Photo #1 The Bee-O-Pac is in position ready for separating the individual packs. What this picture shows is the half frame already separated. It is at this time that the Bee-O-Pac can be separated from the frame into individual market ready containers. Two packages have already been cut out and lidded with a third empty package lidded.
Photo #2 A close up shot of the Bee-O-Pac giving detail of how the bees have filled the container. It can be seen that the bees have filled the container completely. The clear lid gives a beautiful view of the product within and also shown is the tab on the lid for easy removal
Photo #3This picture shows the bee’s working the frame and each pack is at different stages of being filled. In this case the frame is being filled from left to right and the bees are following the comb pattern embossed on the bottom of each package.
Photo #4 A close up view of the four packs on the left hand side of the frame from above. It gives a very clear detail of the bee’s following the pattern on the bottom of the container to your right. The left hand packages are all ready drawn out to the point that honey is already being stored with the first signs of it being capped.
Photo #5 Back view of the half frame as it is removed and separated from the other half. The build up of burr comb is on the outside and around the edges of the frame. No cleaning is required because the bees are restricted from accessing this side of the frame. The burr comb on the bottom and around the sides shows the joint line where the two halves had been joined.
The other interesting thing about this picture is the different color of honey within each of the packages. It clearly shows that the bees do maintain some degree of separation between flora sources. This has given rise to the added value the Bee-O-Pac can offer; the collection of unifloral sources for marketing purposes. The seasonal difference floral sources can give during the season, the earlier the season the lighter the honey, also unfloral sources such as the clovers, fruit sources (blueberry, strawberry) and even buckwheat honey. This only includes the basic North American flora sources but the door is wide open for some very exclusive honey sources that are super specific to geographical locations
Photo #6 This is a frame filled with approx 4 lbs of honey supported only by the end tabs. There is burr comb built around the self spacing points along the top and on the bottom. When the packs are separated the plastic with the burr comb is removed and discarded. Touching up the edges may be necessary before the lid is applied but photo #5 shows it as being minimal.
Photo #7 Photo #8
Photo #7 is an end view picture of the frame on photo #6. This is exactly as it is when removed from the honey super. From this end view it also shows the consistency of the fill levels of each of the packages on both sides.
Photo #8 shows a half frame on the table before any of the packages are removed. This picture clearly shows the consistent fill levels of each of the eight packages. Once again the burr comb has been built on regions of the plastic frame that will be discarded.
Photo #9 Two full frames pulled directly out of a honey super. It shows a nice consistent fill level from corner to corner and the fill levels of each package.
Photo #10 A side picture of the two frames from Photo #9 showing the fill levels of each of the market ready containers.