US3667188A — Method and apparatus for forming and filling indi…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 175 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches comprising the steps of: supplying a continuous web of film material; forming and sealing the web of film material to provide a series of substantially horizontally disposed pouches separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web and haviNg opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other in areas near the unsealed top edge; deforming closed bottom edges of each of the pouches toward the unsealed top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the closed bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in each of the opposed pouch sidewalls defining margins of a bottom to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls so that the pouch approaches a cylindrical shape for optimally opening the pouches to enable their accepting a maximum amount of material to be packaged; filling the opened pouches; sealing top edge portions of the pouch sidewalls together to enclose the filled pouches; and severing individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 175 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches comprising the steps of: supplying a continuous web of film material; forming and sealing the web of film material to provide a series of substantially horizontally disposed pouches separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web and haviNg opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other in areas near the unsealed top edge; deforming closed bottom edges of each of the pouches toward the unsealed top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the closed bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in each of the opposed pouch sidewalls defining margins of a bottom to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls so that the pouch approaches a cylindrical shape for optimally opening the pouches to enable their accepting a maximum amount of material to be packaged; filling the opened pouches; sealing top edge portions of the pouch sidewalls together to enclose the filled pouches; and severing individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: directing a stream of air into the pouches substantially simultaneously with the step of lifting the bottom edges to prevent inward collapse of the pouch sidewalls.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 82 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by: directing the supplied web of film material along a horizontally extending path; upwardly folding opposite sides of the web of film material about a longitudinal axis of the web to form a pair of opposed sidewalls interconnected along a fold forming a bottom edge; and sealing the sidewalls together at longitudinally spaced areas to form a longitudinally spaced series of pouches separated by sealed areas.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by: said sealing step including sealing the web so that an upper half of each sealed area has flared side edges canted inwardly of the pouches for providing gradually tapered spout portions for each of the pouches.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 54 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by: partially slitting each sealed area along a line extending longitudinally of the web and intersecting an upper portion of the pouches to define a tear line along which the pouches may be opened by an ultimate user.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches comprising: supplying a continuous web of film material; forming and sealing the web of film material to provide a series of substantially horizontally disposed pouches separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web and having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other; said step of moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other comprising: training the formed and sealed web around an arcuate path; grasping upper portions of the sealed areas while the web is trained around the arcuate path; and moving the web from the arcuate path into a linear path substantially tangent with the arcuate path while continuing to grasp the sealed areas; lifting closed bottom edges of the pouches to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls for optimally opening the pouches to enable their accepting a maximum amount of material to be packaged; filling the opened pouches; sealing top edge portions of the pouch sidewalls together to enclose the filled pouches; and severing individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 178 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches comprising: supplying a continuous web of film material; forming and sealing the web of film material to provide a series of substantially horizontally disposed pouches separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web and having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other; said step of moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other comprising: training the formed and sealed web around an arcuate path; grasping upper portions of the sealed areas while the web is trained around the arcuate path; and moving the web from the arcuate path into a linear path substantially tangent with the arcuate path while continuing to grasp the sealed areas; lifting closed bottom edges of the pouches to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls for optimally opening the pouches to enable their accepting a maximum amount of material to be packaged; filling the opened pouches; sealing top edge portions of the pouch sidewalls together to enclose the filled pouches; and severing individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 6 and further characterized by: continuing to grasp the sealed areas for maintaining the pouches in an opened disposition while said filling step is performed; and releasing the web prior to sealing top edge portion of the pouch sidewalls.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 77 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 1 and further characterized by said step of deforming a closed bottom edge comprising the steps of: providing at least one rod extending laTerally of the formed web and having a diameter less than a longitudinal width of each of the pouches; moving the rod in a generally upward direction into engagement with the bottom closed edges of the pouches to deform the opposed sidewalls.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches comprising: supplying a continuous web of film material; forming and sealing the web of film material to provide a series of substantially horizontally disposed pouches separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web and having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other; lifting closed bottom edges of the pouches to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls for optimally opening the pouches to enable their accepting a maximum amount of material to be packaged; filling the opened pouches; sealing top edge portions of the pouch sidewalls together to enclose the filled pouches; severing individual filled and sealed pouches from the web; counting individual filled pouches as the same are severed from the web; directing the severed and counted pouches into a container; catching the severed and counted pouches after a predetermined number of pouches have been counted to permit replacement of a filled container by an empty container; and dumping the caught pouches into the empty container while continuing to count severed pouches.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 177 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches comprising: supplying a continuous web of film material; forming and sealing the web of film material to provide a series of substantially horizontally disposed pouches separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web and having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other; lifting closed bottom edges of the pouches to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls for optimally opening the pouches to enable their accepting a maximum amount of material to be packaged; filling the opened pouches; sealing top edge portions of the pouch sidewalls together to enclose the filled pouches; severing individual filled and sealed pouches from the web; counting individual filled pouches as the same are severed from the web; directing the severed and counted pouches into a container; catching the severed and counted pouches after a predetermined number of pouches have been counted to permit replacement of a filled container by an empty container; and dumping the caught pouches into the empty container while continuing to count severed pouches.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 50 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 9 and further characterized by: directing spoiled ones of the pouches away from the container; and discontinuing the counting step as the spoiled packages are directed away from the container to omit the spoiled packages from the count.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 148 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches from a horizontally moving web of film material formed into a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening pouches having opposed sidewalls with the individual pouches being separated by sealed areas, and having closed bottom edges and opened top edges, the improvement comprising the steps of: moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other in areas near the opened top edges for separating opposed sidewalls of the pouches; and deforming the closed bottom edges of each of the pouches toward the opened top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in the opposed sidewalls defining margins of a bottom for maintaining the sidewalls in an outwardly bulged position, whereby the pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 148 words

