Patent US3699741A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3699741A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic bag packing apparatus for check-out
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-07-09
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Granted: 1972-10-24
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Expires: 1991-07-09
Abstract
Abstract After articles such as groceries are loaded into a reciprocable shuttle tray they are automatically bagged, handled continuously and ultimately delivered to a point where the loaded bag can be picked up. Situated on a holding platform in the path of horizontal movement of the shuttle tray is an open ended kraft paper bag inflated from a previously collapsed condition and oriented to admit both the shuttle tray and groceries being carried by it. When set in motion the shuttle tray travels into the bag and pushes it onto a receiving tray that tilts the bag of articles from a generally horizontal alignment to an erect position and deposits the bag of groceries on a conveyor that leads to a pickup point. The individual bags are linked to one another by detachable joints and are stored in a supply hopper. As the shuttle tray drives a bag from the holding station to the receiving tray the motion of the bag serves to automatically pull the next or replacement bag into position onto the holding platform. After the shuttle tray has completed its cycle and has been returned to its initial station the replacement bag is expanded, by air from a blower for example, to accept the next load of groceries carried by the shuttle tray.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard R Norman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B43/00; B65B43/12; B65B43/14; B65B43/20; B65B43/26; B65B43/34; B65B43/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A bag packing apparatus, comprising: a. a framework; b. a shuttle tray coupled to the framework for movement along a path between a retracted position where articles can be loaded into it and an extended position; c. transfer means coupled to shuttle tray for moving the shuttle tray between its retracted and extended positions; d. a holding platform connected to the framework for holding an open-ended bag on its side with its open end facing the shuttle tray so the shuttle tray containing articles can be moved into the bag by the transfer means to push the bag from the holding platform; and, e. a receiving tray coupled to the framework with an entrance size to receive a portion of the shuttle tray as it is moved by the transfer means to its extended position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
135 words
A bag packing apparatus, comprising: a. a framework; b. a shuttle tray coupled to the framework for movement along a path between a retracted position where articles can be loaded into it and an extended position; c. transfer means coupled to shuttle tray for moving the shuttle tray between its retracted and extended positions; d. a holding platform connected to the framework for holding an open-ended bag on its side with its open end facing the shuttle tray so the shuttle tray containing articles can be moved into the bag by the transfer means to push the bag from the holding platform; and, e. a receiving tray coupled to the framework with an entrance size to receive a portion of the shuttle tray as it is moved by the transfer means to its extended position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The structure according to claim 1, including: a bag supply hopper for containing a stack of open ended bags; and, bag feeder means for supplying a replacement bag onto the holding platform when a bag of articles is pushed by the shuttle tray towards the receiving tray.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The structure according to claim 2, wherein; a stack of kraft paper bags is contained in the hopper, the individual bags being detachably joined to one another at their ends, and, the bag feeder means includes a guide ramp over which the bags may be consecutively slid while being supplied to the holding platform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The structure according to claim 2, including: bag inflating means for inflating a kraft paper bag resting on the holding platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The structure according to claim 4, wherein; each bag has a cut-away zone in its overlying margin of the open end; and, the bag feeder means includes a hold down tab oriented to lay in the cut-away zone and pinch the bag underlying margin against the holding platform to assist in steadying the bag as it is being inflated.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The structure according to claim 5, wherein; the bag inflating means is a blower; and, the hold down tab is an elongated leaf spring cantilevered to the blower and formed with an air channel positioned to direct air discharged from the blower into the bag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The structure according to claim 6, wherein; the bags are stacked together in zig zag fashion, and, the guide ramp has a convex surface over which the bags slide and is of scroll shape in longitudinal cross section.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The structure according to claim 1, including: a gate positioned adjacent the holding platform for facilitating movement of the shuttle tray into the bag.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The structure according to claim 8, wherein; the gate is constituted by a pair of normally coplanar flaps hinged on pivot rods to engage the interior sides of a bag when bumped and forced to swing rearwardly by the shuttle tray.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The structure according to claim 9, wherein; the shuttle tray has upstanding side walls that slidably mount a pair of strips formed at their forward ends with outwardly projecting hooks positioned to catch on corresponding pivot rods so that the strips can assist in holding the flaps open as the shuttle tray advances to its extended position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure according to claim 1, wherein; the transfer means includes a reciprocable carriage connected to the shuttle tray and movable between a first extreme corresponding to the shuttle tray retracted position and a second extreme corresponding to the shuttle tray extended position; and, a drive means is operatively connected to the carriage for driving the carriage between its extremes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The structure according to claim 11, including: a track way including a pair of parallel rails; and, a cross piece fixed to the underside of the shuttle tray and having a pair of side blocks that slidably engage the parallel rails, one side block being rigidly fixed to the carriage.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure according to claim 11, wherein; the drive means includes a drive chain having a laterally projecting drive lug; and, the carriage has a slot through which the drive lug extends to drivingly engage the carriage.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
The structure according to claim 13, including: a blocker unit mounted to the framework and having a depending blocking plate normally positioned above the entrance and of the receiving tray, the blocker unit being operatively connected to the drive means in a manner so that the blocker plate is caused to descend and block articles in the bag from being removed from the bag as the shuttle tray is withdrawn from the receiving tray.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
96 words
The structure according to claim 14, wherein; the carriage slot is elongated and vertically aligned; the drive chain has a generally vertically oriented segment at the rearward portion of its flight; the blocker unit has a lever arm which is engaged by the drive lug as it drops through the carriage slot and is movably engaged by the drive lug for a predetermined time thereafter, wherein, the drive lug and lever arm coact as a cam and cam follower respectively to keep the blocker unit at its depressed position so long as movable engagement is maintained.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The structure according to claim 1, including: tilting means for moving the receiving tray between a substantially horizontal position to accept the shuttle tray and a substantially vertical position to release a bag containing articles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The structure according to claim 16, wherein; the tilting means is operatively connected to the transfer means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The structure according to cLaim 17, wherein the tilting means includes: a bell crank with one arm engageable by the transfer means and the other arm connected to a chain operatively engaged with the receiving platform.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The structure according to claim 16, wherein; the receiving platform has a support wall for supporting a bag of articles as it is being tilted downwardly, the support wall being sloped to permit the bag of articles to slide off the receiving platform.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The structure according to claim 16, including: conveyor means having one end disposed generally beneath the receiving tray to accept a bag of articles when the receiving tray is swung to its substantially vertical position by the tilting means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure according to claim 1, wherein the bag packing apparatus includes: plural shuttle trays and plural associated transfer means, holding platforms, and receiving trays, and, control means for operating the individual shuttle trays independently or simultaneously.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
A process of handling articles, comprising the steps of: loading articles to be packaged into a tray at a loading station; moving the tray loaded with articles to a holding station and into an open ended bag laying on its side; pushing the bag from the holding station to a receiving station by way of physical contact between the bag and tray and continuous movement of the tray, and, withdrawing the tray from the bag without removing the articles from the bag.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
82 words
A process of handling articles, comprising the steps of: loading articles to be packaged into a tray at a loading station; moving the tray loaded with articles to a holding station and into an open ended bag laying on its side; pushing the bag from the holding station to a receiving station by way of physical contact between the bag and tray and continuous movement of the tray, and, withdrawing the tray from the bag without removing the articles from the bag.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process according to claim 22 including the step of: pulling a replacement bag to the holding station as the bag is pushed from the holding station to the receiving station.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
48 words
The process according to claim 22 including the steps of: blocking the bag open end at the receiving station to assist in preventing articles from being removed; and, tilting the bag from a sideways position to an erect position after the tray has been withdrawn from the bag.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
246 words
A bag packing apparatus comprising: a. a framework; b. a shuttle tray coupled to the framework for movement along a path between a retracted position where articles can be loaded into it and an extended position; c. transfer means coupled to the shuttle tray for moving the shuttle tray between its retracted and extended positions; d. a bag supply hopper containing a stack of open ended bags; e. a holding platform connected to the framework for holding an open ended bag on its side with its open end facing the shuttle tray so the shuttle tray containing articles can be moved into the bag by the transfer means to push the bag from the holding platform; f. a receiving tray coupled to the framework with an entrance size to receive a portion of the shuttle tray as it pushes the bag containing articles and is being moved by the transfer means to its extended position; g. bag feeder means for supplying a replacement bag onto the holding platform when a bag of articles is pushed by the shuttle tray towards the receiving trays; h. tilting means for moving the receiving tray between a substantially horizontal position to accept the shuttle tray and a substantially vertical position to release a bag containing articles; and, i. conveyor means having one end disposed generally beneath the receiving tray to accept a bag of articles when the receiving tray is swung to its substantially vertical position by the tilting means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
246 words
A bag packing apparatus comprising: a. a framework; b. a shuttle tray coupled to the framework for movement along a path between a retracted position where articles can be loaded into it and an extended position; c. transfer means coupled to the shuttle tray for moving the shuttle tray between its retracted and extended positions; d. a bag supply hopper containing a stack of open ended bags; e. a holding platform connected to the framework for holding an open ended bag on its side with its open end facing the shuttle tray so the shuttle tray containing articles can be moved into the bag by the transfer means to push the bag from the holding platform; f. a receiving tray coupled to the framework with an entrance size to receive a portion of the shuttle tray as it pushes the bag containing articles and is being moved by the transfer means to its extended position; g. bag feeder means for supplying a replacement bag onto the holding platform when a bag of articles is pushed by the shuttle tray towards the receiving trays; h. tilting means for moving the receiving tray between a substantially horizontal position to accept the shuttle tray and a substantially vertical position to release a bag containing articles; and, i. conveyor means having one end disposed generally beneath the receiving tray to accept a bag of articles when the receiving tray is swung to its substantially vertical position by the tilting means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
123 words
The structure according to claim 25, wherein; a stack of kraft paper bags is contained in the hopper, the individual bags being detachably joined to one another at their ends; the bag feeder means includes a guide ramp over which the bags may be consecutively slid while being suppled to the holding platform; bag inflating means is included to inflate a bag resting on the holding platform; the transfer means includes a reciprocable carriage connected to the shuttle tray and movable between a first extreme corresponding to the shuttle tray retracted position and a second extreme corresponding to the shuttle tray extended position; and, a drive means is provided that is operatively connected to the carriage for driving the carriage between its extremes.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The structure according to claim 25, wherein the bag packing apparatus includes: plural shuttle trays, and, control means for operating the individual shuttle trays independently or simultaneously.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3161003A
Cited
US3490195A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-24 | 1976-04-24 | 1976-10-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-24 | 1980-04-24 | 1980-10-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-24 | 1984-04-24 | 1984-10-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |