Modular unit for automatic packaging of food products to be packaged in trays

Abstract

A modular unit ( 10 ) for automatic packaging of food products to be packaged in trays employs one or more pick-up heads for picking up and transferring the product from a feeding belt. The trays to be filled circulate multiple times on a dual-belt system having adjacent linear conveyors and pushing devices for the reversing function, for receiving multiple deposits of product therein. The pick-up head picks up and deposits the product using vacuum generating elements; an optical reader checks the position of the product on the feeding belt.

1 . A modular unit ( 10 ) for the automatic packaging of food products ( 1 ) to be packaged within suitable tray ( 11 ), said unit ( 10 ) being provided with at least
 one feed belt ( 2 ) for the products ( 1 ) to be packaged,   one or more pick-up heads ( 4 ) for picking and handling the pasta ( 1 ) from the conveyor ( 2 ) and placing the latter within the tray ( 11 )   characterized in that it provides moving the tray ( 11 ) on a two-belt system with line conveyors ( 6 ,  7 ) placed side by side and thrust devices ( 8 ,  9 ) for the inversion of motion; the tray ( 11 ) is moved for the number of times as required to carry out several depositions of pasta and/or seasoning therein.   
     
     
         2 . The unit ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said conveyors ( 6 ,  7 ) are placed side by side and provided with opposite forward speeds (V 1 , V 2 ) and said thrust devices ( 8 ,  9 ) cause the moving tray ( 11 ) to be displaced to the adjacent conveyor. 
     
     
         3 . The unit ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said action of picking-up the pasta ( 1 ) is carried out prior to the detection of the position of said pasta ( 1 ) on the belt ( 2 ) by an artificial vision system ( 3 ) that identifies the position thereof and communicates the latter to the pick-up means ( 4 ). 
     
     
         4 . The unit ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said pick-up head ( 4 ) comprises a plurality of individually adjustable Venturi vacuum-generating elements, which generate both capacity and vacuum grade, which can be adjusted by acting on a compressed air shut-off valve, to have a capacity that allows the edge to fit the product surface even without being perfectly adherent thereto and a vacuum grade that does not suck even the thinnest product. 
     
     
         5 . The unit ( 10 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said feed belt ( 2 ) is provided with a plurality of holes to prevent the latter from being engaged by the head when vacuum is being established. 
     
     
         6 . The modular unit ( 10 ) for the automatic packaging of food products ( 1 ) to be packaged within suitable trays ( 11 ), said unit ( 10 ) being provided with at least
 one feed belt ( 2 ) for the products ( 1 ) to be packaged,   one or more pick-up heads ( 4 ) for picking up and handling the product ( 1 ) from the belt ( 2 ) and place the latter within the trays ( 11 )   characterized in that said pick-up head ( 4 ) comprises a plurality of individually-adjustable Venturi vacuum-generating elements ( 4 A), which generate both capacity and vacuum grade, by acting on the compressed air shut-off valve, to have a capacity that allows the edge to fit the product surface even without being perfectly adherent thereto and a vacuum grade that does not suck even the thinnest product.