US3914917A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for hermetically sealing packages
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1974-05-08
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A method of sealing a comestible article within a heat-fusible bag by advancing the article within the bag past an air pressure device which simultaneously applies air pressure and suction to collapse an open end of the bag, advancing the article past a compression device which further collapses the end of the bag and maintains the end tightly closed, and advancing the article past a heat sealing device which simultaneously fuses the end of the bag and severs a portion of the end therefrom. Suitable apparatus for performing the method includes a conveyor for advancing the article past the air pressure, compression, and heating devices; the air pressure device comprising a blower having an exhaust for applying air pressure to the end of the bag and an intake for producing suction adjacent the end; and, compression and heating devices comprising upper and lower rotatable belts between which the end of the bag is compressed with one pair of downstream pulleys supporting the belts of which one pulley includes an upper heated disc for pressing the end of the bag against a lower disc on the other pully to simultaneously fuse the end of the bag and sever an outer portion therefrom. The heat-fusible bag includes an improved end structure particularly suitable for use with the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 John E Young
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 15:59
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B51/00; B65B51/10; B65B51/16; B29; B29C; B29C65/00; B29C65/02; B29C65/18; B29C66/00; B29C66/01; B29C66/05; B29C66/10; B29C66/11; B29C66/112; B29C66/1122; B29C66/40; B29C66/41; B29C66/43; B29C66/431; B29C66/4312; B29C66/43121; B29C66/80; B29C66/82; B29C66/824; B29C66/8242; B29C66/82423; B29C66/826; B29C66/8266; B29C66/83; B29C66/834; B29C66/8341; B29C66/83411; B29C66/83413; B65B7/00; B65B7/02; B65B7/06; B29C66/90; B29C66/91; B29C66/914; B29C66/9141; B29C66/91421; B29C66/91431; B29C66/9161; B29C66/91641
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising the steps of: subjecting an open end portion of said bag to suction pressure for partially evacuating said bag; directing positive air pressure against an outer portion of said open end portion for collapsing said end portion; compressing said end portion for further depleting air from within said bag and for maintaining closure of saiD end portion; and heating a relatively narrow portion of said end portion for substantially simultaneously fusing said closed end portion and severing an outer portion therefrom.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
95 words
A method of sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising the steps of: subjecting an open end portion of said bag to suction pressure for partially evacuating said bag; directing positive air pressure against an outer portion of said open end portion for collapsing said end portion; compressing said end portion for further depleting air from within said bag and for maintaining closure of saiD end portion; and heating a relatively narrow portion of said end portion for substantially simultaneously fusing said closed end portion and severing an outer portion therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 wherein compressing said end portion comprises the step of: applying positive pressure to opposite sides of said closed end portion to partially collapse said end portion and maintain said opposite sides in closed position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 1 wherein heating said narrow portion comprises the steps of: supporting one of opposite sides of said end portion; and substantially simultaneously applying a heated member to the other of said opposite sides urging said opposite sides together under pressure sufficient to fuse said opposite sides and to sever an outer portion therefrom.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising the steps of: advancing said article within said bag along a path of advance with an open end portion of said bag advancing along a support means; applying air pressure against a top portion of said open end portion and substantially simultaneously withdrawing air from within said bag through said end portion to collapse said end portion into closed engagement; advancing said article with said closed end portion passing between a compression means for further depleting air from within said bag and for maintaining said end portion in closed engagement; and thereafter advancing said article with said closed end portion passing between cooperating portions of a heat sealing means for fusing said closed end portion and for substantially simultaneously severing an outer portion from said fused end portion.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising the steps of: advancing said article within said bag along a path of advance with an open end portion of said bag advancing along a support means; applying air pressure against a top portion of said open end portion and substantially simultaneously withdrawing air from within said bag through said end portion to collapse said end portion into closed engagement; advancing said article with said closed end portion passing between a compression means for further depleting air from within said bag and for maintaining said end portion in closed engagement; and thereafter advancing said article with said closed end portion passing between cooperating portions of a heat sealing means for fusing said closed end portion and for substantially simultaneously severing an outer portion from said fused end portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 4 wherein advancing said article comprises the steps of: advancing said article within said bag along a conveyor means and supporting a bottom portion of an open end portion of said bag at a level between top and bottom sides of said article within said bag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The method of claim 4 wherein applying air pressure against a top portion of said open end portion and withdrawing air from within said bag comprises the steps of: directing a flow of air against said top portion urging said top portion toward a bottom portion of said open end portion and simultaneously directing a flow of air away from said top and bottom portions for drawing said top and bottom portions into closed engagement.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 4 wherein advancing said article with said closed end portion passing between a compression means comprises the step of: advancing said closed end portion between upper and lower flights of a pair of cooperating endless belts for compressing said closed end portion to further deplete the air from within said bag and maintain said end portion in closed engagement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 4 wherein advancing said article with said closed end portion passing between cooperating portions of a heat sealing means comprises the step of: advancing said closed end portion between the outer peripheries of a pair of cooperating sealing discs of which one disc of said pair supports one side of said closed end portion and the other is heated for urging an opposite side of said closed end portion into fused engagement with said one side, said sealing discs simultaneously severing an outer portion of said closed end portion from said bag.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 4 further including the step of maintaining the temperature of said heat sealing means between selectable limits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising in combination: air pressure means including a blower having an exhaust structure for directing a flow of air against one of said opposite sides and an intake structure adjacent said open end portion for withdrawing air from within said bag, said exhaust structure and said intake structure cooperatively urging said opposiTe sides into closed contact; compression means for receiving said closed end portion and for further compressing said end portion to deplete additional air from within said bag through said end portion while maintaining closed contact thereof; and heating means for receiving said closed end portion and for substantially simultaneously fusing said opposite sides and severing an outer portion of said end portion from said bag.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
129 words
Apparatus for sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising in combination: air pressure means including a blower having an exhaust structure for directing a flow of air against one of said opposite sides and an intake structure adjacent said open end portion for withdrawing air from within said bag, said exhaust structure and said intake structure cooperatively urging said opposiTe sides into closed contact; compression means for receiving said closed end portion and for further compressing said end portion to deplete additional air from within said bag through said end portion while maintaining closed contact thereof; and heating means for receiving said closed end portion and for substantially simultaneously fusing said opposite sides and severing an outer portion of said end portion from said bag.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said compression means comprises: a pair of rotatable endless belt means including opposed parallel flights for receiving said closed end portion and further compressing said end portion to deplete air from within said bag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said heating means comprises: a pair of rotatable disc means one of which is heated for pressing said opposite sides against the other of said disc means to fuse said opposite sides and sever a portion of said end portion from said bag.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising in combination: advancing means for advancing said article within said bag along a path of advance including support means for supporting an open end portion of said bag along said path; air pressure means adjacent one side of said advancing means for applying air pressure against a top portion of said open end portion and for withdrawing air from within said bag through said end portion to collapse opposite sides of said end portion into closed contact against said support means; compression means adjacent said one side of said advancing means and downstream from said air pressure means for further compressing said opposite sides to deplete additional air from within said bag while maintaining closed contact of said opposite sides of said end portion; and heat sealing means adjacent said one side of said advancing means and downstream from said compression means for fusing said opposite sides and for simultaneously severing an outer portion of said end portion from said bag.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
174 words
Apparatus for sealing a comestible article within a partially closed heat-fusible bag comprising in combination: advancing means for advancing said article within said bag along a path of advance including support means for supporting an open end portion of said bag along said path; air pressure means adjacent one side of said advancing means for applying air pressure against a top portion of said open end portion and for withdrawing air from within said bag through said end portion to collapse opposite sides of said end portion into closed contact against said support means; compression means adjacent said one side of said advancing means and downstream from said air pressure means for further compressing said opposite sides to deplete additional air from within said bag while maintaining closed contact of said opposite sides of said end portion; and heat sealing means adjacent said one side of said advancing means and downstream from said compression means for fusing said opposite sides and for simultaneously severing an outer portion of said end portion from said bag.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said advancing means comprises: conveyor means movable along said path of advance for moving said article past said air pressure means, said compression means, and said heat sealing means, said support means comprising a flange means extending along one side of said conveyor means for supporting a bottom portion of said open end portion between top and bottom sides of said article within said bag.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said air pressure means comprises: blower means including exhaust means overlying said top portion for directing a flow of air against said top portion and intake means laterally adjacent a bottom portion of said open end portion for producing suction within said bag and, together with said flow of air, for urging said top and bottom portions into closed contact.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said compression means comprises: a pair of rotatable endless belt means including opposed parallel flights in substantial alignment with said support means for compressing said end portion therebetween to deplete air from within said bag and to maintain said opposite sides in closed contact during advancement of said article to said heat sealing means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said heat sealing means comprises: a pair of rotatable disc means having tangential surfaces in substantial alignment with said end portion along said path of advance, one of said disc means being heated for pressing said opposite sides against the other of said disc means under pressure sufficient to fuse said opposite sides and simultaneously sever an outer portion of said end portion from said bag.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
182 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said compression means and said heating means comprise: a pair of rotatable endless belt means including opposed parallel flights in substantial alignment with said support meaNs; upper pulley means spaced along said path of advance adjacent said advancing means, one of said belt means surrounding said upper pulley means for driven rotation thereby; lower pulley means spaced along said path of advance and beneath said upper pulley means spaced along said path of advance and beneath said upper pulley means, the other of said belts surrounding said lower pulley means for driven rotation thereby; upper disc means forming part of said upper pulley means at a downstream end thereof, said upper disc means including selectively controllable heating means for heating said upper disc means to a temperature between selectable limits; and lower disc means forming part of said lower pulley means at a downstream end thereof, said lower disc means supporting said opposite sides of said end portion during fusing of said end portion by pressure between said upper disc means and said lower disc means.
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) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |