inlet opening such that the packed Christmas tree can proceed unhindered rearwards/upwards on the lower conveyor belt.

[0015] The apparatus according to the invention may suitably be designed such that the funnel-shaped inlet opening at an outer side is designed with space for a gathered supply of tubular netting, wherein one end of the netting is successively passed around a Christmas tree when the latter is pulled through the funnel-shaped inlet opening.

[0016] The apparatus according to the invention is preferably designed such that the funnel-shaped inlet opening at an inner end interacts with a cutting device which is adapted to cut the tubular net at a pointed end of the Christmas tree when the latter has passed the funnel-shaped inlet opening.

[0017] It may furthermore be suitable if the apparatus according to the invention is designed such that the funnel-shaped inlet opening at an inner end interacts with a binding device which is adapted to bind the tubular net together at a pointed end of the Christmas tree when the latter has passed the funnel-shaped inlet opening.

[0018] The apparatus according to the invention is most suitably designed such that the cutting and binding devices are combined into a single device.

Description of the Drawing

[0019] The invention is explained more closely in the following with reference to the drawing, on which:

Fig. 1

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention mounted on a tractor and shown with a packing unit at the rear end of the tractor in a low position;

Fig. 2

shows a perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention in Fig. 1, shown with the packing unit in an elevated position;

Fig. 3

shows a perspective view of the apparatus part providing packing of Christmas trees in netting covers and transporting the packed Christmas trees rearwards to the packing unit of the apparatus;

Fig. 4

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a gripping device of the apparatus part shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5

shows a perspective view of the packing unit which according to Figs. 1 and 2 are adapted to be mounted at the rear end of the tractor and for continuously receiving Christmas trees packed in netting covers.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

[0020] Figs. 1 and 2 shows schematically a tractor 2 mounted with an apparatus 4 according to the invention, including a front funnel-shaped inlet opening 6 with an external device 8 for in a way known per se to continuously provide a tubular elastic netting around a Christmas tree which is passed through the inlet opening 6.

[0021] In a longitudinal apparatus frame 30, within the inlet opening 6, there is provided a reciprocating combined gripping and pulling device 10, the forwardly directed gripping claws 32 of which (see Figs. 3 and 4) are adapted to be moved into the inlet opening 6 from behind and to seize a root end of a Christmas tree which is inserted into the inlet opening 6 from the front side of the latter.

[0022] Then the combined gripping and pulling device 10 is moved backwards, thereby pulling the Christmas tree through the inlet opening 6 for simultaneously compressing and packing the Christmas tree. It is an important novel feature in this connection that the apparatus 4 includes a relatively short upper conveyor belt 22 which is disposed immediately within the funnel-shaped inlet opening 6, thereby gently, as the conveyor belt 22 is actively driven, assists in keeping the Christmas tree compressed when it has been drawn away from the funnel-shaped inlet opening 6 while enveloped by the tubular netting cover.

[0023] The combined gripping and pulling device 10 is shown separately in Fig. 4 where it i.a. can be seen that the forwardly directed gripping claws 32 can be moved or pivoted aside such that the released and packed Christmas tree can move on unhinderedly on the lower conveyor belt 12.

[0024] Fig. 5 shows the pallet lift 14 of the apparatus with associated packing unit 16, pallet 18, vertical side supports 20 and packing frame 24. In addition is seen a platform 26 in which is placed the person concurrently transferring packed Christmas trees from the upper end 28 of the conveyor belt 12 to the packing frame 24.

[0025] The fact that the pallet lift 14 with associated packing unit 16 including the packing frame 24 can be displaced in height entail a substantial advantage compared with prior art apparatuses of this type, where it has been a problem in particular that the total height of the pallet lift and packing unit has been too high, causing the police to ban driving with the prior art apparatuses on public roads. This ban has not always been complied with, causing serious accidents when passing low road or rail underpasses.

[0026] The new and improved apparatus according to the invention is expected to provide a much greater capacity when packing Christmas trees in tubular netting covers. In the case of small Christmas trees, the mentioned apparatus can easily pack up to 2500 to 3000 Christmas trees a day, corresponding to 300 - 600 trees per hour or 80 - 200 trees per pallet.

[0027] Another substantial advantage of the indicated apparatus is that the final height of the packed pallets can be increased from the usual 2400 mm to 2600 mm, meaning a substantial increase in capacity for the carrier.

[0028] The described inventive apparatus may usually be operated by two persons; however, a crew of three persons will frequently be used as it can be very advantageous to use an extra tractor with pallet lift in order to keep the primary tractor with the mounted apparatus free from simple lifting operations of removing filled pallets and loading the apparatus with new and ready pallets.

Claims

1. An apparatus (4) for packing Christmas trees in netting covers, including a funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) with a device (8) for providing a tubular net around a Christmas tree which is moved through the inlet opening (6), a combined gripping and pulling device (10) adapted for seizing the root end of a Christmas tree and pulling it through the inlet opening (6) for simultaneous compressing and packing the Christmas tree in the netting cover, the apparatus (4) further including a lower conveyor belt (12) for conveying the packed Christmas tree rearwardly to a pallet jack (14) with a packing unit (16) and a pallet (18) with associated side supports (20), characterised in that the apparatus (4) within the inlet opening (6) includes an upper conveyor belt (22) which is adapted to exert a downwardly directed pressure on a Christmas tree while being packed into the netting covering and supported on the lower conveyor belt (12), and that the packing unit (16) includes a box-shaped packing frame (24) which is adapted to be elevated from a low initial position as the packing frame (24) and the pallet (18), respectively, are filled with Christmas trees.

2. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the box-shaped packing frame (24) furthermore includes a work position (26), e.g. a platform, for a person who provides for concurrently transferring packed Christmas trees from an upper end (28) of the lower conveyor belt (12) to the packing frame (24) of the packing unit (16).

3. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the lower conveyor belt (12) at the upper end (28) is connected with the packing frame (24) such that the upper end (28) of the lower conveyor belt (12) automatically follows the packing frame (24) in height.

4. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the combined gripping and pulling device (10) is displaceably seated at opposing sides in a longitudinal apparatus frame (30) which at the front supports the upper conveyor belt (22) and the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) with associated device (8) for applying the tubular netting around a Christmas tree.

5. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the gripping device is adapted to be pivoted aside when the combined gripping and pulling device (10) is disposed at a position farthest from the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) such that the packed Christmas tree can proceed unhinderedly rearwards/upwards on the lower conveyor belt (12).

6. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) at an outer side is designed with space for a gathered supply of tubular netting, wherein one end of the netting is successively passed around a Christmas tree when the latter is pulled through the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6).

7. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) at an inner end interacts with a cutting device which is adapted to cut the tubular net at a pointed end of the Christmas tree when the latter has passed the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6).

8. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6) at an inner end interacts with a binding device which is adapted to bind the tubular net together at a pointed end of the Christmas tree when the latter has passed the funnel-shaped inlet opening (6).

9. Apparatus (4) according to claim 1, 7 and 8, characterised in that the cutting and binding devices are combined into a single device.

Drawing