US3664088A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package forming apparatus
Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC
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Filing: 1970-06-23
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Granted: 1972-05-23
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Expires: 1990-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A packaging machine comprising: a tube forming section; a grouping section; a separating section and a sealing section. In the tube forming section, a tube of packaging material, preferably a shrink film, is formed. The tube then moves downwardly through the remaining sections of the machine. Articles to be packaged within the tube of packaging material are fed to the top of said machine and are allowed to travel downwardly aided by the action of gravity into said tube. With the articles thus positioned within said tube, they are grouped into an arrangement suitable for packaging. The groups thus formed travel downwardly aided by the action of gravity into the separating section and are separated within the tube by a distance sufficient to afford adequate packaging material for tucking at each end of the respective groups. With said material thus tucked at each end, the packaging material is secured in place to thereby form a package. In a preferred embodiment, the material is secured in place by the shrinking thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Earle C Sherman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:57
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B9/00; B65B9/06; B65B53/00; B65B53/02; B65B2009/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A packaging apparatus for packaging a plurality of downwardly traveling objects, comprising: a. a frame; b. means, fixedly attached to an upper portion of said frame, for forming a continuous tube of packaging material around the downwardly traveling objects; c. means fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said forming means, for grouping pre-determined portions of the objects contained within said tube; d. means fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said grouping means, for separating the tube portion of the packaging material surrounding the grouped objects from the remainder of the continuous tube of packaging material; and e. means, associated with the packaging apparatus, for tightly sealing the packaging material around the separated group of objects.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
119 words
A packaging apparatus for packaging a plurality of downwardly traveling objects, comprising: a. a frame; b. means, fixedly attached to an upper portion of said frame, for forming a continuous tube of packaging material around the downwardly traveling objects; c. means fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said forming means, for grouping pre-determined portions of the objects contained within said tube; d. means fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said grouping means, for separating the tube portion of the packaging material surrounding the grouped objects from the remainder of the continuous tube of packaging material; and e. means, associated with the packaging apparatus, for tightly sealing the packaging material around the separated group of objects.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for forming a continuous tube of packaging material comprises a tube forming mandrel having a sloping top edge on at least three sides thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in cLaim 2 wherein said tube forming mandrel also comprises film support panels extended outwardly from the back side thereof, which film support panels also have sloping top edges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the sloping top edges of said film forming mandrel slope at an angle between about 30* and about 60*.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the sloping top edges slope at an angle of 45*.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the objects packaged thereby are permitted to travel downwardly aided by the action of gravity through the tubing forming means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the objects packaged thereby are permitted to travel downwardly aided by the action of gravity from the grouping means to the separating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said grouping means comprises at least two endless selector chains disposed on separate sides of said apparatus, which chains carry lugs which are separated by a distance corresponding to the dimensions of at least one side of the package to be formed thereby.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
59 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said separating means comprises at least two endless chains disposed on opposite sides of said apparatus which chains carry lugs separated by a distance equal to the dimensions of one side of the package to be formed thereby plus the distance by which the successive groups of articles are separated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing section comprises at least two endless chains, which chains carry lugs which are separated by a distance equal to the length of one side of said package plus the distance by which successive groups are separated, said lugs carrying means suitable for folding the free ends of the package formed by said apparatus inwardly and for holding said free ends in position while said free ends are secured in place.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means comprises a heat shrink tunnel fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said separating means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
133 words
A vertical packaging apparatus for packaging a plurality of objects traveling vertically downwardly into the apparatus, comprising: a. a frame; b. means, fixedly attached to the upper portion of said frame for forming a continuous tube of packaging material around the objects, said tube traveling vertically downwardly around the objects; c. means, fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said tube forming means, for grouping a portion of the downwardly vertically traveling objects contained within said tube; d. means, fixedly attached to said frame, and positioned below said grouping means for separating the vertically downwardly traveling tube portion surrounding the grouped objects from the remainder of the vertically downwardly traveling continuous tube; and e. means, associated with the packaging apparatus for tightly sealing the packaging material around the separated group of objects.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
A vertical packaging apparatus for packaging a plurality of objects traveling vertically downwardly into the apparatus, comprising: a. a frame; b. means, fixedly attached to the upper portion of said frame for forming a continuous tube of packaging material around the objects, said tube traveling vertically downwardly around the objects; c. means, fixedly attached to said frame and positioned below said tube forming means, for grouping a portion of the downwardly vertically traveling objects contained within said tube; d. means, fixedly attached to said frame, and positioned below said grouping means for separating the vertically downwardly traveling tube portion surrounding the grouped objects from the remainder of the vertically downwardly traveling continuous tube; and e. means, associated with the packaging apparatus for tightly sealing the packaging material around the separated group of objects.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The packaging apparatus as defined in claim 12 wherein the sealing means comprises a heat shrink tunnel positioned below said separating means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-23 | 1975-11-22 | 1976-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-23 | 1979-11-22 | 1980-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-23 | 1983-11-22 | 1984-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |