US3650773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weighing and labeling system
Assignee: Schreiber Foods Inc
•
Filing: 1970-02-09
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1990-02-09
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for automatically weighing and labeling random weight articles as they are being packaged. The articles are moved along a path to a wrapping station by conveying means and a weighing station is located along the path. The weighing station has a weighing mechanism which produces an output that is fed to a computer or other type of device for determining the total price of the article based upon a price per unit of weight. The total price, as well as the price per unit of weight, and the total weight are supplied to a printing mechanism that is disposed adjacent the path of movement of the advancing packages and automatically prints this information on labels that are applied to a continuous supply of film. The printing could also include product identification information, if desired. Furthermore, the printing could be done directly on the film. The feeding of the film and the articles is synchronized so that the portion of the continuous film having the printed information thereon moves into package forming relationship with the article corresponding to the information, whereupon, the article is then completely enclosed by the film to produce a finished package.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G Bush
- 👤 Gilbert H Hannon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 15:28
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B61/00; B65B61/02; B65B61/025; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S177/00; Y10S177/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for automatically weighing, labeling and packaging a plurality of random weight articles moving along a main flow path comprising the steps of weighing said articles as they are moved along said path; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a total price for each article based upon a price per unit of weight for said articles; supplying the total price to a printing mechanism and printing a label for each article with said total price; attaching said labels to one surface of a package forming material for said articles; moving said material with said labels attached to said path at a rate corresponding to the speed of movement of said articles; enclosing successive articles with said material in such matter that each label is positionEd between said surface and said article to produce a packaged article having its corresponding total price thereon.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for automatically weighing, labeling and packaging a plurality of random weight articles moving along a main flow path comprising the steps of weighing said articles as they are moved along said path; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a total price for each article based upon a price per unit of weight for said articles; supplying the total price to a printing mechanism and printing a label for each article with said total price; attaching said labels to one surface of a package forming material for said articles; moving said material with said labels attached to said path at a rate corresponding to the speed of movement of said articles; enclosing successive articles with said material in such matter that each label is positionEd between said surface and said article to produce a packaged article having its corresponding total price thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as defined in claim 1, in which said material is in the form of a continuous thin film-like web and said labels are attached to a surface of said web; the further improvement of transforming said web into a tube along said main flow path and in surrounding relation to said articles moving along said path; and sealing said tube to completely enclose individual articles.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of weighing, labeling and packaging food products and the like which comprises the steps of advancing individual quantities of random weight food products and the like in spaced relation to each other along a path; weighing each quantity as it is moved along said path; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a total price for each quantity based on a price per unit of weight; advancing package forming material toward said path; transferring the total price to a printing mechanism; transferring the total price from the printing mechanism onto the advancing material; delivering said material to said path with each printing synchronized with the corresponding individual quantity; and enclosing the individual quantities of food products and the like with said material and with said printing being located between the material and the food products and the like.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
141 words
A method of weighing, labeling and packaging food products and the like which comprises the steps of advancing individual quantities of random weight food products and the like in spaced relation to each other along a path; weighing each quantity as it is moved along said path; supplying the weight to a computer and computing a total price for each quantity based on a price per unit of weight; advancing package forming material toward said path; transferring the total price to a printing mechanism; transferring the total price from the printing mechanism onto the advancing material; delivering said material to said path with each printing synchronized with the corresponding individual quantity; and enclosing the individual quantities of food products and the like with said material and with said printing being located between the material and the food products and the like.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method as defined in claim 3, including the further steps of supplying unit price and tare weight information for each quantity to said printing mechanism; transferring the total price, unit price and tare weight onto the material by printing such information on labels at spaced sections of the material corresponding with each package; and attaching the labels to a surface of said material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as defined in claim 3, in which the total price is transferred directly from the printing mechanism to one surface of said material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 3, including the further step of delivering labels to said printing mechanism for receiving said printing and attaching said labels to said material.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for automatically packaging and labeling random weight articles comprising: conveying means for moving articles in spaced relation along a path; and first means for continuously supplying packaging material for said articles to said path; the improvement of weighing means disposed in said path for determining the weight of each article; computing means cooperating with said weighing means and producing a total price for each article based upon said weight and a price per unit of weight; printing means receiving said weights and said total prices, said printing means cooperating with said first means for impressing successive areas of said packaging material with weights and total prices for successive articles, said first means including means for delivering said material to said path with the impressions synchronized with the associated article; and mechanism for enclosing successive articles with areas of said material having the associated weight impressed thereon.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
148 words
A system for automatically packaging and labeling random weight articles comprising: conveying means for moving articles in spaced relation along a path; and first means for continuously supplying packaging material for said articles to said path; the improvement of weighing means disposed in said path for determining the weight of each article; computing means cooperating with said weighing means and producing a total price for each article based upon said weight and a price per unit of weight; printing means receiving said weights and said total prices, said printing means cooperating with said first means for impressing successive areas of said packaging material with weights and total prices for successive articles, said first means including means for delivering said material to said path with the impressions synchronized with the associated article; and mechanism for enclosing successive articles with areas of said material having the associated weight impressed thereon.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as defined in claim 7, further including means supplying labels for said impressions, said labels having means for attaching to said material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 7, in which said impressions are transferred directly onto one surface of said material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |