US4393640A — Method and apparatus for handling and filling bag…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 288 words

Apparatus for handling flexible fillable containers selected from the group consisting of preformed bags and envelopes, comprising: means for mounting a continuous length supply consisting of a series of similar preformed flexible fillable containers, each separated from its respective neighbour(s) by a tear-line allowing detachment of the leading endmost such flexible fillable container from the continuous length supply, each such container being open at one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for insertion thereinto of a filling material; means for intermittently advancing the free end of the continuous length supply; a surface on which the flexible fillable containers are arranged to travel under control of said advancing means; a filling station for said flexible fillable containers located at a predetermined location along said surface; intermittently operable suction means located at said filling station for holding the leading endmost flexible fillable container of the supply in a predetermined position and selected orientation at said filling station; intermittently operable blowing means for directing a stream of air towards the opening of the said endmost container while held by the suction means, and into the said container to thereby hold the same open for the insertion of a said filling material; and intermittently operable clamping bar means located immediately upstream of said filling station and adapted in operation to clamp the leading edge of the flexible fillable container next adjacent in said continuous supply to said endmost container at least for a period of time after filling of said endmost container is complete, thereby enabling ready detachment of the filled endmost container from said continuous supply along the tear-line separating said endmost and said next adjacent containers, to leave said filling station free for receipt of said next adjacent container.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 288 words

Apparatus for handling flexible fillable containers selected from the group consisting of preformed bags and envelopes, comprising: means for mounting a continuous length supply consisting of a series of similar preformed flexible fillable containers, each separated from its respective neighbour(s) by a tear-line allowing detachment of the leading endmost such flexible fillable container from the continuous length supply, each such container being open at one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for insertion thereinto of a filling material; means for intermittently advancing the free end of the continuous length supply; a surface on which the flexible fillable containers are arranged to travel under control of said advancing means; a filling station for said flexible fillable containers located at a predetermined location along said surface; intermittently operable suction means located at said filling station for holding the leading endmost flexible fillable container of the supply in a predetermined position and selected orientation at said filling station; intermittently operable blowing means for directing a stream of air towards the opening of the said endmost container while held by the suction means, and into the said container to thereby hold the same open for the insertion of a said filling material; and intermittently operable clamping bar means located immediately upstream of said filling station and adapted in operation to clamp the leading edge of the flexible fillable container next adjacent in said continuous supply to said endmost container at least for a period of time after filling of said endmost container is complete, thereby enabling ready detachment of the filled endmost container from said continuous supply along the tear-line separating said endmost and said next adjacent containers, to leave said filling station free for receipt of said next adjacent container.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a single fan means together with appropriate ducting constitutes both the suction means and the blowing means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 77 words

An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising a photoelectric cell positioned to sense the passage of "eye"-marks formed on the respective flexible fillable containers, and an electrical control circuit including the said photoelectric cell and adapted to control at least one of the suction means, the blowing means and the advancing means in accordance with the passage of an "eye"-mark past the said photoelectric cell, whereby the apparatus is adapted to operate semi-automatically.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 113 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the suction means comprises a conveyor belt provided with a plurality of suction apertures, and means for creating a suction effect on one side of the said conveyor belt; said conveyor belt forming at least part of said surface, and the advancing means being operable to advance the free end of the supply to bring the leading endmost flexible fillable container of the continuous length supply into confronting relation with the other side of the said conveyor belt at said filling station; and wherein movement of the conveyor belt is controlled in sync with operation of the means for creating a suction effect and the blowing means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the blowing means includes ducting opening beneath a support surface on which a filling material may be located for insertion into the opening of the said endmost flexible fillable container while said container is held at said filling station by the suction means and held open by the stream of air issuing from the blowing means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 165 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, particularly adapted for use with flexible fillable containers of the self-seal type, being provided with a portion thereof defining a flap adjacent the said opening which flap is adapted to be brought into confronting relation with a strip of pressure sensitive adhesive provided on the face of the flexible fillable container adjacent the opening thereof, thereby to close the said container, the strip of pressure sensitive adhesive being protected from inadvertant adhesion to the continuous length supply by a protective strip; and wherein the apparatus includes a winding spool adapted to receive a continuous length of protective strip as such strip is removed to expose the pressure sensitive adhesive as the continuous length supply advances through the apparatus, the winding spool being coupled to a winding motor adapted to operate under restricted amperage, whereby to stall, ensuring that the protective strip is held in tension and is wound onto the spool as and when the continuous length supply is advanced.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

Apparatus according to claim 1, further including a hot-foil printing machine adapted to operate in sync with the advancement of bags or envelopes through the apparatus for printing selected indicia onto the respective said bags or envelopes.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 63 words

Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the said support surface slopes downwardly for feeding said filling material into the openings of successive said endmost containers by gravity; and wherein an automatic hopper arrangement is disposed above the said sloping support surface for delivering said filling material in sequence to the sloping support surface in sync with the advancement of the continuous length supply.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 249 words

A method of filling a flexible fillable container selected from the group consisting of preformed bags and envelopes with a filling selected from the group consisting of items to be packaged, correspondence and like mailable material, the method comprising: drawing a leading endmost preformed flexible fillable container of a continuous length supply over a surface to a filling station, said continuous length supply comprising a series of similar preformed such containers each separated from its respective neighbour(s) by a tear-line allowing detachment of the said leading endmost container from the continuous length supply, each such container being open at one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for the insertion thereinto of a said filling; holding the said leading endmost flexible fillable container in a predetermined position and selected orientation at said filling station by applying suction to one side thereof; inserting the said filling into the open mouth of said leading endmost container as the same is held open by blowing air thereinto while the said leading endmost container is held by said suction; clamping the leading edge of the flexible fillable container next adjacent in said continuous supply to said endmost container at a position immediately upstream of said filling station at least for a period of time after said insertion is complete; and detaching the filled leading endmost container from said continuous supply along the tear-line separating said endmost and said next adjacent containers while the leading edge of said next adjacent container is so clamped.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 249 words

A method of filling a flexible fillable container selected from the group consisting of preformed bags and envelopes with a filling selected from the group consisting of items to be packaged, correspondence and like mailable material, the method comprising: drawing a leading endmost preformed flexible fillable container of a continuous length supply over a surface to a filling station, said continuous length supply comprising a series of similar preformed such containers each separated from its respective neighbour(s) by a tear-line allowing detachment of the said leading endmost container from the continuous length supply, each such container being open at one marginal edge of the continuous length supply for the insertion thereinto of a said filling; holding the said leading endmost flexible fillable container in a predetermined position and selected orientation at said filling station by applying suction to one side thereof; inserting the said filling into the open mouth of said leading endmost container as the same is held open by blowing air thereinto while the said leading endmost container is held by said suction; clamping the leading edge of the flexible fillable container next adjacent in said continuous supply to said endmost container at a position immediately upstream of said filling station at least for a period of time after said insertion is complete; and detaching the filled leading endmost container from said continuous supply along the tear-line separating said endmost and said next adjacent containers while the leading edge of said next adjacent container is so clamped.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

A method according to claim 9, in which selected indicia is printed onto the appropriate number of respective said flexible fillable containers by means of a hot-foil printing machine operated in sync with the advancement of said containers.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 15 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein the continuous length supply comprises a continuous roll.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein the continuous length supply comprises a stack of similar said flexible fillable containers each separated from its respective neighbours by a tear-line allowing detachment of the leading endmost container from the free end of the supply, the stack being folded in fanfold fashion along the tear-lines.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein a single fan provides both said suction and said blowing.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method according to claim 13, wherein the respective bags or envelopes are provided with "eye"-marks thereon for passage past a photoelectric cell connected in an electrical control circuit for controlling operation of the fan.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 46 words

A method according to claim 13, wherein the suction is applied through a plurality of suction apertures formed in a conveyor belt on which the leading endmost flexible fillable container is conveyed, movement of which conveyor belt is controlled in sync with operation of the fan.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 59 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein the step of inserting the filling into the open mouth of said flexible fillable containers at said filling station is achieved by operating an automatic hopper arrangement provided with a sloping discharge path into said open mouth, the hopper arrangement being operated in sync with the advancement of the continuous length supply.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 95 words

A method according to claim 9, wherein the flexible fillable containers are of the self-sealed type having a pressure sensitive adhesive strip provided on the face thereof adjacent the respective openings of the said containers protected from inadvertant adhesion to the continuous length supply by a protective strip; and wherein the protective strip is wound onto a spool as the continuous length supply is advanced, enabling a flap adjacent the opening of the leading endmost said container to be closed into confronting sealing relation with the pressure sensitive adhesive after filling of the said container.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1986-07-18	1987-01-17	1987-07-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1990-07-18	1991-01-17	1991-07-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1994-07-18	1995-01-17	1995-07-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for handling and filling bags or envelopes

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