Dole Fresh Vegetables Co.

Ed Wynn

Javier Diaz-Infante

Peter DeGroot

A broccoli banding machine having an electric DC motor drive actuated by an interrupted optical beam is disclosed. The banding machine includes a plate with a central aperture defining a depending cylinder. The depending cone has a light beam looking across the cylinder which when interrupted keeps arms having band engaging fingers in the band expanded position. Both arms and fingers are mounted above the supporting plate where access and view of arms by the banding and packing worker is provided at all times. Upon gathering broccoli to a bouquet with both hands, the worker places the stalks of the gathered bouquet into the cylinder, interrupting the light beam. Upon such interruption, the arms at the band engaging fingers are cycled into the bunched stalks, the contracted band released to the stalk, the bouquet at the stalks removed from the vicinity of the fingers, and a new rubber band placed upon the centrally disposed fingers. Thereafter, and at the end of a timed cycle, the arms with the band engaging fingers expand the newly installed band, and the cycle repeated. An improved drive is present for the arms in the form of a DC electric motor, which intermittently rotates over approximate 180.degree. intervals at a set and adjustable rate. There results an improved banding operation which ergogenically cooperates with the entirety of the broccoli bunching, banding and packing processes.

Growing community of inventors

Monterey, CA, United States of America

Ed Wynn