CA2156459C - Bagging machine and method - Google Patents
Bagging machine and methodInfo
- Publication number
- CA2156459C CA2156459C CA002156459A CA2156459A CA2156459C CA 2156459 C CA2156459 C CA 2156459C CA 002156459 A CA002156459 A CA 002156459A CA 2156459 A CA2156459 A CA 2156459A CA 2156459 C CA2156459 C CA 2156459C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- machine
- air
- bags
- station
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
- B65B43/123—Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B37/00—Supplying or feeding fluent-solid, plastic, or liquid material, or loose masses of small articles, to be packaged
- B65B37/02—Supplying or feeding fluent-solid, plastic, or liquid material, or loose masses of small articles, to be packaged by gravity flow
Abstract
A bagging machine is disclosed having a frame including an upright section in the shape of an inverted "Y" mounted on the base and forming a forward part of the frame, a generally horizontal "Y" shaped section extending rearwardly from the upright section and, supports interposed between the base and the horizontalsection. The frame defines a pair of web supply stations and supports a mirror image pair of load station assemblies each positioned to receive webs from an associated supply station. Each of the assemblies includes a backing plate and an air knife for delivering air to establish an air film between the plate and a web.
An accumulator diverter is disclosed having an inlet and a pair of outlets each positioned above a respectively associated one of the load stations. The disclosure further includes a conveyor for supplying products to the diverter and the conveyer and diverter including coacting means to establish a time delay between the supply of one product and the supply of a successive product. An imprinter support and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure are also disclosed as are methods of operation.
An accumulator diverter is disclosed having an inlet and a pair of outlets each positioned above a respectively associated one of the load stations. The disclosure further includes a conveyor for supplying products to the diverter and the conveyer and diverter including coacting means to establish a time delay between the supply of one product and the supply of a successive product. An imprinter support and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure are also disclosed as are methods of operation.
Description
13-665 ~ 459 BAGGING MA~HIl~IE ANI~ MET~OD
Field Qf the Invention This invention relates to bagging machmes and methods and more pa~ ul~uly to methods and apparatus which are especially suited for bagging foodstuffs.
Ba, hkluu..d of the Invention Batches of otherwise essentially bulk foodstuffs are frequently placed in plastic bags for l-d~ u~aliul~ and storage. As an example, the machine describedand claimed in U.S. Patent RE32,963 entitled Packaging Apparatus and Method, 10 issued March ~4, lg87 and assigned to the assignee of this patent, (here the Chicken Machine Patent), has had wide ac~,~l.~ c for bagging parts of cut up chickens for kal.~oll~iull to, and storage at, fast food chicken l~ au,~ s. The machme of the Chicken Machine Patent has also enjoyed commercial success for packaging bulk quantities of such products as candy and dog food when used in 15 ~ with the shuttle and seal ",~ .. described and claimed in the same assignee's Patent 5,077,958, entitled Packaging Machine and Method, issued January 7, 1992, (here the Bulk Packager Patent). The machine has also been used - r 11~ in r.~ lA~ O with an improved version of the Bulk Packager as taught and claimed in commonly owned Patent 5,259,172, issued November 9, 20 1993, entitled Packaging Machine and Method, (here the Briquetting Patent).
With the machine of the Briquetting Patent bulk foodstuffs such as lettuce are packaged after the bag has been ~-f mrA~ted to expel air and compress the package contents.
While the bagging machine of the referenced patents, all of which are 25 hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, has enjoyed commercia]
success, it has its limitAti-~n~ First and foremost it is relatiYely complex andtherefor expensive. Secondly its cycle rate is relatively slow, such that it is unsuited for truly high volume chicken and other foodstuff processing facilities.
Because of its relatively slow cycle rate, when used with a supply conveyor, the B 4 ~ 9 ~
Field Qf the Invention This invention relates to bagging machmes and methods and more pa~ ul~uly to methods and apparatus which are especially suited for bagging foodstuffs.
Ba, hkluu..d of the Invention Batches of otherwise essentially bulk foodstuffs are frequently placed in plastic bags for l-d~ u~aliul~ and storage. As an example, the machine describedand claimed in U.S. Patent RE32,963 entitled Packaging Apparatus and Method, 10 issued March ~4, lg87 and assigned to the assignee of this patent, (here the Chicken Machine Patent), has had wide ac~,~l.~ c for bagging parts of cut up chickens for kal.~oll~iull to, and storage at, fast food chicken l~ au,~ s. The machme of the Chicken Machine Patent has also enjoyed commercial success for packaging bulk quantities of such products as candy and dog food when used in 15 ~ with the shuttle and seal ",~ .. described and claimed in the same assignee's Patent 5,077,958, entitled Packaging Machine and Method, issued January 7, 1992, (here the Bulk Packager Patent). The machine has also been used - r 11~ in r.~ lA~ O with an improved version of the Bulk Packager as taught and claimed in commonly owned Patent 5,259,172, issued November 9, 20 1993, entitled Packaging Machine and Method, (here the Briquetting Patent).
With the machine of the Briquetting Patent bulk foodstuffs such as lettuce are packaged after the bag has been ~-f mrA~ted to expel air and compress the package contents.
While the bagging machine of the referenced patents, all of which are 25 hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties, has enjoyed commercia]
success, it has its limitAti-~n~ First and foremost it is relatiYely complex andtherefor expensive. Secondly its cycle rate is relatively slow, such that it is unsuited for truly high volume chicken and other foodstuff processing facilities.
Because of its relatively slow cycle rate, when used with a supply conveyor, the B 4 ~ 9 ~
conveyor must operate intermittently to avoid mixing one product batch with the next. When product batches are mixed, one can, for example with a ten piece chicken cut-up, end up with eleven chicken parts in one bag and nine in the next.
Moreover, even if but ten parts are in a given bag, there may be parts from two 5 chickens, such that, for example, one bag has three legs and perhaps the next bag has but one leg and three wings. Since many chicken processing plants operate with çontinllouc conveyor feed of chicken parts to handle the ~ ùu~ u~ of a chicken processing line, the Chicken Bagger is not ~usc.~,~il,lc to satisfactory use in such a processing plant.
1û With the machine of the referenced patents, webs of preopened u~ d bags are used. The bags are open at the front and interconnected along the back. As a cul~SC~u~llC~ an end bag has a tendency to swing rearwardly, especially when it is loaded, but also as it is being fed along a path of travel to a load station. Accordingly, the machine is constructed such that components are 15 positioned behind the loading station, which CUIIlUUl~ S provide resistance to bags swinging rearwardly. With some food products, such as chickens, these become coated when in use with food substances such as chicken fat.
Accûrdingly, provisions must be made to facilitate the feed of bags to the load station without sticking to the ~.,,,,1,..,l~,,l~ To that end, the machine of the ~0 Chicken Bagger patent utilizes a number of belts which have downwardly movable reaches that engage bags as they are being fed to the load station. These belts are referred to in the Chicken Bagger patent as O ring like belts. This belt Al ~ iS both unduly complex and difficult to clean and sterilize effectively as is necessary in a food processing Cll~/ilUIllll~
Another limitation of the machine of the referenced patents is that foodstuffs being deposited in the bag are gravity fed into bags which are generally vertically oriented at the load station. While this is quite satisfactory for many foodstuffs, it is, ,c~ r~-"y, for example, for bagging a number of bagels delivered to the machine on a tray. Gravity feed of a quantity of such products is apt to damage the products.
~ 3~4~
Moreover, even if but ten parts are in a given bag, there may be parts from two 5 chickens, such that, for example, one bag has three legs and perhaps the next bag has but one leg and three wings. Since many chicken processing plants operate with çontinllouc conveyor feed of chicken parts to handle the ~ ùu~ u~ of a chicken processing line, the Chicken Bagger is not ~usc.~,~il,lc to satisfactory use in such a processing plant.
1û With the machine of the referenced patents, webs of preopened u~ d bags are used. The bags are open at the front and interconnected along the back. As a cul~SC~u~llC~ an end bag has a tendency to swing rearwardly, especially when it is loaded, but also as it is being fed along a path of travel to a load station. Accordingly, the machine is constructed such that components are 15 positioned behind the loading station, which CUIIlUUl~ S provide resistance to bags swinging rearwardly. With some food products, such as chickens, these become coated when in use with food substances such as chicken fat.
Accûrdingly, provisions must be made to facilitate the feed of bags to the load station without sticking to the ~.,,,,1,..,l~,,l~ To that end, the machine of the ~0 Chicken Bagger patent utilizes a number of belts which have downwardly movable reaches that engage bags as they are being fed to the load station. These belts are referred to in the Chicken Bagger patent as O ring like belts. This belt Al ~ iS both unduly complex and difficult to clean and sterilize effectively as is necessary in a food processing Cll~/ilUIllll~
Another limitation of the machine of the referenced patents is that foodstuffs being deposited in the bag are gravity fed into bags which are generally vertically oriented at the load station. While this is quite satisfactory for many foodstuffs, it is, ,c~ r~-"y, for example, for bagging a number of bagels delivered to the machine on a tray. Gravity feed of a quantity of such products is apt to damage the products.
~ 3~4~
Machines have been constructed in which products are inserted into hu~ J~ supported bags. Others have provided for angular adjustment of the t)rj,-nt~ti-ln ûf a bagging machine. However prior machines have lacked the ability to position a load station assembly such that bags being loaded may be S horizontally or vertically oriented or at selected ~ between the horizontal arld the vertical.
Under luguld~ioll~ of the Food and Drug Ad~ d~iull, where two metal members abut, welds must be provided to avoid the presence of crevices where foodstuffs can collect. The obvious reason is that such collected foodstuffs can10 become an ~,llVilUIIIII.,Il~ for germ cultures. Because of these regulations, machines of the referenced patents have welds which are not needed for structural integrity of the machine, but rather are provided only for the purpose of complying with FDA Ic~ula~iu~
In many au~li~Liulls it is desirable to imprint i"~" ~ ll about a product 15 being packaged, the date of packaging and/or ill~luuliulls as to its handling as a part of the machine bagging operation. The machine of the referenced patents is lacking in provision for the presence of such an imprinter and, should an imprinter be present, there is no provision for the protection of such an imprinter during a machine cleaning operation. As a .~I,ceclu ~,-e such information is often hand 20 stamped on bags after loading.
Another shu-l~;ull~ of the machine of the referenced patents is that its ..,r~ ,.", is such that if conveyor fed, the conveyor often must be positioned as a side loader, rather than inline which militates against the provision of a linear path of food processing travel through a food processing facility.
2S Summarv of the Invention With a machine made in accordance with this invention the shortcomings of the prior machine are overcome and other advantages are provided as well. With the improved machine s~bstS~nt~ y increased ll~luu~ uuL is provided by a machinethat is simpler to clean, simpler in construction and utilizable for a larger variety 3û of products.
` _ 4 A generally "Y" shaped upright section is mounted at the forward part of a base. The upright section has an llrct~n~line leg and two downwardly extending diwrgent arms which are fixed to the base. A generally horizontal "Y" shaped section has a leg fixed to the leg of the upright section and a pair of diverging S arms extending lcalwcudly. Supports are interposed between the arms of the horizontal section and the base.
The upright section arms and the supports each have cutouts adjacent their lower ends which together with the base define triangular openings. These openings both facilitate cleaning and ct~rili7slti-)n of the machine and avoid welds that are not needed for structural integrity but which, but for the cutouts, would be necessary to avoid crevices where foreign matter can collect.
The machine includes a pair of mirror image supply stations located behind the upright section and on either side of the leg of the horizontal section. Because the horizontal section is "Y" shaped with its leg between the supply stations, ready access to the supply stations is available to facilitate, for example, placing of cartons of bag webs in the supply stations and removal of empty cartons.
The load stations are defined by mirror image assemblies supported by the upright section on either side of its leg. Each of the load station assemblies is Yertically adjustable and rotatably mounted on the upright section for selective~ for loading bags in horizontal or vertical uricll~d~ion~ or at any desired angular r~ ti~nchir between the horizontal and vertical. The load stations include mirror image pairs of web feed nip ro]ls. The nip rolls of each pair are counterrotatable for feeding a respective web from each pair's associated supply station to an associated load station.
Each of the load station assemblies includes a flat backing plate. An air knife is positioned near and downstream along the path of travel from the feed rolls. The air knife emits air as a web is being fed to establish a lubricating air film between the web and the plate. This air film maintains the web in spaced ll la~ lli,u with the plate thus providing the feed assist function of the O ring belts of the prior machine with a simplified machine that is mOre readily cleaned and sterilized.
i ~ 215~5~
~, ~
s A product receiver in the form of an arcllm~ t~ el is mounted above and in front of the leg of the ~ "~ section. The diverter has a top opening inlet and a laterally spaced pair of outlets each oriented for gravity delivery of products to be bagged to an associated one of the load stations. The5 diverter is configured to receive the discharge end of an inline conveyor. The "Y"
shaped ~;ullfi~uldliull of the horizontal section facilitates a semi-nested orientation of such a conveyor, facilitating an inline flow path of the product being packaged.
Such a flow path is especially facilitated if the bagging machine of this invention is used in ~ lljUI.. 1;llll with either of the Ll~ u~ and sealing structures taught and claimed in the Bulk Packager and Briquetting Patents.
One of the features of the present machine is provision for operation with a "~ operating supply conveyor while coacting with that conveyor to establish and maintain spacing between successive product quantities to be bagged.
The spacing is achieved through utilization of a belt or chain conveyor of the type that has dividers or separators ~lPIinP~tin~ individual product receiving spaces. A
baffle, which is preferably curved, is carried by and forms a part of the diverter.
The baffle is positioned near the inlet opening. The conveyor and machine are positioned such that the separators and the baffle coact to prevent a successiveproduct being dropped into the diverter until a preceding product has been discharged into a bag positioned at one of the load stations.
Another feature of the diverter is that it has two internal discharge doors.
Each of the doors is positioned to enable an A~ lt~d product in the A~ , to escape through an associated one of the discharge openings and thence drop into a bag positioned at an associated one of the bag end stations. The doors are alternately opened such that products are dischargedinto the bagger at one station and then the other as bags are alternately positioned at their respective load stations for receiving products to be bagged.
Another unique feature of the machine of this invention is the provision of supports for ~ ...AblP. imprinters above the supply stations. The imprinters 0 are selectively utilizable to permit print information on the bags, such as of a product in a bag, date of packaging, and instructions for use.
~3 2 1 ~ B ~
A printer enclosure is supported by the frame at a location rearwardly of the supply stations. The enclosure has doors at its opposite ends accessible from opposite sides of the machine. When the machine is to be cleaned and sterilized,the ~ ,.,." ,hlP imprinters are removed from their supports and placed within S the enclosure. Once the doors of the enclosure are closed, the imp}inters are within a fluid tight . .l~ L.~ g enclosure, so that the machine can be cleaned and sterilized without damage to the imprinters.
Accordingly the objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved bagging machine for bagging portions of bulk materials, particularly foodstuffs, and a method of bagging such materials.
In the Drawin~s Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the machine;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine;
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a load station assembly on an enlarged scale with respect to Figures 1- 3; and, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a load station assemb~y on the scale of Figure 4.
Description of Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings and to Figures 1- 3 in particular, a packaging machine including the frame structure shown generally at 10 is provided. As is best understood by reference to Figures 1 and 3, the machine is a dual bagger having mirror image feed and load station assemblies 12, 13 supported by the frame 10. The frame delineates mirror image supply stations 14, 15, Figures 2 and 3.
In use, webs of i~ l.,ccted, preopened bags 11 are fed along respective paths of travel indicated at 18, to respective load stations delineated by the assemblies 12, 13. An ~rcl~m~ ."/diY~ . shown generally at 20 is positioned to receive products from a conveyor 21. The accumulil~ul/J;~ , guides gravity fed products seq~nti~ y and alternately to bags positioned in the load station assemblies 12, 13.
i ` ~ 215~9-The Frame Structure 10 The frame structure 10 includes a generally rectangular base 23. An upright section 24 is mounted on the forward, or left hand portion as viewed in Figure 2, of the base 23. The ~ ",~ section includes an 11~ post or S leg 25 and a pair of downwardly diverging arms 27, 28 as are best seen in Figure 1. Thus the u~ section 24 is in the shape of an inverted "Y" having a leg 25 and diverging arms 27, 28.
A horizontal section shown generally at 30 projects rearwardly from the sectlon 24. The horizontal section, is as is best seen in Figure 3, in the 10 shape of a truncated "Y" having a short leg portion 31 and rearwardly diverging arms 33, 34. The leg section 31 is connected to the leg 25 of the ~Ir~t~n~lin~
section, while the arms 33, 34 are connected to supports 35 which in turn are mounted on the base 23.
The provision of a truncated "Y" horizontal section 30 has several 15 a~v;~ ,. A first advantage is semi-tri~n~ul~ti(m for strength. A second advantage is that the supply stations 14, 15 are readily accessible because of the open clearance afforded through the use of the "Y" section. A third advantage isthat the conveyor 21 is readily positioned close to the overall machine and in apartiaDy nested r~ ti~mcllir for the supply of products to be bagged to the lA ~ 20.
An adva~ ou~ feature of the ~ lLu~ioll of the frame 10 is the provision of cut outs in lower portions of the arms 27, 28 of the llr~t~nrlin~ section and at other places in the frame. These cut outs coact with the base 23 to delineate triangle openings, one of which is shown at 37 in Figure 2. These 25 openings both facilitate cleaning and sl~ ;, ." of the machine, and also reduce costs because they obviate the need for a weld at each cut out location as wouldbe required, but for the cut outs.
Since it is intended that the machine will usually be relatively, permAntonfly positioned in a processing facility, but it is also Al~ d that the floor of such a 30 facility will not be perfectly level, leveling feet 38 are provided adjustably to support th~ machine.
~ 21~
A right angle support section 40 is mounted atop the llpctsln~ine section arld the horizontal section. This support section 40 supports the ~t.u~ /di~ . 20. The support section also optionally supports a ~u~ f imprinter 41 which is preferably of the type sold by the assignee S under the .l~.ci~,,,,.l;..,. PI-4000 and which is described in greater detail in copending ~ if.,~ Serial No. 08/090,896, filed on July 12, 1993, under the titleWeb Imprinting Apparatus and Method.
The Feed and Load Station Assemblies 12. 13 In tbat the feed and load station assemblies 12, 13 are mirror images of one another, only the right hand, as viewed in Figure 1, assembly 13, will be described in detail. The assemblies are mounted on a common shaft 43. The shaft in turn isrotatably mounted in a clamp 44. The clamp 44 permits rotative adjustment of the shaft 43 and the supported assemblies 12, 13 to a desired ~nPnt~ti~m anywhere 15 in an ,^~ l range from the horizontal position shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 2 to a vertical .., ;~ .... indicated in phantom lines in Figure 2. The clamp 44 in tunn is connected to a channel 45 that depends from the llrctslnfline section leg 25. The clamp 44, and with it the shaft 43 as well as the assemblies 12, 13, is adjustable to a desired height by selectively securing it at an a~ u~"ia~e height on the post 45.
The assembly 13 includes a pai} of counter rotatable nip rolls 47, 48. A
stepper feed motor 49 is drivingly connected to the nip roll 48 via a chain or cog belt 50. Rotation of the roll 48 in a counter c~ockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 will feed the web 17 along its path 18. Clockwise rotation of the roll 48 is used to retract the web for bag separation in a manner (;UII.,D~ull iillg to that descnbed and claimed in greater detail in the Chicken Bagger Patent.
The assembly includes a depending air director plate 52 is provided. When the assembly 13 is in its horizontal position as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the plate 52 is vertical and immf~fli~tt~ly behind the path of bag travel. The plate 52 includes ~ lw~lldly extending flanges 53 which provide stiffening for the plate. In addition the flanges are slotted at 55. A bag support 56 is secured to the flanges 21~8~9 g 53 by fasteners 57 each of which extends through a selected one of the elongatedslots 55. The bag supports are also slotted at 58 so that the bag support is both vertically adjustable relative to the plate 52 and adjustable fore and aft and angularly as indicated by phantom lines in Figure 5.
S An air knife 60 is secured to the plate 52 near its top as viewed in Figures 4 and 5. Thus with the assembly 13 in a vertical Oli~ iUII the knife 60 is ;Atl ly below the nip roll 47, 48. The knife 60 is a ~Ullllll~,.~ idlly available knife sold umder the trademark Exaire~9 by Exaire of (~inrinn~tti~ Ohio as ModelNo. 2006SS.
As the web 17 is fed downwardly along its path of travel, air from the air knife 60 is directed downwardly, as indicated by arrows 61, to develop a film of air between the web and the plate 52. This film provides l-lhri~ ~ti~-n which avoids any tendency of the web being fed to stick to the plate 52 due to residue, static electricity or other causes.
Once an end bag 63, Figure 5, is a~lulJlidLt;ly located along a path of travel a horn p~ cylinder 64 is actuated. The cylinder 64 shifts horns 65 to a bag opening position indicated in Figure S in a manner ~;Ull~ ,UUlldillg to that descnbed m greater detail in the reference Bulk Packager Patent. Once the horns are in their bag opening position, a clamp cylinder 66 is actuated to clamp retention pad 67 against the positioned bag. This clamping provides support for the bag 63 as a product is deposited in it and also resistance to bag movement for bag separation when the nip rolls are reversed to separate the bags in the manner described in greater detail in the .- f.,.~ Chicken Bagger Patent.
A bag opening air knife 68 is positioned above the nip rolls to direct air du~ll.. ~ldl~ against the bag 63 as it is brought into its loading position. Air from the bag opening knife 68 functions to ~uLCic;~ Lly open the bag to permit the horn 65 to gain entry into the bag opening.
In operation, the web 17 is fed from the supply station 15 upwardly along the path 18. The feed motor 49 is jogged to feed the web between the nip rolls 30 47, 48 and thus downwardly. The bag support is adjusted to its desired Uli~ d~illll and a~ju~ lL~ are made between a known web position detector, such as a ~,, 21~ 9~
.~
spark gap detecto}, (not shown), to assure that the end bag 63 is appropriately orientated duw~ ,alll from the nip rolls.
Once the machine is set up the feed motor 49 is energized to feed an end bag 63 to the load station. As the end bag is being fed, the air knife 60 is operating to create and maintain a film of air between the bag and the plate 52.Once feed is stopped the bag opening air knife 68 is operating to open the bag 63 and the horn cylinder 64 is then actuated to position the horns in the bag.
M~ mrnt~rily after the hûrns are p~C;tin~P~i the clamp cylinder 65 is actuated to clamp the bag against the horns. A product is then gravity fed, when the 0 ~rj~ntati~n of Figures 4 and 5 is employed, into the bag 63. The feed motor 49 is reversed to separate the now loaded bag from the web. The horn cylinder 64 is again energized to return the horns from their bag opening to their storage position and the loaded bag is removed from the machine. Thereafter the feed motor 49 is again energized to feed the web and the cycle is repeated.
The ~rcllm~ torlDiverter 20 The ~ /Diverter 20 has an upper inlet open 70 and a spaced pair of outlet openings 71, 72 .~,~"w~ aligned with the load station ~cc~ mh~ c 12, 13. The diverter 20 has a baffle 74 adjustably mounted in its top opening 70. The baffle 74 is preferably curved to coact with conveyor dividers or spacers 75.
Successive ones of the divers 75 delineate product spaces 76. As a conveyor beltor chain 77 passes around an end drum 78 one of the dividers 75 coacts with the baffJe 74 to retain a product in the ~u~c~ e product space 76 after a preceding product has been dropped into the ~ di~,Lol 20. Thus, the baffle and the dividers function to provide spacing between successive product discharges from the conveyor into the ~cc~m~ ,lL~,.
The dropping of a product into the ~r~llml~ lldi~ is sensed by an ultrasonic detector 80. A suitab]e detector 80 is sold by Hyde Park Superprox under the ~lf ~ ", SM500. A product dropping through the diverter 20 is "seen" by the detector 80 via an access port 81 formed in the lower side of an input chute portion 82 of the diverter 20. A signal from the sensor 80 is ~lal~ to a control (not shown?. Assuming the load station assembly 13 has ` ~ 21564~
an end bag 63 positioned to receive a product, the sensed product will be discharged through the discharge opening 72.
To 2 ""~ product discharge, a discharge cylinder 84 is actuated to open a diverter door 85 to discharge the product in the diverter through the S discharge opening 72. Cu~ u~ ly, the load station assembly 12 will be operating during a different phase of its cycle to prepare an end bag 63 for receipt of the next product to be discharged from the diverter 20. When the sensor 80 has sensed the deliver of this next product, a discharge actuator 86 will open a diverter door 87 which is a mirror image of the door 85. Opening of the diverter door 87 discharges product through the discharge opening 71 to a positioned bag 63 in the load station assembly 12. This left/right cycle repeats repetitively as the operation of the load state assembly continues in a ~III,I~lUlli~ manner. In this manner the machine is able to bag products being delivered by a continually operating conveyor 21.
The Pluyldllllllable Imprinter 41 Another of the features of the machine of the present invention relates to ~!lU~l,l,,,,,, .hl.o imprinters. While the present machine must be capable to withstand cleaning and ~t~ . ;li".~ , the imprinters are not. Accordingly, a printer enclosure 90 is provided (Figure 2). When the machine is to be cleaned and sterilized, the imprinter 41 is ~ d from the support section 40. A door 91 of the enclosure 90 is opened and the imprinter is positioned within the enclosure.
Once the door 91, and its mirror image equivalent on the opposite side of the enclosure, not shown, are fully closed, the enclosure provides a fluid tight storage chamber for the ~lu~ld~ able imprinter 41 and its not shown mirror image ~UUllt~ l~Jal~ from the other side of the machine.
A feature of the enclosure is a chamfered roof portion 92 which is available because the imprinter has a cull~ ,ulldillg sloping chamfered portion 93. These chamfer portions further facilitate a semi nesting r~ ti~nc~ir between the novelbagging machine of this invention and the conveyor 21.
Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of pdl~i. ula,i~y, it is understood that the present disclosure of the ~ 21~
preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, operation and the combin~tion and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as h.,~ r~l claimed.
Under luguld~ioll~ of the Food and Drug Ad~ d~iull, where two metal members abut, welds must be provided to avoid the presence of crevices where foodstuffs can collect. The obvious reason is that such collected foodstuffs can10 become an ~,llVilUIIIII.,Il~ for germ cultures. Because of these regulations, machines of the referenced patents have welds which are not needed for structural integrity of the machine, but rather are provided only for the purpose of complying with FDA Ic~ula~iu~
In many au~li~Liulls it is desirable to imprint i"~" ~ ll about a product 15 being packaged, the date of packaging and/or ill~luuliulls as to its handling as a part of the machine bagging operation. The machine of the referenced patents is lacking in provision for the presence of such an imprinter and, should an imprinter be present, there is no provision for the protection of such an imprinter during a machine cleaning operation. As a .~I,ceclu ~,-e such information is often hand 20 stamped on bags after loading.
Another shu-l~;ull~ of the machine of the referenced patents is that its ..,r~ ,.", is such that if conveyor fed, the conveyor often must be positioned as a side loader, rather than inline which militates against the provision of a linear path of food processing travel through a food processing facility.
2S Summarv of the Invention With a machine made in accordance with this invention the shortcomings of the prior machine are overcome and other advantages are provided as well. With the improved machine s~bstS~nt~ y increased ll~luu~ uuL is provided by a machinethat is simpler to clean, simpler in construction and utilizable for a larger variety 3û of products.
` _ 4 A generally "Y" shaped upright section is mounted at the forward part of a base. The upright section has an llrct~n~line leg and two downwardly extending diwrgent arms which are fixed to the base. A generally horizontal "Y" shaped section has a leg fixed to the leg of the upright section and a pair of diverging S arms extending lcalwcudly. Supports are interposed between the arms of the horizontal section and the base.
The upright section arms and the supports each have cutouts adjacent their lower ends which together with the base define triangular openings. These openings both facilitate cleaning and ct~rili7slti-)n of the machine and avoid welds that are not needed for structural integrity but which, but for the cutouts, would be necessary to avoid crevices where foreign matter can collect.
The machine includes a pair of mirror image supply stations located behind the upright section and on either side of the leg of the horizontal section. Because the horizontal section is "Y" shaped with its leg between the supply stations, ready access to the supply stations is available to facilitate, for example, placing of cartons of bag webs in the supply stations and removal of empty cartons.
The load stations are defined by mirror image assemblies supported by the upright section on either side of its leg. Each of the load station assemblies is Yertically adjustable and rotatably mounted on the upright section for selective~ for loading bags in horizontal or vertical uricll~d~ion~ or at any desired angular r~ ti~nchir between the horizontal and vertical. The load stations include mirror image pairs of web feed nip ro]ls. The nip rolls of each pair are counterrotatable for feeding a respective web from each pair's associated supply station to an associated load station.
Each of the load station assemblies includes a flat backing plate. An air knife is positioned near and downstream along the path of travel from the feed rolls. The air knife emits air as a web is being fed to establish a lubricating air film between the web and the plate. This air film maintains the web in spaced ll la~ lli,u with the plate thus providing the feed assist function of the O ring belts of the prior machine with a simplified machine that is mOre readily cleaned and sterilized.
i ~ 215~5~
~, ~
s A product receiver in the form of an arcllm~ t~ el is mounted above and in front of the leg of the ~ "~ section. The diverter has a top opening inlet and a laterally spaced pair of outlets each oriented for gravity delivery of products to be bagged to an associated one of the load stations. The5 diverter is configured to receive the discharge end of an inline conveyor. The "Y"
shaped ~;ullfi~uldliull of the horizontal section facilitates a semi-nested orientation of such a conveyor, facilitating an inline flow path of the product being packaged.
Such a flow path is especially facilitated if the bagging machine of this invention is used in ~ lljUI.. 1;llll with either of the Ll~ u~ and sealing structures taught and claimed in the Bulk Packager and Briquetting Patents.
One of the features of the present machine is provision for operation with a "~ operating supply conveyor while coacting with that conveyor to establish and maintain spacing between successive product quantities to be bagged.
The spacing is achieved through utilization of a belt or chain conveyor of the type that has dividers or separators ~lPIinP~tin~ individual product receiving spaces. A
baffle, which is preferably curved, is carried by and forms a part of the diverter.
The baffle is positioned near the inlet opening. The conveyor and machine are positioned such that the separators and the baffle coact to prevent a successiveproduct being dropped into the diverter until a preceding product has been discharged into a bag positioned at one of the load stations.
Another feature of the diverter is that it has two internal discharge doors.
Each of the doors is positioned to enable an A~ lt~d product in the A~ , to escape through an associated one of the discharge openings and thence drop into a bag positioned at an associated one of the bag end stations. The doors are alternately opened such that products are dischargedinto the bagger at one station and then the other as bags are alternately positioned at their respective load stations for receiving products to be bagged.
Another unique feature of the machine of this invention is the provision of supports for ~ ...AblP. imprinters above the supply stations. The imprinters 0 are selectively utilizable to permit print information on the bags, such as of a product in a bag, date of packaging, and instructions for use.
~3 2 1 ~ B ~
A printer enclosure is supported by the frame at a location rearwardly of the supply stations. The enclosure has doors at its opposite ends accessible from opposite sides of the machine. When the machine is to be cleaned and sterilized,the ~ ,.,." ,hlP imprinters are removed from their supports and placed within S the enclosure. Once the doors of the enclosure are closed, the imp}inters are within a fluid tight . .l~ L.~ g enclosure, so that the machine can be cleaned and sterilized without damage to the imprinters.
Accordingly the objects of the invention are to provide a novel and improved bagging machine for bagging portions of bulk materials, particularly foodstuffs, and a method of bagging such materials.
In the Drawin~s Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the machine;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the machine;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine;
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of a load station assembly on an enlarged scale with respect to Figures 1- 3; and, Figure 5 is a side elevational view of a load station assemb~y on the scale of Figure 4.
Description of Preferred Embodiment Referring now to the drawings and to Figures 1- 3 in particular, a packaging machine including the frame structure shown generally at 10 is provided. As is best understood by reference to Figures 1 and 3, the machine is a dual bagger having mirror image feed and load station assemblies 12, 13 supported by the frame 10. The frame delineates mirror image supply stations 14, 15, Figures 2 and 3.
In use, webs of i~ l.,ccted, preopened bags 11 are fed along respective paths of travel indicated at 18, to respective load stations delineated by the assemblies 12, 13. An ~rcl~m~ ."/diY~ . shown generally at 20 is positioned to receive products from a conveyor 21. The accumulil~ul/J;~ , guides gravity fed products seq~nti~ y and alternately to bags positioned in the load station assemblies 12, 13.
i ` ~ 215~9-The Frame Structure 10 The frame structure 10 includes a generally rectangular base 23. An upright section 24 is mounted on the forward, or left hand portion as viewed in Figure 2, of the base 23. The ~ ",~ section includes an 11~ post or S leg 25 and a pair of downwardly diverging arms 27, 28 as are best seen in Figure 1. Thus the u~ section 24 is in the shape of an inverted "Y" having a leg 25 and diverging arms 27, 28.
A horizontal section shown generally at 30 projects rearwardly from the sectlon 24. The horizontal section, is as is best seen in Figure 3, in the 10 shape of a truncated "Y" having a short leg portion 31 and rearwardly diverging arms 33, 34. The leg section 31 is connected to the leg 25 of the ~Ir~t~n~lin~
section, while the arms 33, 34 are connected to supports 35 which in turn are mounted on the base 23.
The provision of a truncated "Y" horizontal section 30 has several 15 a~v;~ ,. A first advantage is semi-tri~n~ul~ti(m for strength. A second advantage is that the supply stations 14, 15 are readily accessible because of the open clearance afforded through the use of the "Y" section. A third advantage isthat the conveyor 21 is readily positioned close to the overall machine and in apartiaDy nested r~ ti~mcllir for the supply of products to be bagged to the lA ~ 20.
An adva~ ou~ feature of the ~ lLu~ioll of the frame 10 is the provision of cut outs in lower portions of the arms 27, 28 of the llr~t~nrlin~ section and at other places in the frame. These cut outs coact with the base 23 to delineate triangle openings, one of which is shown at 37 in Figure 2. These 25 openings both facilitate cleaning and sl~ ;, ." of the machine, and also reduce costs because they obviate the need for a weld at each cut out location as wouldbe required, but for the cut outs.
Since it is intended that the machine will usually be relatively, permAntonfly positioned in a processing facility, but it is also Al~ d that the floor of such a 30 facility will not be perfectly level, leveling feet 38 are provided adjustably to support th~ machine.
~ 21~
A right angle support section 40 is mounted atop the llpctsln~ine section arld the horizontal section. This support section 40 supports the ~t.u~ /di~ . 20. The support section also optionally supports a ~u~ f imprinter 41 which is preferably of the type sold by the assignee S under the .l~.ci~,,,,.l;..,. PI-4000 and which is described in greater detail in copending ~ if.,~ Serial No. 08/090,896, filed on July 12, 1993, under the titleWeb Imprinting Apparatus and Method.
The Feed and Load Station Assemblies 12. 13 In tbat the feed and load station assemblies 12, 13 are mirror images of one another, only the right hand, as viewed in Figure 1, assembly 13, will be described in detail. The assemblies are mounted on a common shaft 43. The shaft in turn isrotatably mounted in a clamp 44. The clamp 44 permits rotative adjustment of the shaft 43 and the supported assemblies 12, 13 to a desired ~nPnt~ti~m anywhere 15 in an ,^~ l range from the horizontal position shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 2 to a vertical .., ;~ .... indicated in phantom lines in Figure 2. The clamp 44 in tunn is connected to a channel 45 that depends from the llrctslnfline section leg 25. The clamp 44, and with it the shaft 43 as well as the assemblies 12, 13, is adjustable to a desired height by selectively securing it at an a~ u~"ia~e height on the post 45.
The assembly 13 includes a pai} of counter rotatable nip rolls 47, 48. A
stepper feed motor 49 is drivingly connected to the nip roll 48 via a chain or cog belt 50. Rotation of the roll 48 in a counter c~ockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5 will feed the web 17 along its path 18. Clockwise rotation of the roll 48 is used to retract the web for bag separation in a manner (;UII.,D~ull iillg to that descnbed and claimed in greater detail in the Chicken Bagger Patent.
The assembly includes a depending air director plate 52 is provided. When the assembly 13 is in its horizontal position as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the plate 52 is vertical and immf~fli~tt~ly behind the path of bag travel. The plate 52 includes ~ lw~lldly extending flanges 53 which provide stiffening for the plate. In addition the flanges are slotted at 55. A bag support 56 is secured to the flanges 21~8~9 g 53 by fasteners 57 each of which extends through a selected one of the elongatedslots 55. The bag supports are also slotted at 58 so that the bag support is both vertically adjustable relative to the plate 52 and adjustable fore and aft and angularly as indicated by phantom lines in Figure 5.
S An air knife 60 is secured to the plate 52 near its top as viewed in Figures 4 and 5. Thus with the assembly 13 in a vertical Oli~ iUII the knife 60 is ;Atl ly below the nip roll 47, 48. The knife 60 is a ~Ullllll~,.~ idlly available knife sold umder the trademark Exaire~9 by Exaire of (~inrinn~tti~ Ohio as ModelNo. 2006SS.
As the web 17 is fed downwardly along its path of travel, air from the air knife 60 is directed downwardly, as indicated by arrows 61, to develop a film of air between the web and the plate 52. This film provides l-lhri~ ~ti~-n which avoids any tendency of the web being fed to stick to the plate 52 due to residue, static electricity or other causes.
Once an end bag 63, Figure 5, is a~lulJlidLt;ly located along a path of travel a horn p~ cylinder 64 is actuated. The cylinder 64 shifts horns 65 to a bag opening position indicated in Figure S in a manner ~;Ull~ ,UUlldillg to that descnbed m greater detail in the reference Bulk Packager Patent. Once the horns are in their bag opening position, a clamp cylinder 66 is actuated to clamp retention pad 67 against the positioned bag. This clamping provides support for the bag 63 as a product is deposited in it and also resistance to bag movement for bag separation when the nip rolls are reversed to separate the bags in the manner described in greater detail in the .- f.,.~ Chicken Bagger Patent.
A bag opening air knife 68 is positioned above the nip rolls to direct air du~ll.. ~ldl~ against the bag 63 as it is brought into its loading position. Air from the bag opening knife 68 functions to ~uLCic;~ Lly open the bag to permit the horn 65 to gain entry into the bag opening.
In operation, the web 17 is fed from the supply station 15 upwardly along the path 18. The feed motor 49 is jogged to feed the web between the nip rolls 30 47, 48 and thus downwardly. The bag support is adjusted to its desired Uli~ d~illll and a~ju~ lL~ are made between a known web position detector, such as a ~,, 21~ 9~
.~
spark gap detecto}, (not shown), to assure that the end bag 63 is appropriately orientated duw~ ,alll from the nip rolls.
Once the machine is set up the feed motor 49 is energized to feed an end bag 63 to the load station. As the end bag is being fed, the air knife 60 is operating to create and maintain a film of air between the bag and the plate 52.Once feed is stopped the bag opening air knife 68 is operating to open the bag 63 and the horn cylinder 64 is then actuated to position the horns in the bag.
M~ mrnt~rily after the hûrns are p~C;tin~P~i the clamp cylinder 65 is actuated to clamp the bag against the horns. A product is then gravity fed, when the 0 ~rj~ntati~n of Figures 4 and 5 is employed, into the bag 63. The feed motor 49 is reversed to separate the now loaded bag from the web. The horn cylinder 64 is again energized to return the horns from their bag opening to their storage position and the loaded bag is removed from the machine. Thereafter the feed motor 49 is again energized to feed the web and the cycle is repeated.
The ~rcllm~ torlDiverter 20 The ~ /Diverter 20 has an upper inlet open 70 and a spaced pair of outlet openings 71, 72 .~,~"w~ aligned with the load station ~cc~ mh~ c 12, 13. The diverter 20 has a baffle 74 adjustably mounted in its top opening 70. The baffle 74 is preferably curved to coact with conveyor dividers or spacers 75.
Successive ones of the divers 75 delineate product spaces 76. As a conveyor beltor chain 77 passes around an end drum 78 one of the dividers 75 coacts with the baffJe 74 to retain a product in the ~u~c~ e product space 76 after a preceding product has been dropped into the ~ di~,Lol 20. Thus, the baffle and the dividers function to provide spacing between successive product discharges from the conveyor into the ~cc~m~ ,lL~,.
The dropping of a product into the ~r~llml~ lldi~ is sensed by an ultrasonic detector 80. A suitab]e detector 80 is sold by Hyde Park Superprox under the ~lf ~ ", SM500. A product dropping through the diverter 20 is "seen" by the detector 80 via an access port 81 formed in the lower side of an input chute portion 82 of the diverter 20. A signal from the sensor 80 is ~lal~ to a control (not shown?. Assuming the load station assembly 13 has ` ~ 21564~
an end bag 63 positioned to receive a product, the sensed product will be discharged through the discharge opening 72.
To 2 ""~ product discharge, a discharge cylinder 84 is actuated to open a diverter door 85 to discharge the product in the diverter through the S discharge opening 72. Cu~ u~ ly, the load station assembly 12 will be operating during a different phase of its cycle to prepare an end bag 63 for receipt of the next product to be discharged from the diverter 20. When the sensor 80 has sensed the deliver of this next product, a discharge actuator 86 will open a diverter door 87 which is a mirror image of the door 85. Opening of the diverter door 87 discharges product through the discharge opening 71 to a positioned bag 63 in the load station assembly 12. This left/right cycle repeats repetitively as the operation of the load state assembly continues in a ~III,I~lUlli~ manner. In this manner the machine is able to bag products being delivered by a continually operating conveyor 21.
The Pluyldllllllable Imprinter 41 Another of the features of the machine of the present invention relates to ~!lU~l,l,,,,,, .hl.o imprinters. While the present machine must be capable to withstand cleaning and ~t~ . ;li".~ , the imprinters are not. Accordingly, a printer enclosure 90 is provided (Figure 2). When the machine is to be cleaned and sterilized, the imprinter 41 is ~ d from the support section 40. A door 91 of the enclosure 90 is opened and the imprinter is positioned within the enclosure.
Once the door 91, and its mirror image equivalent on the opposite side of the enclosure, not shown, are fully closed, the enclosure provides a fluid tight storage chamber for the ~lu~ld~ able imprinter 41 and its not shown mirror image ~UUllt~ l~Jal~ from the other side of the machine.
A feature of the enclosure is a chamfered roof portion 92 which is available because the imprinter has a cull~ ,ulldillg sloping chamfered portion 93. These chamfer portions further facilitate a semi nesting r~ ti~nc~ir between the novelbagging machine of this invention and the conveyor 21.
Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of pdl~i. ula,i~y, it is understood that the present disclosure of the ~ 21~
preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction, operation and the combin~tion and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as h.,~ r~l claimed.
Claims (49)
1. In a bagging machine utilizing chains of interconnected preopened bags, an improved mechanism for positioning bags at a loading station comprising:
a) a feed structure for feeding the chain along a path of travel to position an end one of the bags at the load station;
b) a backing structure positioned adjacent the path of travel and the station; and, c) a pressurized air supply means connected to the structure and positioned below the path and upstream of the path from the station to direct air between the path and the structure into the station whereby to develop an air film between such end bag being fed to the loading station and the structure as the bag enters the station and while allowing the chain to remain in the path.
a) a feed structure for feeding the chain along a path of travel to position an end one of the bags at the load station;
b) a backing structure positioned adjacent the path of travel and the station; and, c) a pressurized air supply means connected to the structure and positioned below the path and upstream of the path from the station to direct air between the path and the structure into the station whereby to develop an air film between such end bag being fed to the loading station and the structure as the bag enters the station and while allowing the chain to remain in the path.
2. The machine of Claim 1 wherein the backing structure is an imperforate plate.
3. The machine of Claim 2 wherein the plate is adjustable over a range from a generally vertical orientation to a generally horizontal orientation and the supply means is an air knife positioned to develop such air film when the plate is in any position in the range.
4. The machine of Claim 1 wherein the air supply means is a first air knife and a second air knife is provided on the opposite side of the path from the first air knife, the second knife being for opening bags at the loading station.
5. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame structure delineating bag supply and loading stations;
b) a pair of coacting feed rolls carried by the structure and positioned to feed a web of interconnected bags along a path of travel from the supply station to the loading station;
c) the machine having an air film providing means including:
i) an air knife carried by the structure and positioned along and behind the path downstream from the feed rolls; and, ii) a portion of the structure forming an air flow director;
iii) the air knife being oriented to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between the path and the director whereby to cause a film of air to be developed between the director and a bag as such bag is fed along the path into the loading station; and d) a bag opening mechanism for sequentially opening bags at the load station.
a) a frame structure delineating bag supply and loading stations;
b) a pair of coacting feed rolls carried by the structure and positioned to feed a web of interconnected bags along a path of travel from the supply station to the loading station;
c) the machine having an air film providing means including:
i) an air knife carried by the structure and positioned along and behind the path downstream from the feed rolls; and, ii) a portion of the structure forming an air flow director;
iii) the air knife being oriented to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between the path and the director whereby to cause a film of air to be developed between the director and a bag as such bag is fed along the path into the loading station; and d) a bag opening mechanism for sequentially opening bags at the load station.
6. The machine of Claim 5 wherein the portion is a plate.
7. In a bagging machine utilizing chains of interconnected preopened bags, an improved mechanism for positioning bags at a loading station comprising:
a) a backing structure positioned adjacent a bag path of travel;
b) a pressurized air supply means connected to the structure and positioned to direct air between the path and the structure whereby to develop an air film between a bag being fed to the loading station and the structure;
and, c) the load station being delineated by an assembly which is adjustably carried by the frame structure for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load station.
a) a backing structure positioned adjacent a bag path of travel;
b) a pressurized air supply means connected to the structure and positioned to direct air between the path and the structure whereby to develop an air film between a bag being fed to the loading station and the structure;
and, c) the load station being delineated by an assembly which is adjustably carried by the frame structure for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load station.
8. The machine of Claim 7 wherein the range is from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical orientation.
9. The machine of Claim 7 wherein the assembly is vertically adjustably carried by the structure.
10. In a bagging machine utilizing chains of interconnected preopened bags, an improved mechanism for positioning bags at a loading station comprising:
a) a backing structure positioned adjacent a bag path of travel;
b) a pressurized air supply means connected to the structure and positioned to direct air between the path and the structure whereby to develop an air film between a bag being fed to the loading station and the structure;
and, c) the frame structure including an imprinter support for supporting an imprinter for imprinting webs being fed along the path and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure for protectively housing such imprinter during machine cleaning.
a) a backing structure positioned adjacent a bag path of travel;
b) a pressurized air supply means connected to the structure and positioned to direct air between the path and the structure whereby to develop an air film between a bag being fed to the loading station and the structure;
and, c) the frame structure including an imprinter support for supporting an imprinter for imprinting webs being fed along the path and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure for protectively housing such imprinter during machine cleaning.
11. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced pairs of coacting feed roll sets carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station;
c) the machine having air film providing means including:
i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along and behind an associated one of the paths downstream from the roll sets; and, ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors;
iii) the air knives being oriented to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between the path and the directors whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each director and bags as such bags fed along their paths into the loading stations; and d) a pair of bag opening mechanisms respectively for sequentially opening bags at respective ones of the load stations.
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced pairs of coacting feed roll sets carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station;
c) the machine having air film providing means including:
i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along and behind an associated one of the paths downstream from the roll sets; and, ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors;
iii) the air knives being oriented to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between the path and the directors whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each director and bags as such bags fed along their paths into the loading stations; and d) a pair of bag opening mechanisms respectively for sequentially opening bags at respective ones of the load stations.
12. The machine of Claim 11 wherein the portions are plates.
13. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced pairs of coacting feed roll sets carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station;
c) the machine having air film providing means including:
i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along an associated one of the paths downstream from the roll sets;
and, ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors;
iii) whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each portion and bags as such bags fed along their paths;
d) a pair of bag opening mechanisms respectively for sequentially opening bags at respective ones of the load stations; and, e) the load stations being delineated by a pair of assemblies which are adjustably carried by the frame structure for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load stations.
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced pairs of coacting feed roll sets carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station;
c) the machine having air film providing means including:
i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along an associated one of the paths downstream from the roll sets;
and, ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors;
iii) whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each portion and bags as such bags fed along their paths;
d) a pair of bag opening mechanisms respectively for sequentially opening bags at respective ones of the load stations; and, e) the load stations being delineated by a pair of assemblies which are adjustably carried by the frame structure for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load stations.
14. The machine of Claim 13 wherein the range is from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical orientation of each of the plates.
15. The machine of Claim 13 wherein the assemblies are mirror image assemblies.
16. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced pairs of coacting feed roll sets carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station;
c) the machine having air film providing means including:
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced pairs of coacting feed roll sets carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station;
c) the machine having air film providing means including:
17 i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along an associated one of the paths downstream from the roll sets;
and, ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors;
iii) whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each portion and bags as such bags fed along their paths;
d) a pair of bag opening mechanisms respectively for sequentially opening bags at respective ones of the load stations; and, e) the structure including an imprinter support for supporting an imprinter for imprinting a web being fed along an associated one of the paths and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure for protectively housing such imprinter during machine cleaning.
17. The machine of Claim 16 wherein there are a pair of imprinter supports each disposed along a different one of the paths of travel and the enclosure is adapted to protectively house a pair of imprinters.
and, ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors;
iii) whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each portion and bags as such bags fed along their paths;
d) a pair of bag opening mechanisms respectively for sequentially opening bags at respective ones of the load stations; and, e) the structure including an imprinter support for supporting an imprinter for imprinting a web being fed along an associated one of the paths and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure for protectively housing such imprinter during machine cleaning.
17. The machine of Claim 16 wherein there are a pair of imprinter supports each disposed along a different one of the paths of travel and the enclosure is adapted to protectively house a pair of imprinters.
18. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame including:
i) a base;
ii) an upright section in the shape of an inverted "Y" mounted on the base and forming a forward part of the frame, the upright section including an upstanding leg and downwardly extending and diverging arms fixed to the base;
iii) a generally horizontal "Y" shaped section having a leg fixed to the upright section and a pair of arms extending and diverging rearwardly;
and, iv) supports interposed between the base and the horizontal section arms;
b) the frame defining a pair of web supply stations positioned behind the upright section and on either side of and below the horizontal section leg;
c) a pair of feed roll sets each for feeding a different one of a pair of webs of preopened bags from the respective supply stations along respective paths of travel to respective ones of a pair of load stations;
d) roll set support structure connected to the sets and to the upright section, the support structure positioning the sets on opposite sides of the upright section leg for respectively feeding webs along spaced paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations;
e) a pair of load station assemblies carried by the upright section each positioned to receive an associated one of such webs delivered along an associated one of the paths from a respectively associated one of the roll sets;
f) each of the assemblies including a backing plate and an air knife for delivering air to establish an air film between the plate and a web in an associated one of the paths of travel;
g) an accumulator diverter carried frame the diverter having an inlet and a pair of outlets, each of the outlets being positioned above a respectively associated one of the load stations; and, h) the diverter including an output control mechanism for selectively enabling discharge of a product to be packaged through a selected one of the outlets.
a) a frame including:
i) a base;
ii) an upright section in the shape of an inverted "Y" mounted on the base and forming a forward part of the frame, the upright section including an upstanding leg and downwardly extending and diverging arms fixed to the base;
iii) a generally horizontal "Y" shaped section having a leg fixed to the upright section and a pair of arms extending and diverging rearwardly;
and, iv) supports interposed between the base and the horizontal section arms;
b) the frame defining a pair of web supply stations positioned behind the upright section and on either side of and below the horizontal section leg;
c) a pair of feed roll sets each for feeding a different one of a pair of webs of preopened bags from the respective supply stations along respective paths of travel to respective ones of a pair of load stations;
d) roll set support structure connected to the sets and to the upright section, the support structure positioning the sets on opposite sides of the upright section leg for respectively feeding webs along spaced paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations;
e) a pair of load station assemblies carried by the upright section each positioned to receive an associated one of such webs delivered along an associated one of the paths from a respectively associated one of the roll sets;
f) each of the assemblies including a backing plate and an air knife for delivering air to establish an air film between the plate and a web in an associated one of the paths of travel;
g) an accumulator diverter carried frame the diverter having an inlet and a pair of outlets, each of the outlets being positioned above a respectively associated one of the load stations; and, h) the diverter including an output control mechanism for selectively enabling discharge of a product to be packaged through a selected one of the outlets.
19. The machine of Claim 18 wherein the load station assemblies are adjustably carried by the upright for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load stations.
20. The machine of Claim 19 wherein the range is from a substantially horizontal to a substantially vertical orientation of each of the plates.
21. The machine of Claim 18 wherein the assemblies are vertically adjustably carried by the upright.
22. The machine of Claim 18 further including a conveyor for supplying products to be packaged to the diverter and the conveyer and diverter including coacting means to establish a time delay between the supply of one product and the supply of a successive product.
23. The machine of Claim 22 wherein the coasting means comprises conveyor separators delineating discrete product spaces each between a successive pair of separators and a coasting diverter baffle for coaction with the separators successively and one at a time.
24. The machine of Claim 22 wherein the conveyor is disposed in part between the horizontal section arms.
25. The machine of Claim 18 wherein the assemblies are mirror image assemblies.
26. The machine of Claim 18 wherein the frame includes an imprinter support for supporting an imprinter for imprinting a web being fed along an associated one of the paths and a fluid tight imprinter enclosure for protectively housing such imprinter during machine cleaning.
27. The machine of Claim 18 wherein the upright section arms include base portions, delineating base cut outs, the cut out base portions each coasting with the base to delineate an opening.
28. A process of positioning a bag at a load station of a bagging machine comprising:
a) feeding a bag along a path of travel from a supply to the load station; and, b) establishing a lubricating film of air between the bag and a section of the machine as the bag is fed along the path.
a) feeding a bag along a path of travel from a supply to the load station; and, b) establishing a lubricating film of air between the bag and a section of the machine as the bag is fed along the path.
29. The process of Claim 28 wherein an air knife is used to develop the film.
30. The process of Claim 29 wherein the bag is opened at the load station by air supplied from a second air knife.
31. The process of Claim 28 wherein a pair of powered feed rolls effect the feeding step and the air film is established along the path down stream from the feed rolls.
32. The process of Claim 28 wherein the bag is one of a plurality of interconnected preopened bags.
33. A process of bagging products with a bagging machine comprising:
a) positioning a web of preopened interconnected bags between the rolls of a pair of opposed nip rolls forming a part of the machine;
b) counter rotating the rolls to feed the web of bags from a supply station to a load station to position the bags sequentially and one at a time at the load station;
c) establishing a film of air between the web and the machine at a location along the path downstream from the nip rolls, the film being established as the web is fed;
d) periodically stopping the web feed as an end one of the bags is positioned at the load station;
e) while the feed is stopped inserting horns of a spaced pair of horns in the opening of the positioned bag and spreading the horns from a storage to a bag open position to open the positioned bag;
f) inserting a product into the positioned bag;
g) reversing the rolls to reverse the direction of web feed to rupture a line of weakness connecting the positioned bag from the web and thereby separate the positioned bag from the web;
h) returning the horns to their storage position after the product has been inserted in the positioned bag; and, i) repeating steps (b) through (h) inclusive.
a) positioning a web of preopened interconnected bags between the rolls of a pair of opposed nip rolls forming a part of the machine;
b) counter rotating the rolls to feed the web of bags from a supply station to a load station to position the bags sequentially and one at a time at the load station;
c) establishing a film of air between the web and the machine at a location along the path downstream from the nip rolls, the film being established as the web is fed;
d) periodically stopping the web feed as an end one of the bags is positioned at the load station;
e) while the feed is stopped inserting horns of a spaced pair of horns in the opening of the positioned bag and spreading the horns from a storage to a bag open position to open the positioned bag;
f) inserting a product into the positioned bag;
g) reversing the rolls to reverse the direction of web feed to rupture a line of weakness connecting the positioned bag from the web and thereby separate the positioned bag from the web;
h) returning the horns to their storage position after the product has been inserted in the positioned bag; and, i) repeating steps (b) through (h) inclusive.
34. The process of Claim 33 wherein there are two such feed paths and load stations and the steps are sequentially performed along each path with the product insertion step being alternately performed at one load station and then the other.
35. In a bagging machine an improved loading mechanism comprising:
a) a frame structure;
b) a load station assembly rotatably mounted on the structure and including bag handling means for moving a bag into and positioning such bag at a load station and opening the bag to receive a product;
c) the assembly being selectively positionable in a selected bag orientation in an orientation range from an essentially vertical orientation to an essentially horizontal orientation;
d) a clamp interposed between the structure and the assembly for fixing the assembly in any selected orientation in the range;
e) the assembly including a bag backing for supporting a positioned bag in at least certain of the orientations within the range; and, f) air film generating means supported by the frame structure and positioned for establishing a film of air between such bag and the backing as the bag is fed into the load station.
a) a frame structure;
b) a load station assembly rotatably mounted on the structure and including bag handling means for moving a bag into and positioning such bag at a load station and opening the bag to receive a product;
c) the assembly being selectively positionable in a selected bag orientation in an orientation range from an essentially vertical orientation to an essentially horizontal orientation;
d) a clamp interposed between the structure and the assembly for fixing the assembly in any selected orientation in the range;
e) the assembly including a bag backing for supporting a positioned bag in at least certain of the orientations within the range; and, f) air film generating means supported by the frame structure and positioned for establishing a film of air between such bag and the backing as the bag is fed into the load station.
36. The machine of Claim 35 including air film generating means for establishing a film of air between such bag and the backing.
37. A mechanism for spacing products for successive delivery to a work station comprising:
a) a conveyor having spaced separators delineating successive product receiving spaces;
b) a product receiver positioned successively to receive products delivered from the spaces; and, c) the receiver including baffle means for coacting with the separators sequentially and one at a time to prevent the discharge of products from such spaces during such coaction thereby to delay the discharge of each product from the conveyor following the discharge of a preceding product.
a) a conveyor having spaced separators delineating successive product receiving spaces;
b) a product receiver positioned successively to receive products delivered from the spaces; and, c) the receiver including baffle means for coacting with the separators sequentially and one at a time to prevent the discharge of products from such spaces during such coaction thereby to delay the discharge of each product from the conveyor following the discharge of a preceding product.
38. The mechanism of Claim 37 wherein the baffle means includes an arcuately curved baffle positioned concentrically about an axis of conveyor end drum rotation.
39. In a bagging machine utilizing webs of plastic material sequentially fed along a path of travel from a supply station to a loading station, the improvement comprising:
a) frame structure for supporting an imprinter along the path for imprinting a web being fed;
b) a fluid tight enclosure carried by the structure; and, c) the enclosure including an access door to permit selective insertion and removal of an imprinter into and from a space within the enclosure..
a) frame structure for supporting an imprinter along the path for imprinting a web being fed;
b) a fluid tight enclosure carried by the structure; and, c) the enclosure including an access door to permit selective insertion and removal of an imprinter into and from a space within the enclosure..
40. In a bagging machine an improved frame comprising:
a) base;
b) an upright section in the shape of an inverted "Y" mounted on the base and forming a forward part of the frame, the upright section including an upstanding leg and downwardly extending and diverging arms fixed to the base;
c) a generally horizontal "Y" shaped section having a leg fixed to the upright section and a pair of arms extending and diverging rearwardly;
d) supports interposed between the base and the horizontal section arms; and, e) the frame defining a pair of web supply stations positioned behind the upright section and on either side of and below the horizontal section leg.
a) base;
b) an upright section in the shape of an inverted "Y" mounted on the base and forming a forward part of the frame, the upright section including an upstanding leg and downwardly extending and diverging arms fixed to the base;
c) a generally horizontal "Y" shaped section having a leg fixed to the upright section and a pair of arms extending and diverging rearwardly;
d) supports interposed between the base and the horizontal section arms; and, e) the frame defining a pair of web supply stations positioned behind the upright section and on either side of and below the horizontal section leg.
41. The frame of Claim 40 wherein the upright section arms include base portion delineating base cut outs, the cut out portions each coaching with the base to delineate an opening.
42. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame structure delineating bag supply and loading stations;
b) a web feed mechanism carried by the structure and positioned to feed a web of interconnected bags along a path of travel from the supply station to the loading station sequentially to position end ones of the bags at the load station; and, c) an air film generator connected to the structure and positioned near but upstream of the path from the load station, the generator including:
i) an air knife carried by the structure and positioned along the path downstream from the feed mechanism;
ii) a portion of the structure forming an air flow director; and, iii) the knife being positioned to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between the path and the director whereby to cause a film of air to be developed between the director and a bag as such bag is fed along the path into a loading position at the load station.
a) a frame structure delineating bag supply and loading stations;
b) a web feed mechanism carried by the structure and positioned to feed a web of interconnected bags along a path of travel from the supply station to the loading station sequentially to position end ones of the bags at the load station; and, c) an air film generator connected to the structure and positioned near but upstream of the path from the load station, the generator including:
i) an air knife carried by the structure and positioned along the path downstream from the feed mechanism;
ii) a portion of the structure forming an air flow director; and, iii) the knife being positioned to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between the path and the director whereby to cause a film of air to be developed between the director and a bag as such bag is fed along the path into a loading position at the load station.