A method of forming and filling individual pouches from a horizontally moving web of film material formed into a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening pouches having opposed sidewalls with the individual pouches being separated by sealed areas, and having closed bottom edges and opened top edges, the improvement comprising the steps of: moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other in areas near the opened top edges for separating opposed sidewalls of the pouches; and deforming the closed bottom edges of each of the pouches toward the opened top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in the opposed sidewalls defining margins of a bottom for maintaining the sidewalls in an outwardly bulged position, whereby the pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 45 words

In a method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 11 and further characterized by: directing a stream of air into the pouches substantially simultaneously with the step of lifting the bottom closed edges to prevent inward collapse of the pouch sidewalls.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a method of forming and filling individual pouches from a horizontally moving web of film material formed into a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening pouches having opposed sidewalls with the pouches being separated by sealed areas, and having closed bottom edges and opened top edges, the improvement comprising the steps of: moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other for separating opposed sidewalls of the pouches, said step of moving comprising the steps of: training the web around an arcuate path; grasping upper portions of the sealed areas while the web is stretched around the arcuate path; moving the web from the arcuate path into a linear path substantially tangent with the arcuate path while continuing to grasp the sealed areas; and lifting the closed bottom edges of each of the pouches to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls for opening the pouch.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 143 words

In a method of forming and filling individual pouches from a horizontally moving web of film material formed into a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening pouches having opposed sidewalls with the pouches being separated by sealed areas, and having closed bottom edges and opened top edges, the improvement comprising the steps of: moving adjacent sealed areas toward each other for separating opposed sidewalls of the pouches, said step of moving comprising the steps of: training the web around an arcuate path; grasping upper portions of the sealed areas while the web is stretched around the arcuate path; moving the web from the arcuate path into a linear path substantially tangent with the arcuate path while continuing to grasp the sealed areas; and lifting the closed bottom edges of each of the pouches to outwardly bulge the pouch sidewalls for opening the pouch.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 105 words

In a method of forming and filling individual pouches from a horizontally moving web of film material formed into a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening pouches separated by sealed areas and having a closed bottom edge, the improvement comprising the steps of: severing individual filled pouches from the web; counting the severed pouches; directing the severed and counted pouches into a container; catching the severed and counted pouches after a predetermined number of pouches have been counted to permit replacement of a filled container by an empty container; and dumping the caught pouches into the empty container while continuing to count the severed pouches.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 105 words

In a method of forming and filling individual pouches from a horizontally moving web of film material formed into a longitudinally spaced series of upwardly opening pouches separated by sealed areas and having a closed bottom edge, the improvement comprising the steps of: severing individual filled pouches from the web; counting the severed pouches; directing the severed and counted pouches into a container; catching the severed and counted pouches after a predetermined number of pouches have been counted to permit replacement of a filled container by an empty container; and dumping the caught pouches into the empty container while continuing to count the severed pouches.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 51 words

In a method of forming and filling individual pouches as defined in claim 14 and further characterized by: directing spoiled ones of the pouches away from the container; and discontinuing the counting step as the spoiled pouches are directed away from the container to omit the spoiled pouches from the count.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 221 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas adjacent the unsealed top edge and moving the grasped areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches, pouch opening means including means engaging and deforming the closed bottom edge of each pouch toward the unsealed top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the closed bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in each of the opposed pouch sidewalls said junctures defining margins of a bottom; whereby the pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size, a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the opened pouches; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; and pouch severing means slicing the web substantially along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 221 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas adjacent the unsealed top edge and moving the grasped areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches, pouch opening means including means engaging and deforming the closed bottom edge of each pouch toward the unsealed top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the closed bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in each of the opposed pouch sidewalls said junctures defining margins of a bottom; whereby the pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size, a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the opened pouches; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; and pouch severing means slicing the web substantially along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 55 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 16 and further characterized by: a source of pressurized air; at least one nozzle connected to said source of pressurized air and disposed to direct a stream of air into the pouches as the adjacent sealed areas are moved together for preventing inward collapse of the opposed pouch sidewalls.

Claim 25

Independent Claim 284 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas and moving the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches, said web conveying means comprising at least one continuous chain; sprocket means having said chain trained therearound and defining an arcuate chain path leading into a linear chain path tangent to the arcuate path and extending adjacent to said filling station; means propelling said chain around said chain path; means directing the web from said web forming means and against said chain at a location on said arcuate chain path; and web grasping means attached to said chain and grasping upper portions of the sealed areas to clamp said web to said chain as the latter moves through the arcuate path, whereby each transversely extending sealed area moves toward an adjacent leading sealed area as the web moves with the chain from the arcuate path onto the linear path pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge of each pouch; a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the open pouches; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; and pouch severing means slicing the web along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 284 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas and moving the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches, said web conveying means comprising at least one continuous chain; sprocket means having said chain trained therearound and defining an arcuate chain path leading into a linear chain path tangent to the arcuate path and extending adjacent to said filling station; means propelling said chain around said chain path; means directing the web from said web forming means and against said chain at a location on said arcuate chain path; and web grasping means attached to said chain and grasping upper portions of the sealed areas to clamp said web to said chain as the latter moves through the arcuate path, whereby each transversely extending sealed area moves toward an adjacent leading sealed area as the web moves with the chain from the arcuate path onto the linear path pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge of each pouch; a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the open pouches; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; and pouch severing means slicing the web along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 98 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein said web grasping means comprise: a series of support members longitudinally spaced along said chain and each having an outwardly facing, vertically extending surface disposed to engage the sealed areas separating individual ones of the pouches, said vertically extending support surfaces having vertical axes spaced apart a distance substantially equal to a spacing between vertical axes of said sealed areas when said support members are disposed around said arcuate chain path; and clamping means engaging upper portions of the sealed areas and clamping the same to said vertical support surfaces.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 132 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said clamping means comprise: a plurality of rollers; attachment means attaching at least one said roller to each of said support members for movement vertically along said support surface; and camming means operatively engaging said attachment means as said chain moves through said arcuate chain path for downwardly rolling said rollers over an adjoining one of the sealed areas to clamp the web to the support members for movement with said chain around said arcuate chain path; and clamp releasing means disposed adjacent a portion of said chain path downstream of said filling station for operatively engaging said attachment means to upwardly roll said roller along said support surface for releasing said web subsequent to the pouches being filled with material to be packaged.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 148 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein said filling station comprises: a circular body portion disposed above the horizontally moving continuous web of film material and mounted for rotation about an axis extending laterally of the web; a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced nozzles attached to said body portion and extending radially outwardly of the axis of rotation of said body portion; means rotating said body portion at a speed relative to the speed of the moving web so that successive ones of the nozzles move into and out of successive ones of the upwardly opened pouches formed in the moving web; and valve means communicating each said nozzle with a pressurized source of fluid to be packaged while each said nozzle is inserted into one of the pouches and for a set interval of time selected to inject a measured quantity of fluid into the pouches.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 181 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 21, wherein said valve means for communicating each said nozzle with the pressurized source of fluid comprise: a series of nozzle ports opening at a face of said body portion and being circumferentially spaced about the axis of rotation, one said port being provided for each said nozzle, and passageway means disposed in said body portion and respectively communicating each said port with individual ones of said nozzles; a plate member fixedly mounted adjacent said body portion and having a face surface thereof sealingly abutting said body portion face surface, said plate having a supply port formed therein and opening at said face surface thereof and radially disposed from the axis of rotation a distance equal to the spacing of said nozzle ports, conduit means directing pressurized fluid from the source to said supply port, each said nozzle port being sized relative to said supply port so that each said nozzle port is in register with said supply port for a set tiMe interval selected to inject a measured quantity of fluid into the pouches.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 22 and further characterized by: adjustable biasing means urging said plate member into sealing engagement with said body portion face surface.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 53 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 21 and further characterized by: means for applying a suction to each said nozzle for a short time interval subsequent to communicating said nozzle with the source of pressurized fluid for preventing inadvertent spillage of material from the nozzle subsequent to withdrawing the same from a pouch.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 126 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 22 and further characterized by: a vacuum source; a suction port formed in said plate member and opening at said plate face, said suction port radially spaced from the axis of rotation of said body portion a distance equal to the spacing of said nozzle ports, and said suction port circumferentially spaced from said supply port in a direction of rotation of said body portion; and conduit means interconnecting said vacuum source and said suction port, whereby a suction is applied to each said nozzle for a short time interval subsequent to said nozzle communicating with said source of pressurized fluid, thereby to prevent inadvertent spillage of fluid from said nozzle subsequent to withdrawing the same from the filled pouches.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 132 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 22 and further characterized by: said passageway means including a plurality of resilient tubes extending radially outwardly of the axis of rotation and being exposed at a side of said body portion opposite said face surface; means disposed adjacent said body portion for sequentially squeezing said resilient tubes to reduce a cross-sectional area of a throughbore of each said tube while an associated one of said nozzle ports is in registry with said supply port and for releasing said tubes as said associated nozzle port moves out of registry with said supply port to permit expansion of said tube throughbores for creating a slight suction to prevent inadvertent spillage of fluid from the nozzle subsequent to withdrawing the same from a filled one of the pouches.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 108 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said pouch opening means comprise: a disc member disposed adjacent said moving web and mounted for rotation about an axis extending laterally of said web; a plurality of circumferentially spaced rods attached to said disc and extending axially thereof toward said moving web, said rods disposed relative to said web to rotate into engagement with and lift closed bottom edges of successive ones of said pouches as said disc rotates; and means rotating said disc at a speed relative to a speed of said moving web to sequentially engage said rods with successive ones of the pouches on the web.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 229 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas and moving the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches; pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge of each pouch, a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the open pouches; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; pouch severing means slicing the web along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web; means directing severed ones of the pouches into a shipping container; means counting the severed poUches directed to the shipping container; baffle means movable into a position for catching the severed pouches to permit replacement of a filled shipping container with an empty container; and actuating means moving said baffle means to the catching position in response to said counting means counting a predetermined number of the severed pouches necessary to fill a shipping container.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 229 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas and moving the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches; pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge of each pouch, a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the open pouches; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; pouch severing means slicing the web along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web; means directing severed ones of the pouches into a shipping container; means counting the severed poUches directed to the shipping container; baffle means movable into a position for catching the severed pouches to permit replacement of a filled shipping container with an empty container; and actuating means moving said baffle means to the catching position in response to said counting means counting a predetermined number of the severed pouches necessary to fill a shipping container.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 16 and further characterized by: means directing the severed pouches into a shipping container and including a deflecting plate; means mounting said deflecting plate for movement between a normal position wherein the pouches are directed into a shipping container and an abnormal position wherein the pouches are deflected away from the shipping container for diverting deflective pouches from the shipping container.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 58 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 16 and further characterized by: said pouch forming means including a plow plate engaging the web of film material and folding the same about a longitudinal axis of the film; and adjustment means for vertically moving said plow plate to vertically align the web fold with subsequent stations operating on the web.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 163 words

A packaging apparatus having means forming a web of packaging material into a horizontally disposed series of pouches separated by a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending sealed areas and having opposed sidewalls closed at bottom edge portions and opened at top edge portions, and comprising: web conveying means grasping the web at the transversely sealed areas adjacent the opened top edge and moving adjacent ones of the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches; and pouch opening means including means engaging and deforming the closed bottom edge portions of each pouch toward the opened top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in the opposed sidewalls for maintaining the sidewalls in an outwardly bulged position, with said junctures defining margins of a bottom, whereby the pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 163 words

A packaging apparatus having means forming a web of packaging material into a horizontally disposed series of pouches separated by a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending sealed areas and having opposed sidewalls closed at bottom edge portions and opened at top edge portions, and comprising: web conveying means grasping the web at the transversely sealed areas adjacent the opened top edge and moving adjacent ones of the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches; and pouch opening means including means engaging and deforming the closed bottom edge portions of each pouch toward the opened top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in the opposed sidewalls for maintaining the sidewalls in an outwardly bulged position, with said junctures defining margins of a bottom, whereby the pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 57 words

In a packaging apparatus as defined in claim 31, and further characterized by: a source of pressurized air; at least one nozzle connected to said source of pressurized air and disposed to direct a stream of air into the pouches as the adjacent sealed areas are moved together for preventing inward collapse of the opposed pouch sidewalls.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 213 words

In an apparatus having means forming a web of packaging material into a horizontally disposed series of pouches separated by a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending sealed areas and having opposed sidewalls closed at bottom edge portions and opened at top edge portions, web conveying means grasping the web at the transversely sealed areas and moving adjacent ones of the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches, said web conveying means comprising at least one continuous chain; sprocket means having said chain trained therearound and defining an arcuate chain path leading into a linear chain path tangent to the arcuate path; means propelling said chain around said chain path; means directing the web against said chain at a location on said arcuate chain path; and web grasping means attached to said chain and grasping upper portions of the sealed areas to clamp said web to said chain as the latter moves through the arcuate path, pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge portions of each pouch to further outwardly bulge the opposed pouch sidewalls, whereby each transversely extending sealed area moves toward an adjacent leading sealed area as the web moves with the chain from the arcuate path onto the linear path.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 213 words

In an apparatus having means forming a web of packaging material into a horizontally disposed series of pouches separated by a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending sealed areas and having opposed sidewalls closed at bottom edge portions and opened at top edge portions, web conveying means grasping the web at the transversely sealed areas and moving adjacent ones of the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches, said web conveying means comprising at least one continuous chain; sprocket means having said chain trained therearound and defining an arcuate chain path leading into a linear chain path tangent to the arcuate path; means propelling said chain around said chain path; means directing the web against said chain at a location on said arcuate chain path; and web grasping means attached to said chain and grasping upper portions of the sealed areas to clamp said web to said chain as the latter moves through the arcuate path, pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge portions of each pouch to further outwardly bulge the opposed pouch sidewalls, whereby each transversely extending sealed area moves toward an adjacent leading sealed area as the web moves with the chain from the arcuate path onto the linear path.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 99 words

In an apparatus as defined in claim 33, wherein said web grasping means comprise: a series of support members longitudinally spaced along said chain and each having an outwardly facing, vertically extending surface disposed to engage the sealed areas separating individual ones of the pouches, said vertically extending support surfaces having vertical axes spaced apart a distance substantially equal to a spacing between vertical axes of said sealed areas when said support members are disposed around said arcuate chain path; and clamping means engaging upper portions of the sealed areas and clamping the same to said vertical support surfaces.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 126 words

In an apparatus as defined in claim 34, wherein said clamping means comprise: a plurality of rollers; attachment means attaching at least one said roller to each of said support members for movement vertically along said support surface; and camming means operatively engaging said attachment means as said chain moves through said arcuate chain path for downwardly rolling said rollers over an adjoining one of the sealed areas to clamp the web to the support members for movement with said chain around said arcuate chain path; and clamp releasing means disposed along the linear chain path for operatively engaging said attachment means to upwardly roll said roller along said support surface for releasing said web subsequent to the pouches being filled with material to be packaged.

Claim 47

Independent Claim 127 words

A method of opening preformed pouches, each pouch having opposed sidewalls closed along three side edges and opened along one side edge, the improvement comprising: moving oppositely disposed ones of the closed side edges toward one another in areas near the opened edge; and deforming the closed side edge disposed opposite the opened side edge toward the opened top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in the opposed sidewalls with the junctures defining margins of a bottom opposite the opened side edge for maintaining the sidewalls in an outwardly bulged position, whereby the opened pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size.

Claim 48

Independent Claim 127 words

A method of opening preformed pouches, each pouch having opposed sidewalls closed along three side edges and opened along one side edge, the improvement comprising: moving oppositely disposed ones of the closed side edges toward one another in areas near the opened edge; and deforming the closed side edge disposed opposite the opened side edge toward the opened top edge thereby moving the sealed areas toward one another in areas adjacent the bottom edge and forming self sustaining, somewhat arcuate junctures in the opposed sidewalls with the junctures defining margins of a bottom opposite the opened side edge for maintaining the sidewalls in an outwardly bulged position, whereby the opened pouches approach a cylindrical shape for receiving a maximum quantity of material for a given pouch size.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 246 words

In a packaging apparatus having means forming a web of packaging material into a horizontally disposed series of pouches separated by a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending sealed areas and having opposed sidewalls closed at bottom edge portions and opened at top edge portions and means for opening the pouches and conveying the web along a horizontal path, a filling station comprising: a circular body portion disposed above the horizontal web path and mounted for rotation about an axis extending laterally of the web; a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced nozzles attached to said body portion and extending radially outwardly of the axis of rotation of said body portion; means rotating said body portion at a speed relative to the speed of the moving web so that successive ones of the nozzles move into and out of successive ones of the upwardly opened pouches formed in the moving web; valve means communicating each said nozzle with a pressurized source of fluid to be packaged while each said nozzle is inserted into one of the pouches and for a set time interval selected to inject a measured quantity of fluid into the pouches; and means pivoting the web of opened pouches in a direction transversely of the horizontal path of movement prior to and during the time said nozzles are inserted into the pouches so that the fluid injected by said nozzles impinges against a slanted sidewall of the pouches to limit splashing of the fluid.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 246 words

In a packaging apparatus having means forming a web of packaging material into a horizontally disposed series of pouches separated by a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending sealed areas and having opposed sidewalls closed at bottom edge portions and opened at top edge portions and means for opening the pouches and conveying the web along a horizontal path, a filling station comprising: a circular body portion disposed above the horizontal web path and mounted for rotation about an axis extending laterally of the web; a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced nozzles attached to said body portion and extending radially outwardly of the axis of rotation of said body portion; means rotating said body portion at a speed relative to the speed of the moving web so that successive ones of the nozzles move into and out of successive ones of the upwardly opened pouches formed in the moving web; valve means communicating each said nozzle with a pressurized source of fluid to be packaged while each said nozzle is inserted into one of the pouches and for a set time interval selected to inject a measured quantity of fluid into the pouches; and means pivoting the web of opened pouches in a direction transversely of the horizontal path of movement prior to and during the time said nozzles are inserted into the pouches so that the fluid injected by said nozzles impinges against a slanted sidewall of the pouches to limit splashing of the fluid.

Claim 51

Independent Claim 230 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially Horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas and moving the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches; pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge of each pouch; a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the open pouches; means including a bar disposed adjacent said filling station and having an edge portion configured to pivot the web about portions grasped by said web conveying means and in a direction so that the material injected by the filling station impinges against one of the pouch sidewalls which is slightly slanted relative to a path of the injected material, thereby to prevent the material from splashing onto the unsealed top edge portions of the sidewalls; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; and pouch severing means slicing the web along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 230 words

An apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches comprising: means supplying a continuous web of film material; pouch forming means forming and sealing the web of film material into a substantially Horizontally disposed series of pouches extending longitudinally of the web and separated by sealed areas extending transversely of the web, the pouches having opposed sidewalls unsealed along top edge portions; web conveying means grasping the web at the sealed areas and moving the sealed areas together to outwardly separate the opposed sidewalls of the pouches; pouch opening means including means engaging and lifting the closed bottom edge of each pouch; a filling station injecting material to be packaged into the open pouches; means including a bar disposed adjacent said filling station and having an edge portion configured to pivot the web about portions grasped by said web conveying means and in a direction so that the material injected by the filling station impinges against one of the pouch sidewalls which is slightly slanted relative to a path of the injected material, thereby to prevent the material from splashing onto the unsealed top edge portions of the sidewalls; top sealing means sealing the open top edge portions of the sidewalls to enclose the pouches; and pouch severing means slicing the web along a longitudinal axis of the transverse sealed areas to separate individual filled and sealed pouches from the web.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 44 words

An apparatus as defined in claim 38 wherein said bar member leading edge portion horizontally extends from a position upstream of said filling station to a position beyond said filling station and slants from a vertical position in the direction of the web movement.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-06-06	1975-12-06	1976-06-06	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-06-06	1979-12-06	1980-06-06	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-06-06	1983-12-06	1984-06-06	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for forming and filling individual pouches

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