Packaging machine with splitter bar fill

Claim 2

In a machine for filling measured charges of particulate product into pouches having comparatively flat flexible side panels, the combination of, mechanism for advancing the pouches open end up and in spaced edgewise relation through a filling station along a predetermined path, an elongated horizontal splitter bar of narrow width overlying said path and extending through said filling station, said splitter bar being positioned to be straddled by the upper ends of said side panels so as to keep said side panels separated at said upper ends, a nozzle extending vertically through said splitter bar at said filling station and defining a downwardly opening elongated orifice in the lower edge of the splitter bar, the length of said orifice along said splitter bar being greater than the width of the orifice across the splitter bar, means in said filling station for dispensing measured charges of particulate product into said nozzle for flow out of said orifice and into said pouches, and means for injecting pressurized gas into said nozzle to assist the flow of the product through the nozzle and out of said orifice.

Claim 3

A machine as defined in claim 1 in which said dispensing means includes a vessel, a generally cylindrical spout at the lower end of said vessel and communicating with said nozzle, and said injecting means communicating with said vessel whereby said gas flows first into said vessel and then into said nozzle.

Claim 4

A machine as defined in claim 1 further including means in said filling station for clamping the upper ends of the side panels of saId pouches to the splitter bar as the pouches are filled with product.

Claim 5

In a controlled atmosphere packaging machine for filling measured charges of product into pouches having comparatively flat flexible side panels, the combination of, mechanism for advancing the pouches open end up along a predetermined path through a filling station, an elongated horizontal splitter bar of narrow width overlying said path and extending through said filling station, said splitter bar being positioned to be straddled by the upper ends of said side panels so as to keep said side panels separated at said upper ends, a passage extending vertically through said splitter bar at said filling station and defining a downwardly opening orifice in the lower edge of said splitter bar, the length of the orifice along said splitter bar being several times greater than the width of the orifice across the splitter bar, a dispenser in said filling station and including a vessel having an upright spout communicating with said passage, said dispenser being operable to discharge measured charges of product into said vessel for flow into said spout and said passage and then out of said orifice and into said pouches, and means for injecting pressurized non-oxidizing gas into said vessel to purge the product and the pouches of ambient air.

Claim 6

In a controlled atmosphere packaging machine for filling measured charges of product into pouches having comparatively flat flexible side panels, the combination of, mechanism for advancing the pouches open end up along a predetermined path through a filling station, an elongated horizontal splitter bar of narrow width overlying said path and extending through said filling station, said splitter bar being positioned to be straddled by the upper ends of said side panels so as to keep said side panels separated at said upper ends, a passage extending vertically through said splitter bar at said filling station and defining a downwardly opening orifice in the lower edge of said splitter bar, the length of the orifice along said splitter bar being several times greater than the width of the orifice across the splitter bar, a dispenser in said filling station and including a vessel having an upright spout communicating with said passage, said dispenser being operable to discharge measured charges of product into said vessel for flow into said spout and said passage and then out of said orifice and into said pouches, and means for injecting pressurized non-oxidizing gas into said vessel to purge the product and the pouches of ambient air.

Claim 7

A controlled atmosphere packaging machine as defined in claim 4 further including a purging station located downstream of said filling station, a passage opening out of the lower edge of said splitter bar at said purging station, and means for injecting pressurized non-oxidizing gas into the latter passage to purge the pouches and product of ambient air after filling of the pouches.

Claim 8

A controlled atmosphere packaging machine as defined in claim 5 further including means at said filling and purging stations for clamping the upper ends of said side panels to said splitter bar during filling and purging of the pouches.

Claim 9

A controlled atmosphere packaging machine as defined in claim 4 further including a sealing station located downstream of said filling station, rails disposed on opposite sides of said path adjacent the upper ends of said side panels and located between said filling and sealing stations, said rails being spaced vertically from each other and having inner sides overlapping one another to deflect the upper ends of said side panels first laterally in one direction and then in the opposite direction to retard the escape of said gas out of and the entry of ambient air into said pouches as the latter approach said sealing station, and a sealing unit disposed in said sealing station for sealing the upper ends of said pouches.

Claim 10

A controlled atmosphere packaging machine as defined in claim 4 in which said passage defines a nozzle which tapers along the length of the splitter bar and expands across the width of the splitter bar as the nozzle proceeds upwardly from said orifice, said nozzle defining a circular mouth adjacent the upper edge of said splitter bar for receiving said spout.

Claim 11

A controlled atmosphere packaging machine as defined in claim 8 further including additional passages extending through said splitter bar on opposite sides of said nozzle and communicating with said dispenser to direct excess gas from said pouches into said dispenser.

Claim 12

A controlled atmosphere packaging machine as defined in claim 4 in which said dispenser includes an upright auger extending into said vessel for delivering said product into the vessel, said auger terminating short of said spout, a plate disposed within said vessel above the lower end of the auger and defining a horizontal wall extending across the vessel, said gas injecting means communicating with said vessel above said plate, and a series of angularly spaced holes formed through said plate whereby gas injected into said vessel passes through said holes and is dispersed in said product as the latter is discharged by said auger and falls downwardly through said vessel and into said spout.

Claim 13

In a controlled atmosphere packaging machine for filling measured charges of particulate product into pouches having comparatively flat flexible side panels and for thereafter sealing the pouches, the combination of, mechanism for advancing the pouches open end up and in spaced edgewise relation along a predetermined path through horizontally spaced opening, filling, purging and sealing stations, an elongated horizontal splitter bar of narrow width overlying said path and extending through said opening, filling and purging stations, said splitter bar being positioned to be straddled by the upper ends of said side panels so as to keep the latter separated at said upper ends, passages opening out of the lower edge of said splitter bar in said opening and purging stations, a passage extending vertically through said splitter bar at said filling station and defining a downwardly opening orifice in the lower edge of said splitter bar, the length of said orifice along said splitter bar being several times greater than the width of the orifice across the splitter bar, a dispenser in said filling station and including a vessel having an upright spout communicating with the filling passage in the filling station, said dispenser being operable to discharge measured charges of particulate product into said vessel for flow into said spout and said filling passage and then out of said orifice and into said pouches, means for injecting pressurized non-oxidizing gas into said vessel and into the passages in said opening and purging stations whereby (a) the gas injected into the passage in the opening station blows open and purges each pouch preparatory to filling; (b) the gas injected into said vessel flows into said filling passage and out of said orifice with the product to assist the flow of product through the orifice while purging the product and the pouches of ambient air and; (c) the gas injected into the passage in said purging station effects a final purge of the product and pouches preparatory to sealing, means in each of said opening, filling and purging stations for clamping the upper ends of said side panels against said splitter bar as the gas flows into the pouches, rails disposed on opposite sides of said path adjacent the upper ends of said panels and extending between said purging and sealing stations, said rails being spaced vertically from each other and having inner sides which overlap one another so as to deflect the upper ends of said side panels laterally to retard the escape of said gas out of and the entry of ambient air into said pouches, and a sealing unit disposed in said sealing station for sealing the upper ends of said pouches.

Claim 14

In a controlled atmosphere packaging machine for filling measured charges of particulate product into pouches having comparatively flat flexible side panels and for thereafter sealing the pouches, the combination of, mechanism for advancing the pouches open end up and in spaced edgewise relation along a predetermined path through horizontally spaced opening, filling, purging and sealing stations, an elongated horizontal splitter bar of narrow width overlying said path and extending through said opening, filling and purging stations, said splitter bar being positioned to be straddled by the upper ends of said side panels so as to keep the latter separated at said upper ends, passages opening out of the lower edge of said splitter bar in said opening and purging stations, a passage extending vertically through said splitter bar at said filling station and defining a downwardly opening orifice in the lower edge of said splitter bar, the length of said orifice along said splitter bar being several times greater than the width of the orifice across the splitter bar, a dispenser in said filling station and including a vessel having an upright spout communicating with the filling passage in the filling station, said dispenser being operable to discharge measured charges of particulate product into said vessel for flow into said spout and said filling passage and then out of said orifice and into said pouches, means for injecting pressurized non-oxidizing gas into said vessel and into the passages in said opening and purging stations whereby (a) the gas injected into the passage in the opening station blows open and purges each pouch preparatory to filling; (b) the gas injected into said vessel flows into said filling passage and out of said orifice with the product to assist the flow of product through the orifice while purging the product and the pouches of ambient air and; (c) the gas injected into the passage in said purging station effects a final purge of the product and pouches preparatory to sealing, means in each of said opening, filling and purging stations for clamping the upper ends of said side panels against said splitter bar as the gas flows into the pouches, rails disposed on opposite sides of said path adjacent the upper ends of said panels and extending between said purging and sealing stations, said rails being spaced vertically from each other and having inner sides which overlap one another so as to deflect the upper ends of said side panels laterally to retard the escape of said gas out of and the entry of ambient air into said pouches, and a sealing unit disposed in said sealing station for sealing the upper ends of said pouches.