Patent EP0085482A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3628302A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3628302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Bag packaging system
Assignee: WR Grace and Co
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Filing: 1970-02-09
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1990-02-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for classifying products to be packaged, distributing the classified products to index positions corresponding to their classifications and holding the classified products for packaging, indexing bags into product loading positions corresponding to the index positions by conveying imbricated taped bags into loading positions keyed to the classifications, inflating the taped bags, inserting the indexed items into the bags and removing the loaded bags from the loading position, conveying the loaded bags to an evacuating and closing position, evacuating and closing the bags and subsequently shrinking the bags.
Inventors
- 👤 John T Roberts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:47
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B57/00; B65B57/10; B65B57/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A packaging apparatus for packaging products in bags comprising, I. at least one classifier, said classifier including 1. a differentiating means equipped to classify said product input into at least two classifications, 2. at least two inventory storage means, a respective one of said means corresponding to a respective one of said two classifications, 3. means diverting said product to a respective one of said inventory storage means in response to its classification, 4. at least two inventory dispensers, a respective one of said dispensers fed by a respective one of said inventory storage means, said dispensers each have a gate means for alternately retaining and dispensing inventoried products; II. a bag loader including 1. at least two product insertion stations for sequentially receiving bags and product for insertion of said product into said bags, a respective one of said stations for a respective one of said dispensers, 2. at least two bag positioners, a respective one of said bag positioners positioning bags sequentially in a respective one of said product insertion stations, each of said bag positioners including a dispensing means for dispensing bags for a respective classification, 3. a reciprocating air blowing means mounted for reciprocation to alternatively service at least said two product insertion stations to open bags received therein and maintain said bags open individually for loading, said air blowing means opening a bag by directing a stream of air across and into the mouth of a bag, 4. signaling means activated by said air blowing means upon its reciprocation from servicing one product insertion station to servicing the other said product insertion station to switch the inventory dispenser dispensing products to the one product insertion station to retention and the inventory dispenser dispensing products to said other product insertion station to dispensing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A packaging apparatus for packaging products in bags comprising, I. at least one classifier, said classifier including 1. a differentiating means equipped to classify said product input into at least two classifications, 2. at least two inventory storage means, a respective one of said means corresponding to a respective one of said two classifications, 3. means diverting said product to a respective one of said inventory storage means in response to its classification, 4. at least two inventory dispensers, a respective one of said dispensers fed by a respective one of said inventory storage means, said dispensers each have a gate means for alternately retaining and dispensing inventoried products; II. a bag loader including 1. at least two product insertion stations for sequentially receiving bags and product for insertion of said product into said bags, a respective one of said stations for a respective one of said dispensers, 2. at least two bag positioners, a respective one of said bag positioners positioning bags sequentially in a respective one of said product insertion stations, each of said bag positioners including a dispensing means for dispensing bags for a respective classification, 3. a reciprocating air blowing means mounted for reciprocation to alternatively service at least said two product insertion stations to open bags received therein and maintain said bags open individually for loading, said air blowing means opening a bag by directing a stream of air across and into the mouth of a bag, 4. signaling means activated by said air blowing means upon its reciprocation from servicing one product insertion station to servicing the other said product insertion station to switch the inventory dispenser dispensing products to the one product insertion station to retention and the inventory dispenser dispensing products to said other product insertion station to dispensing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
at least two inventory storage means, a respective one of said means corresponding to a respective one of said two classifications,
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
at least two inventory storage means, a respective one of said means corresponding to a respective one of said two classifications,
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
at least two bag positioners, a respective one of said bag positioners positioning bags sequentially in a respective one of said product insertion stations, each of said bag positioners including a dispensing means for dispensing bags for a respective classification,
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
at least two bag positioners, a respective one of said bag positioners positioning bags sequentially in a respective one of said product insertion stations, each of said bag positioners including a dispensing means for dispensing bags for a respective classification,
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
105 words
A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the differentiating means has three classifications and the diverting means includes a means indexing three positions selected by response to the differentiating means and wherein said diverter means has an outlet and there is an indexing means at said outlet, said indexing means including one outer position for one classification, an opposite outer position for another classification and an intermediate pair of positions, and a second diverter means reciprocal to open alternately one and then the otHer of said intermediate positions and at least two of said positions feeding respective ones of said two inventory storage means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
at least two bag positioners a respective one of said bag positioners positioning bags sequentially in a respective one of said product insertion stations, each of said bag positioners including a dispensing means for dispensing bags for a respective classification, each of said dispensing means is a tape puller and each of said tape pullers includes, A. a driven gear wheel, B. an idler gear wheel meshing with said driven gear wheel, C. a pair of horizontally spaced apart grooved wheels for respectively guiding said tape from the product insertion table to the meshing driven gear wheel and idler gear wheel, said pair of horizontally spaced apart grooved wheels being laterally adjustable to accommodate different spacings of said two tapes, D. a signaling means responsive to the presence or absence of a bag at said product insertion station, and E. an indexing means responsive to said signaling means to sequentially activate said driven gear wheel to singly replace bags as they are singly removed from said product insertion station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
at least two bag positioners a respective one of said bag positioners positioning bags sequentially in a respective one of said product insertion stations, each of said bag positioners including a dispensing means for dispensing bags for a respective classification, each of said dispensing means is a tape puller and each of said tape pullers includes, A. a driven gear wheel, B. an idler gear wheel meshing with said driven gear wheel, C. a pair of horizontally spaced apart grooved wheels for respectively guiding said tape from the product insertion table to the meshing driven gear wheel and idler gear wheel, said pair of horizontally spaced apart grooved wheels being laterally adjustable to accommodate different spacings of said two tapes, D. a signaling means responsive to the presence or absence of a bag at said product insertion station, and E. an indexing means responsive to said signaling means to sequentially activate said driven gear wheel to singly replace bags as they are singly removed from said product insertion station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
at least two inventory storage means, a respective one of said means corresponding to a respective one of said classifications,
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
at least two inventory storage means, a respective one of said means corresponding to a respective one of said classifications,
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
means diverting said product to a respective one of said inventory storage means in response to its classification,
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
means diverting said product to a respective one of said inventory storage means in response to its classification,
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
A packaging apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the apparatus includes four inventory storage means, each of said inventory storage means fed by a respective one of said outer, said opposite outer and each of said intermediate positions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
a reciprocating air blowing means mounted for reciprocation to alternatively service at least said two product insertion stations to open bags received therein and maintain said bags open individually for loading, said air blowing means opening a bag by directing a stream of air across and into the mouth of a bag,
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
a reciprocating air blowing means mounted for reciprocation to alternatively service at least said two product insertion stations to open bags received therein and maintain said bags open individually for loading, said air blowing means opening a bag by directing a stream of air across and into the mouth of a bag,
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
means diverting said product to a respective one of said inventory storage means in response to its classification,
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
means diverting said product to a respective one of said inventory storage means in response to its classification,
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
40 words
at least two inventory dispensers, a respective one of said dispensers fed by a respective one of said inventory storage means, said dispensers each have a gate means for alternately retaining and dispensing inventoried products; II. a bag loader including
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
at least two inventory dispensers, a respective one of said dispensers fed by a respective one of said inventory storage means, said dispensers each have a gate means for alternately retaining and dispensing inventoried products; II. a bag loader including
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
54 words
signaling means activated by said air blowing means upon its reciprocation from servicing one product insertion station to servicing the other said product insertion station to switch the inventory dispenser dispensing products to the one product insertion station to retention and the inventory dispenser dispensing products to said other product insertion station to dispensing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
signaling means activated by said air blowing means upon its reciprocation from servicing one product insertion station to servicing the other said product insertion station to switch the inventory dispenser dispensing products to the one product insertion station to retention and the inventory dispenser dispensing products to said other product insertion station to dispensing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A packaging apparatus for packaging products in imbricated bags mounted on two spaced apart tapes comprising, I. at least one classifier, said classifier including
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A packaging apparatus for packaging products in imbricated bags mounted on two spaced apart tapes comprising, I. at least one classifier, said classifier including
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
at least two inventory dispensers, a respective one of said dispensers fed by a respective one of said inventory storage means, II. a bag loader including
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
at least two inventory dispensers, a respective one of said dispensers fed by a respective one of said inventory storage means, II. a bag loader including
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
104 words
A packaging apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said apparatus includes a vacuumizing and closing device downstream from said product insertion station, said vacuumizing and closing device having means for vacuumizing and closing the bag and for conveying the bag so prepared to the opposite side of said device from the feed in of said bags and means for feeding said prepared bag from said device, and for conveying said prepared bag, a shrink tunnel downstream from said vacuumizing and closing device, said shrink tunnel having means inside for heating the bag until it is shrunk into tight conformity with the product packaged therein.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
105 words
A packaging apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the differentiating means has three classifications and the diverting means includes a means indexing three positions selected by response to the differentiating means and wherein said diverter means has an outlet and there is an indexing means at said outlet, said indexing means including one outer position for one classification, an opposite outer position for another classification and an intermediate pair of positions, and a second diverter means reciprocal to open alternately one and then the other of said intermediate positions and at least two of said positions feeding respective ones of said two inventory storage means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A packaging apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the apparatus includes four inventory storage means, each of said inventory storage means fed by a respective one of said outer, said opposite outer and each of said intermediate positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3244278A
Cited
US3228173A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |