US3778972A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for handling liquid filled flexible pouches
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-03-28
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Granted: 1973-12-18
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Expires: 1992-03-28
Abstract
Abstract A liquid pouch handling apparatus which includes a pivoting cradle adapted to collect a plurality of pouches and then drop them into an outer bag held by a pair of oppositely pivoting jaws below the cradle, and sealing stations adjacent the path of the outer flexible bag and liquid filled pouches whereby tension fingers are included for engaging the open end of the outer bag and retaining it under tension while the top of the bag is being sealed by heat-sealing means.
Inventors
- 👤 A Chlipalski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:35
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B5/00; B65B5/06; B65B5/061
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for supplying a plurality of elongated articles into a container comprising means for advancing and feeding the plurality of elongated articles one by one; an article receiving cradle having at least one end wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle between a first position whereby said end wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said elongated articles and adapted to receive a plurality of articles fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle and a second position wherein said end wall is above the angle of rest of said articles, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating a container for receiving the articles as the articles are dropped simultaneously from the cradle.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
An apparatus for supplying a plurality of elongated articles into a container comprising means for advancing and feeding the plurality of elongated articles one by one; an article receiving cradle having at least one end wall and a retractable bottom wall; means pivoting the cradle between a first position whereby said end wall is inclined from the vertical below the angle of rest of said elongated articles and adapted to receive a plurality of articles fed from the advancing means stacked in side-by-side relation in the cradle and a second position wherein said end wall is above the angle of rest of said articles, means adapted to retract said bottom wall when the cradle is in said second position, means below and adjacent said bottom wall when said cradle is in said second position for opening and locating a container for receiving the articles as the articles are dropped simultaneously from the cradle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the elongated articles are liquid filled flexible pouches and the container is an outer flexible bag.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the advancing means includes conveyor means for advancing the liquid filled pouches one by one, the conveyor means including a delivery zone whereby the pouches are fed into the cradle when the cradle is in its first position and the delivery zone of the conveyor means is above the end wall of the cradle when the cradle is in said first position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein a pouch stabilizing means is provided in the delivery zone of the conveyor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the pouch stabilizing means includes a resiliently-mounted roller spaced above the top run of the conveyor a distance less than the normal thickness of the pouch whereby when the pouch is delivered from the conveyor means, the resiliently-mounted roller will effectively prevent the elongated pouch from somersaulting into the cradle thereby allowing the pouch to drop from the delivery zone with the axis thereof substantially parallel to the plane of the end wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the end wall includes a bracket journalled on a pivot shaft mounted to the frame and motor means are connected to the frame and to the cradle for positively reciprocating the cradle from the first to the second position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the cradle includes a side wall at 90* and adjacent to the end wall, the bottom wall being hingedly connected to said side wall, cam means mounted to the frame, a cam follower mounted to the bottom wall, such that when the cradle is in the first position, the cam follower and the cam means retain the bottom wall in a position at 90* to the end wall and to the side wall, closing the bottom of the cradle, and when the cradle is in said second position, the cam follower and the cam means allow the bottom wall to pivot about the hinge axis to a position in the same plane as the side wall.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the means for opening and locating the flexible container bag for receiving the articles includes a wicket means adjacent the path of fall of the pouches for supplying the outer bags, air pressure nozzle means for initially opening the outer bag from the wicket, spaced-apart opposed jaw means adapted to engage and initially open the outer bag, to fully open the bag and to retain the bag while the pouches are being dropped from the cradle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
74 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the jaws are of shovel-shaped construction and include bottom ends, and the shovel-shaped jaws are adapted to pivot from a first position wherein the bottom ends are relatively in close proximity and a second position wherein the jaws are pivoted downwardly with the bottom ends of the jaws spaced further apart and the jaws in substantially vertical position engaging the inner periphery of the outer bag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein the shovel-shaped jaws are adapted to pivot downwardly and move linearly outwardly relative to each other, so as to both engage the inner periphery of the bag and to slightly stretch the bag thereby retaining the bag while the pouches are being dropped therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 10, wherein linkage means are provided for pivoting and moving the jaws linearly outwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
79 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said linkage means are connected to a reciprocal motor means, and the linkage means includes a first arm pivoted to a fixed pivot on the frame, said first arm being hinged to a second arm fixed to the jaw at one end and to the end of the reciprocal motor means at the other end thereof, stop means being provided on the frame for limiting the movement of the linkage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein a conveying table is provided at right angles to the path of the dropping container and pouches, and carriage means are provided on said conveying table for alternately moving a filled container in opposite directions on the conveying table.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the conveying table is provided with the surface made up of idler rollers, and a carriage is adjacent said surface and includes abutment means for moving the container on said idler roller surface alternately in one direction and the other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein the carriage slides in guide means on the side of the idler roller surface and is actuated by a reciprocal motor means having a sprocket riding on a fixed track, and the sprocket is adapted to engage a track fixed to the carriage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein a sealing station is provided adjacent the carriage means for alternately sealing the open end of the flexible containers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein tensioning means are provided for first engaging the open end of the flexible bag container and retaining it while it is being sealed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said tensioning means includes a pair of elongated fingers adapted for opposite pivoting movement from a position inwardly pivoted where the ends thereof are in close relative proximity in a position outwardly relative to each other engaging the inner periphery of the outer bag.
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) | 1976-12-17 | 1977-06-18 | 1977-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-17 | 1981-06-18 | 1981-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-17 | 1985-06-18 | 1985-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |