Magazine Patents (Class 53/571)
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Patent number: 11345500Abstract: An item packaging system can position and prepare a package for receiving one or more items. The package can be received by the system in a storage orientation and stored in a storage container. A picking assembly can be positioned above the storage container in a picking orientation and pick and rotate the package to a loading orientation. A gripper can grip the package in the loading orientation and transport the package to a loading station for loading the one or more items into the interior of the shipping receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.Inventors: William Scott Kalm, Kushal Patel
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Patent number: 10947653Abstract: A material web fixing device is used as part of a filter bag manufacturing installation. A material web transport device is used to transport at least two material webs, which fixed together at a distance from one another by at least one fixing seam, along a transport direction. A plurality of sewing units each have stitch forming tools configured as a sewing needle and a looper which interact with a thread. The material webs can be passed through between said stitch forming tools in the transport direction. An excess thread production unit is used to lengthen a thread path between the material webs. The excess thread production unit is arranged between the material webs in the thread run during operation. As a result, a material web fixing device is obtained, which allows filter bags to be produced with larger bag openings, particularly with larger opening extensions between the material webs.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2017Date of Patent: March 16, 2021Assignee: PFAFF Industriesysteme und Maschinen GmbHInventors: Frank Koschnick, Berthold Becker
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Patent number: 10919658Abstract: A facility for the automated opening of a carrier and for the provision of the carrier in loading and transport aids, the facility including a carrier feed appliance for feeding flatly closed carrier to a holder of a first conveying appliance, and a first conveying appliance for conveying the flatly closed carrier, which are held the holder, to a carrier opening appliance. The carrier opening appliance opens the flatly closed carrier. A merging appliance brings the carrier into the loading and transport aids. A second conveying appliance transports away the loading and transport aids with the opened carriers, which are arranged in the loading and transport aids.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: FERAG AGInventor: Othmar Brunschwiler
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Patent number: 10889390Abstract: Automatic packaging machine (3) for filling a bag (1) made of heat-sealable material, having an open upper end (2) with a dose of loose product; the packaging machine (3) has: a packaging conveyor (4); a pick-up head (7), which is supported by the packaging conveyor (4) to advance along a packaging path (P1); an input station (S1) where the empty bag (1) is grabbed by the pick-up head (7); an output station (S2) where the full, sealed bag (1) leaves the pick-up head (7); a filling device (18) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to supply the dose of product inside the bag (1) through the upper open end (2); and a sealing device (19) that is mounted on the packaging conveyor (4) to move together with the pick-up head (7) along the entire packaging path (P1) and is adapted to seal the full bag (1) through a heat-seal at the open upper end (2).Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: VOLPAK. S.A.U.Inventors: Andrea Biondi, Umberto Zanetti, Sauro Uccellari, Silvio Quaglia
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Patent number: 10676224Abstract: A packaging machine includes: a linear type conveyance unit conveying a bag linearly in a first direction; a rotary type conveyance unit conveying the bag rotationally in a second direction; a delivery unit delivering the bag between the linear type and the rotary type conveyance units; a first processing system performing processing on the bag conveyed by the linear type conveyance unit; and a second processing system performing processing on the bag conveyed by the rotary type conveyance unit, wherein: the linear type conveyance unit includes: a first supporting unit moving from a first conveyance position to a second conveyance position while supporting the bag in a suspended state; and a second supporting unit which receives the bag from the first supporting unit at the second conveyance position and supports the bag in a suspended state, and the second processing system includes an opening processing unit.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2016Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD.Inventor: Kakue Nakamoto
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Patent number: 9915559Abstract: This invention relates generally to electronics, mechanics, and software, and more specifically, to systems and methods for wirelessly monitoring a brochure box. In one embodiment, the invention includes an apparatus that provides for remote content monitoring, the apparatus including a receptacle, the receptacle configurable to storing content; and a sensor node, the sensor node disposed proximate to the receptacle, the sensor node associated with a unique identifier, the sensor node configurable to monitor the existence of any stored content, the sensor node configurable to transmit a signal containing the unique identifier to a remote device, the signal being any of a cellular, satellite, and wireless network signal.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Inventor: Jaime Radcliff
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Patent number: 9352860Abstract: Rotary packaging machine and method for filling open-mouth bags with multiple filling units disposed over the circumference and rotating along, each of which having a filling spout with a filling opening to which the open-mouth bags can be appended by way of a motion oriented upwardly relative to the filling spout. A handling unit configured as a take-over device is provided for taking over the filled open-mouth bags from the filling units and comprises a gripping arm with a gripping unit provided thereat. The gripping arm is rotatingly disposed at the take-over device. The gripping unit is pivotally disposed at the gripping arm for performing relative to the gripping arm a pivoting motion superimposed on the gripping arm rotation.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: HAVER & BOECKER OHGInventors: Willi Vollenkemper, Frank Waltermann
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Patent number: 9346568Abstract: Rotary packaging machine and method for filling open-mouth bags with multiple filling units disposed over the circumference and rotating along, each of which having a filling spout with a bottom filling opening, wherein the open-mouth bags can be appended by way of a motion oriented upwardly relative to the filling spout. A transfer device for transferring the open-mouth bags intended for filling to the filling units is provided. The transfer device comprises a gripping arm including a gripping unit provided thereat. The gripping arm is rotatingly disposed at the transfer device. A longitudinal speed of the longitudinal motion of the gripping arm is temporarily adapted to a peripheral speed of the circumferential motion of the filling spouts.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2012Date of Patent: May 24, 2016Assignee: HAVER & BOECKER OHGInventors: Michael Korte, Frank Waltermann, Christian Westarp
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Patent number: 9010073Abstract: The main objective of this invention is a Mobile plant for dosing, mixing and packaging of powdery products, characterized because it is comprised of a carrying structure and several areas for: reception and weighing, loading, mixing, sack filling, sewing and labelling, metal detection, palletizing and cleaning. This invention is included within the industrial plants technical sector of manufacturing and mixing of powdery products.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Inversiones HIK16, S.L.Inventors: Henrik Stamm Kristensen, M. Maravillas Martinez Lopez
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Publication number: 20150052858Abstract: A cassette for dispensing bags from an elongated tubing comprising an annular receptacle accommodating a length of tubing in an accumulated condition. An annular opening at an upper end of the annular receptacle is for dispensing the tubing. The annular receptacle defines a central opening through which a knotted end of the tubing passes to form a bag supported by the annular receptacle with disposable objects passing through the circular central opening to be received in the bag, and a clearance only at a bottom of the central opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2014Publication date: February 26, 2015Inventor: Michel MORAND
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Patent number: 8959880Abstract: A film-supporting device is used with a waste-disposal unit. The device comprises an annular body. The annular body has an annular wall. The inward radial surface of the wall defines a central opening of the body. The outline of the central opening in a transverse plane of the device has variable diametrical dimensions with a first diameter of greater dimension than the second diameter. The outline has two of the first diameter of generally equal dimension and two of the second diameter of generally equal dimension. The device has tubular film about an outward radial surface of the annular body. A free annular end is dispensed outwardly from the annular wall. The free annular end is closed to form a bag. The opening of the bag is accessible through the central opening and is of optimized shape via the central opening for the disposal of waste. A method for disposing of waste on a scooping tool is also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: International Refills Company LimitedInventor: Michel Morand
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Patent number: 8938935Abstract: The invention comprises a system for encasing material in one of a stretchable bag and a shrinkable bag. The system comprises a pair of product horns rotatable in a plane from a first position to a second position; a stretchable-bag system comprising a bag carriage unit; a shrinkable-bag system, comprising a pair of pulling rollers mounted under the product horns and a collection roller mounted adjacent the pulling rollers, the collection roller configured to move a predetermined increment, a product ram configured to move material between the product horns and into one of a stretchable bag and a shrinkable bag, and an air jet for opening the bags.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2007Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: Poly-Clip System Corp.Inventors: Eggo Haschke, Robert Pinto
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Patent number: 8770381Abstract: A bread conveying apparatus includes a pair of rolling members spaced apart from each other along a loaf bread conveying path, an endless revolving member wound around the pair of rolling members and laid along the conveying path, a first flight mounted to the endless revolving member to urge the loaf bread along the conveying path and carry the loaf bread to a predetermined position, and a second flight mounted to the endless revolving member upstream of the first flight along the conveying path to urge the loaf bread so as to align the loaf bread with the predetermined position.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Oshikiri Machinery Ltd.Inventors: Nobuhiro Suzuki, Shuichi Iribe, Michinori Watanabe, Seiichi Akutsu
