US3668815A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vibrating clamp product settler
Assignee: Kliklok LLC
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Filing: 1970-03-12
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Granted: 1972-06-13
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Expires: 1990-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A product settling arrangement for packages of flexible sheet material wherein the package is vigorously agitated by gripping of the package at the bottom for a presettling operation and at the top for a final settling operation. The movement of the package is in the up and down direction with the preferred action being along an oscillatory path whereby multiple component force is applied to the product for more efficient settling. A control circuit is provided insuring proper actuation of the gripper members in timed relationship with the sealing jaws when a form and fill machine is utilized.
Inventors
- 👤 Nelson R Henry
- 👤 Donald R Middour
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:08
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B1/00; B65B1/20; B65B1/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
231 words
The method of packaging product in a package formed from a continuous tube of sheet material held in an upright position comprising the steps of applying a pair of gripper members on opposite sides of said tube to temporarily seal the same, rapidly moving said gripper members back and forth while gripping said tube to vibrate the same, feeding said product above said members to be presettled by the vibrating action, applying a pair of sealing jaws across said tube to form a first transverse seal at a sealing station below said members, removing said members from engagement with said tube in timed relationship with and just prior to the formation of said first transverse seal to terminate the vibrating action on said tube and allow the presettled product to drop to the bottom of the package above said first transverse seal, relatively moving said tube with respect to said gripper members to provide a new length of tube above said transverse seal equal to the package being formed, reapplying said gripper members to the top of said new length of tube while rapidly moving the same back and forth for additional vibrating action and final settling of said product, and reapplying said sealing jaws across said tube at the top of said new length of tube to form a second transverse seal above said product and thereby complete said package.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
231 words
The method of packaging product in a package formed from a continuous tube of sheet material held in an upright position comprising the steps of applying a pair of gripper members on opposite sides of said tube to temporarily seal the same, rapidly moving said gripper members back and forth while gripping said tube to vibrate the same, feeding said product above said members to be presettled by the vibrating action, applying a pair of sealing jaws across said tube to form a first transverse seal at a sealing station below said members, removing said members from engagement with said tube in timed relationship with and just prior to the formation of said first transverse seal to terminate the vibrating action on said tube and allow the presettled product to drop to the bottom of the package above said first transverse seal, relatively moving said tube with respect to said gripper members to provide a new length of tube above said transverse seal equal to the package being formed, reapplying said gripper members to the top of said new length of tube while rapidly moving the same back and forth for additional vibrating action and final settling of said product, and reapplying said sealing jaws across said tube at the top of said new length of tube to form a second transverse seal above said product and thereby complete said package.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of rapidly moving said gripper members is carried out in the up and down direction whereby maximum settling action is applied due to rEpetitive loosening and compressive action on said product.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said step of rapidly moving said gripper members is carried out along an arc having a center axis extending transversely to but spaced from the longitudinal axis of said tube and opposite the gripper members so as to cause said tube to move in an oscillatory path, whereby centrifugal force is applied to said product to encourage settling.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of settling product in a package formed from a tube of sheet material held in an upright position and having a transverse bottom seal comprising the steps of gripping opposite sides of said tube to form a temporary seal above the location for said transverse seal, vibrating said tube at said temporary seal, feeding said product above said temporary seal to be presettled by the vibrating action, releasing the tube so as to allow the presettled portion of the product to drop as a whole to said transverse bottom seal, and regripping and reapplying vibration to said tube for additional vibrating action and final settling of said product.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
110 words
The method of settling product in a package formed from a tube of sheet material held in an upright position and having a transverse bottom seal comprising the steps of gripping opposite sides of said tube to form a temporary seal above the location for said transverse seal, vibrating said tube at said temporary seal, feeding said product above said temporary seal to be presettled by the vibrating action, releasing the tube so as to allow the presettled portion of the product to drop as a whole to said transverse bottom seal, and regripping and reapplying vibration to said tube for additional vibrating action and final settling of said product.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the vibrating step is performed only during a portion of the time that said tube is gripped.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 wherein said tube is gripped and vibrated adjacent said transverse bottom seal location to form said temporary seal whereby the product in the bottom of said package is presettled.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said tube is regripped and vibration is reapplied above said charge to apply settling action to the product in the top of the package.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the vibrating steps are performed by moving said seal along an arc in the up and down direction whereby maximum settling action is applied due to repetitive loosening and compressive action on said product.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for settling product in a package formed from a tube of sheet material held in an upright position and having a transverse bottom seal comprising a frame mounted for oscillatory motion about an axis extending transversely to but spaced from the longitudinal axis of said tube, a pair of arms mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from said tube on opposite sides thereof,elongated gripper plates extending transverse to said tube carried by said arms for positively gripping and flattening said tube between the edges of the plates when said arms are moved toward said tube, means for moving said arms toward and away from said tube, and means for oscillating said frame to impart bodily movement of said tube along an arc to settle said product.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
131 words
An apparatus for settling product in a package formed from a tube of sheet material held in an upright position and having a transverse bottom seal comprising a frame mounted for oscillatory motion about an axis extending transversely to but spaced from the longitudinal axis of said tube, a pair of arms mounted on said frame for movement toward and away from said tube on opposite sides thereof,elongated gripper plates extending transverse to said tube carried by said arms for positively gripping and flattening said tube between the edges of the plates when said arms are moved toward said tube, means for moving said arms toward and away from said tube, and means for oscillating said frame to impart bodily movement of said tube along an arc to settle said product.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein at least one of said gripper plates is resilient and mounted on its respective arm so as to give a uniform gripping pressure across the width of the tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said pivotal axis of said frame lies opposite said gripper plates whereby the greater component of movement of said gripper plates is obtained in the up and down direction whereby maximum settling action is applied due to repetitive loosening and compressive action on said product.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said arms are pivotally mounted, said means for moving said arms toward and away from said tube include an actuator cylinder attached to said arms and mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed axis, said pivotal mounting of said cylinder serving to accommodate the vibrating action of said frame.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The combination of claim 12 wherein said actuator cylinder is mounted along a plane extending through said pivotal axis and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said tube whereby said oscillatory motion of said arms on said frame is substantially unimpeded by said cylinder.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced support plates, a columnar member rigidly interconnecting said spaced plates, said columnar member being mounted on a pivot shaft for coordinated oscillatory motion of said frame, said Pivot shaft extending the full width of said frame for stability.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination of claim 14 wherein said means for vibrating said frame includes a motor, a drive shaft driven by said motor, eccentric means on said drive shaft, a reciprocating drive rod connected to said eccentric means, and a drive extension on one of said support plates of said frame connected to one end of said drive rod for imparting said oscillatory motion to said frame.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
101 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein is further provided a pair of sealing jaws on opposite sides of said tube for forming said transverse bottom seal and a top transverse seal, fluid means for moving said sealing jaws alternately toward and away from said tube in the direction opposite to said arms, said means for moving said arms being interconnected with said fluid means for operation in response to the same and delay means for causing said arms to move away from said tube in timed relationship with and just prior to the engagement of said sealing jaws with said tube.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said vibrating step includes only a single cycle vibration performed in the up and down direction whereby settling action is applied due to sequential bulging and collapsing of the side walls of said package to cause loosening and compressive action, respectively on said product.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said frame includes a pair of spaced support brackets, pivot means for mounting said arms, and an interconnecting member extending between said arms to rigidly connect the same together for coordinated oscillatory motion of said frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 18 wherein said means for oscillating includes cam means for moving said frame in one direction and spring means for moving said frame in the opposite direction.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said spring means comprises a spring attached at one end to said interconnecting member and fixedly attached at the other end.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein said moving means comprises a stationary actuator cylinder and a pivotal link connecting said cylinder to at least one of said arms, said pivotal links serving to accommodate the oscillating action of said frame.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for settling product in a package formed from a tube of sheet material held in an upright position and having a transverse bottom seal comprising frame means mounted for vibratory motion, elongated gripper means mounted on said frame means for movement toward and away from said tube on opposite sides thereof, said gripper means extending transverse to said tube for positively gripping and flattening said tube along a relatively narrow face when moved toward said tube, means for moving said gripper means toward and away from said tube, and means for vibrating said frame means to impart bodily movement of said tube to settle said product.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
108 words
An apparatus for settling product in a package formed from a tube of sheet material held in an upright position and having a transverse bottom seal comprising frame means mounted for vibratory motion, elongated gripper means mounted on said frame means for movement toward and away from said tube on opposite sides thereof, said gripper means extending transverse to said tube for positively gripping and flattening said tube along a relatively narrow face when moved toward said tube, means for moving said gripper means toward and away from said tube, and means for vibrating said frame means to impart bodily movement of said tube to settle said product.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 22 wherein said gripper means extends across the full width of said package to substantially flatten the same across the full width when moved toward the same.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
130 words
The combination of claim 9 wherein is further provided a pair of sealing jaws on opposite sides of said tube for forming said transverse bottom seal and a top transverse seal, means for moving said sealing jaws alternately toward and away from said tube in the direction opposite to said arms, means for moving said sealing jaws along the longitudinal axis of said tube to draw out a new package length, first and second adjustment means for adjusting the length of stroke of said sealing jaws, said first means causing adjustment at both the top and bottom of said stroke, and said second means causing adjustment only at the top of said stroke so as not to interfere with the spacing at the top with respect to said gripper plates.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
82 words
The combination of claim 24 wherein said second means comprises a pivotal lever, means for oscillating said lever, an arcuate slot formed in said lever, a pitman fixed for pivotal movement at a selecTed position along said slot, the opposite end of said pitman being pivotally connected to linkage attached to said sealing jaws, said arcuate slot having its center along a substantially constant radius when said lever is in the position corresponding to said top of stroke of said sealing jaws.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The combination of claim 25 wherein said pitman includes means for adjusting the length of the same.
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) | 1975-06-13 | 1975-12-13 | 1976-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-13 | 1979-12-13 | 1980-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-13 | 1983-12-13 | 1984-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |