US818812A - Fruit-packing device. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

F. K. BARTHOLOMEW.

FRUIT PACKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5. 1905.

UNITED STATES OFFICE.

FRUIT-PACKING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24, 1906.

Application filed June 5,1905. Serial No. 263,780.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FLEURY K. lBAR'rI-IoLo- MEW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Campbell, in the county of Santa Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Packaging Devices, of which the following is a specification My invention relates to a device for packaging prunes and other dried fruits.

It consists in the combination of parts and in details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my device. Fig. 2 shows the box and false side and bottom. Fig. 3 shows the open frame and flange inverted.

It is the object of my invention to compress prunes and like fruits into packages of certain dimensions and weights within a preliminary forming device with enveloping papers and to provide means by which the formed and compressed packages may be removed from the compressing apparatus and transferred to a permanent box or case in which it is to be exhibited and sold.

The device consists of a box A having two ends, one side, and the bottom, as at A. The other side is left open. 2 is a false bottom slidable into the open side of the box A and resting upon the bottom A. This false bottom has an upturned side, as at 3, which when the parts are in place completes the inclosure of the main box, this side being of the same height as the sides of the box A. The paper or other equivalent lining 4 is then laid into the box as thus completed` 5 is an open frame having sides and ends only, and around this frame is a fiange 6, extending downwardly and adapted to Vfit over the periphery of the b'ox A and the upturned side 3, thus holding these parts temporarily in position. The edges of the paper orl other envelop lying in the box are turned outwardly, so that the frame and flange fit over the outwardly-turned portions of the envelop and said quantity of fruit to be pressed and determined by weight is placed in the box and the superposed frame.

The boxes and frames are made to suit any desired quantity to be put into the packageas one, two, five, or ten pounds, as the case may be. A follower is then placed upon the fruit and the box is placed beneath a press of any suitable or desired construction. A simple form of press is indicated, as 'at 8, but it will be manifest that any suitable form of press may be employed. The plunger being brought down upon the fruit will compress it into the container' below the frame, the fruit resting upon the false bottom 2 and being shaped by the three sides of the box A and the movable side 3. This being accomplished the plunger is raised, the follower and open frame 5 are removed, and the enveloping paper 4 may be folded over the package in the usual manner. The package is then removed by withdraning the false bottom and supplemental side, tho bottom either projecting beyond the side to form a handle or a suitable handle may be applied to facilitate removal. The packages may thus be transferred and placed in a pasteboard or other box in which it is to be permanently inclosed.

Such boxes may be made to contain a number of the packages, the internal dimensions of the exterior box being such that a number of the packages may be placed in the box until the latter is filled. These packages being each completed and inolosed in their envelops may be removed for sale or use without disturbing their form or the other packages in the box.

It will be understood that under some conditions the false side 3 may be employed without the false bottom, since the envelop will sufliciently secure the compressed package to allow it to be removed. It will also be understood that this false side may be held in position by any means equivalent to that herein described; but I have found the present device to be a very convenient one for the purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A device for packaging dried fruits, said device comprising a box having a permanent bottom, ends, and one side, an independent removable side fitting the open side of the main box, a false bottom to which the side is fixed, an open bottom frame fitting upon the top of the main box, and a surrounding fiange projecting downwardly from said frame inclosing the top of the main box and the false side thereby retaining the false bottom in position during compression.

2. In a device for packaging dried fruit, a main box or former having a fixed bottom, ends, and one side, a false side completing the IOO IIO

box, a false bottom to which said side is iixed slidable upon the bottom of the main box7 a frame approximately fitting the top of the main box, and a downwardly extending flange carried by said frame and overhanging the side and ends of the box or former and also the false side said flange adapted to lock the false side in position with relation to the main box.

3. In a device for packaging dried fruit, a main box or former having one open side, a false bottom and side itting the main box and completing its outline, a frame substantially fitting the top ofthe main box having a downwardly extending flange fitting over 15 and temporarily locking the supplemental side and bottom in place, and means by which the fruit with which the structure is filled is compressed into the main box.

f In testimony whereof I have hereunto set zo my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- IleSSeS.

FLEURY K. BARTHOLOMEW. Witnesses:

HENRY P. TRIcoU, S. H. NoURsE.

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