43. The machine of Claim 42 wherein the director is a plate.
44. The machine of Claim 42 wherein the load station is delineated by an assembly which is adjustably carried by the frame structure for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load stations.
45. A bagging machine comprising:
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced feed mechanisms carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station sequentially to position end ones of the bags at the load stations; and, c) the machine having spaced air film generators respectively upstream of their respective paths from their respective load stations, the generators including:
i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along an associated one of the paths downstream from the feed mechanisms;
ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors; and, iii) the knives each being positioned to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between its respective path and director whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each director and bags as such bags fed along their respective paths into respective loading positions at the load stations.
a) a frame structure delineating spaced pairs of bag supply and loading stations;
b) spaced feed mechanisms carried by the structure and positioned to feed webs of interconnected bags along respective paths of travel each from an associated one of the supply stations to the paired loading station sequentially to position end ones of the bags at the load stations; and, c) the machine having spaced air film generators respectively upstream of their respective paths from their respective load stations, the generators including:
i) a spaced pair of air knives carried by the structure and each positioned along an associated one of the paths downstream from the feed mechanisms;
ii) portions of the structure forming air flow directors; and, iii) the knives each being positioned to direct a flow of air downstream of the path between its respective path and director whereby to cause films of air to be developed between each director and bags as such bags fed along their respective paths into respective loading positions at the load stations.
46. The machine of Claim 45 wherein the directors are plates.
47. The machine of Claim 45 wherein the load stations are delineated by a pair of assemblies which are adjustably carried by the frame structure for providing a range of orientations for bags positioned at the load stations.
48. A process of bagging products with a bagging machine comprising:
a) feeding a web of preopened interconnected bags along a path from a supply station to a load station to position the bags sequentially and one at a time at the load station;
b) with a flow of air establishing a film of air between an end one of the bags and the machine at a location along the path downstream from the supply station, the film being established between such end bag and the machine as such end bag is fed into the load station;
c) periodically stopping the web feed as such end one of the bags is positioned at the load station;
d) while the feed is stopped inserting a product into the positioned bag;
e) separating the positioned bag from the web by rupturing a line of weakness connecting the positioned bag from the web; and, f) repeating steps (a) through (e) inclusive.
a) feeding a web of preopened interconnected bags along a path from a supply station to a load station to position the bags sequentially and one at a time at the load station;
b) with a flow of air establishing a film of air between an end one of the bags and the machine at a location along the path downstream from the supply station, the film being established between such end bag and the machine as such end bag is fed into the load station;
c) periodically stopping the web feed as such end one of the bags is positioned at the load station;
d) while the feed is stopped inserting a product into the positioned bag;
e) separating the positioned bag from the web by rupturing a line of weakness connecting the positioned bag from the web; and, f) repeating steps (a) through (e) inclusive.
49. The process of Claim 48 wherein there are two such paths and load stations and the steps are sequentially performed along each path with the product insertion step being alternately performed at one load station and then the other.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US08/373,107 US5626004A (en) | 1995-01-17 | 1995-01-17 | Bagging machine and method |
| US08/373,107 | 1995-01-17 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2156459A1 CA2156459A1 (en) | 1996-07-18 |
| CA2156459C true CA2156459C (en) | 1999-08-10 |
Family
ID=23470982
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002156459A Expired - Lifetime CA2156459C (en) | 1995-01-17 | 1995-08-18 | Bagging machine and method |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US5626004A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2156459C (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE19920478C2 (en) * | 1999-05-04 | 2001-05-03 | Windmoeller & Hoelscher | Device for producing and preferably also for filling and closing bags made of thermoplastic material |
| CA2324752C (en) | 1999-10-27 | 2008-12-30 | Gates Automation, Inc. | Bag filling and sealing machine and method for handling bags |
| US6470648B1 (en) * | 2000-06-22 | 2002-10-29 | Advanced Poly-Packaging, Inc. | Packaging sealer printer |
| ATE335607T1 (en) * | 2000-11-08 | 2006-09-15 | Sharp Packaging Systems Llc | FEEDING AND LOADING DEVICE FOR A CONTINUOUS BAG BELT WITH INTEGRATED PRESSURE ARRANGEMENT |
| US6880310B2 (en) | 2002-09-24 | 2005-04-19 | Yakima Packaging Automation, Inc. | Method for automatic bale bag loading |
| AT5677U1 (en) * | 2001-10-11 | 2002-10-25 | Card Casinos Austria Res & Dev | CARD MIXER |
| US6742321B2 (en) | 2002-09-30 | 2004-06-01 | Gates Automation, Inc. | Flange alignment and grasping assembly for bag handling apparatus |
| US7363753B2 (en) * | 2005-01-22 | 2008-04-29 | Gates Automation, Inc. | Method for removing a pouch from a plurality of pouches including bending and pulling of the pouch |
| US20090165425A1 (en) * | 2005-09-22 | 2009-07-02 | Medina Jose L | Apparatus for Packing Leafy Produce into a Tray |
| CA2644323A1 (en) * | 2007-11-20 | 2009-05-20 | Gates Automation, Inc. | Pouch container and method |
| DE102008020256A1 (en) * | 2008-04-22 | 2009-10-29 | Haver & Boecker Ohg | Pack system |
| US9925694B2 (en) | 2009-02-24 | 2018-03-27 | Gala Industries, Inc. | Continuous bagging processes and systems |
| CN102333701B (en) * | 2009-02-24 | 2014-01-15 | 戈拉工业公司 | Continuous bagging processes and systems |
| MX2011008927A (en) * | 2009-06-22 | 2012-07-30 | Gala Inc | Continuous pelletizing, drying and bagging systems with improved throughput. |
| US9623622B2 (en) | 2010-02-24 | 2017-04-18 | Michael Baines | Packaging materials and methods |
| ITMI20132210A1 (en) * | 2013-12-27 | 2015-06-28 | Concetti Spa | METHOD FOR FILLING BAGS WITH A DOSED QUANTITY OF REBUFFLED MATERIAL, EQUIPMENT AND AUTOMATIC METHOD IMPLEMENTATION MACHINE |
| ES2577155B1 (en) * | 2015-01-13 | 2017-04-24 | Payper, S.A. | Device and procedure for feeding bags to a filling machine |
| US20170233119A1 (en) * | 2016-01-04 | 2017-08-17 | Roland Lomerson, Jr. | Quad Wicket Exchange System |
| JP2018181137A (en) * | 2017-04-19 | 2018-11-15 | グローリー株式会社 | Paper sheet handling apparatus and paper sheet handling method |
| CN108545260A (en) * | 2018-05-13 | 2018-09-18 | 新疆天通兴业农牧科技有限公司 | A kind of cashmere sack filling machine closing device |
| CN109502061B (en) * | 2018-09-03 | 2023-09-22 | 蚌埠市赛亚机械有限责任公司 | Stick bag quantitative filling sealing machine |
| CN112389715B (en) * | 2021-01-20 | 2021-04-30 | 山东易视智能科技有限公司 | Automatic packaging equipment and method for marine fishery |
| CN116081014B (en) * | 2023-03-06 | 2023-06-13 | 山西锦泉环保科技有限公司 | Coagulant ration equipment for packing |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB746658A (en) * | 1954-08-09 | 1956-03-14 | Charles Douglas Waller | Improvements in and relating to the sealing wads of bottles and other containers |
| US4014154A (en) * | 1973-02-28 | 1977-03-29 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Packaging method and apparatus |
| AT328963B (en) * | 1973-12-04 | 1976-04-26 | Voest Ag | METHOD OF REMOVING A SINGLE-SIDED SACK FROM A STACK OF SUCH SACKS AND PLUGGING THE REMOVED BAG ON A BAG SPOUT AND DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT THE PROCEDURE |
| US3956866A (en) * | 1974-06-28 | 1976-05-18 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Packaging method and apparatus |
| GB1588512A (en) * | 1977-07-11 | 1981-04-23 | Autoweigh Weighing Machines Lt | Weighing |
| US4202153A (en) * | 1977-10-25 | 1980-05-13 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Method and apparatus for loading containers horizontally |
| US4269016A (en) * | 1978-12-01 | 1981-05-26 | Zupack-Gesellschaft Mbh | Plural line bag forming and filling apparatus |
| USRE32963E (en) * | 1985-01-04 | 1989-06-27 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Packaging apparatus and method |
| US4899520A (en) * | 1988-03-29 | 1990-02-13 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Packaging apparatus and method |
| US5259172A (en) * | 1989-08-18 | 1993-11-09 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Packaging machine and method |
| US5077958A (en) * | 1989-08-18 | 1992-01-07 | Automated Packaging Systems, Inc. | Packaging machine and method |
| US5485714A (en) * | 1995-02-27 | 1996-01-23 | Montalvo; Samuel A. | Disk loader having a side air blast for proper bag presentation |
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1995
- 1995-01-17 US US08/373,107 patent/US5626004A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1995-08-18 CA CA002156459A patent/CA2156459C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US5626004A (en) | 1997-05-06 |
| CA2156459A1 (en) | 1996-07-18 |
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