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Publication number: 20140075896Abstract: A displacement device responsible for preparing the bag for its installation at a filling point (or second location) of packaging equipment. The displacement device grabs the bag from the pick-up location (or stack) (from which first position and orientation parameters have been previously measured), displaces the bag while measuring second position and orientation parameters of the bag, adjusting the operation and displacement of the displacement device for displacing and installing the bag on the filling point; at the same time, the measurement of the next bag first position and orientation parameters is done to adjust the operation and displacement of the displacement device for grabbing the next bag on the stack. Such a double location evaluation, which is concomitant on two different bags, allows savings in processing time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2012Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: PREMIER TECH TECHNOLOGIES LTEEInventors: Andre Albert, Steeve Santerre
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Publication number: 20130255194Abstract: An ice bagging system and method according to which ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a first source of bags, and ice is automatically disposed in respective bags provided from a second source of bags.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Reddy Ice CorporationInventor: Mark C. Metzger
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Patent number: 8272409Abstract: Empty, flat folded storage bags which may be valve bags are prepared for filling with a flowable material, by seating and stacking a plurality of the bags on a fixed elevation base within a chamber of a bag holding magazine assembly, the resulting stack defining an initial stack rising from a lowermost one the bags on the base to an uppermost one of the bags. In a first cycle of operation, all but the lowermost bag is raised away from the base, the raised bags defining a depleted stack of bags. Then, while the depleted stack remains raised, the lowermost bag is removed from the chamber through a chamber outlet opening. Then, the depleted stack is lowered to seat a new lowermost bag on the base to complete first cycle. The cycle is repeated for each lowermost bag.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2011Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: Target Products Ltd.Inventors: Vincent Rody Manzon, Jeffery Franklin Boyne, Ryan Stewart Maw, Stephen Douglas Erdman
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Publication number: 20120192527Abstract: Empty, flat folded storage bags which may be valve bags are prepared for filling with a flowable material, by seating and stacking a plurality of the bags on a fixed elevation base within a chamber of a bag holding magazine assembly, the resulting stack defining an initial stack rising from a lowermost one the bags on the base to an uppermost one of the bags. In a first cycle of operation, all but the lowermost bag is raised away from the base, the raised bags defining a depleted stack of bags. Then, while the depleted stack remains raised, the lowermost bag is removed from the chamber through a chamber outlet opening. Then, the depleted stack is lowered to seat a new lowermost bag on the base to complete first cycle. The cycle is repeated for each lowermost bag.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2011Publication date: August 2, 2012Inventors: Vincent Rody Manzon, Jeffery Franklin Boyne, Ryan Stewart Maw, Stephen Douglas Erdman
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Publication number: 20120111449Abstract: A bag sealer and an ice vending machine using the same are provided. The ice vending machine includes an ice making module, an ice storage bin, a bag sealer, and an ice guiding mechanism. The ice storage bin is located below the ice making module and used for storing the ice manufactured from the ice making module. The ice guiding mechanism is disposed between the ice storage bin and the bag sealer. The ice guiding mechanism is used for guiding the ice from the ice storage bin into the bag sealer. Because a cutting tool of the bag sealer is using the first electrothermal element to cut the roll of the plastic bags, the bag sealer can be installed in the ice vending machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2011Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventor: Yung-Shung HSU
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Publication number: 20110271645Abstract: A bag loading apparatus for removably supporting a cartridge of wicketed bags. The bag loading apparatus comprises a front slider plate having a wicket slot therein. The wicket slot is adapted to receive and removably retain the wicket arms of a cartridge of wicketed bags. In an embodiment, a second slider plate is spaced apart from the front slider plate. In an additional embodiment, a wicket retaining arm retains the cartridge of wicketed in bags in place. In a further embodiment, a bag retaining means holds each bag in an open position as it is being filled.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2011Publication date: November 10, 2011Applicant: PACKING HOUSE SERVICES, INC.Inventors: Todd D. Odman, Alberto Soto
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Patent number: 8001747Abstract: An apparatus (100) for forming and filling flexible bags with a viscous product, said apparatus including: a support (104) for a supply (106) of a tubular web (108) of flexible packaging material; at least one guide (110) for accepting from said supply a continuous feed of the tubular web of packaging material; a bag forming (300) assembly for forming adjacent bags from the tubular web wherein the forming assembly further includes a sealing member (305) for providing a seal across the web, which seal is commonly formed along oblique edges of the adjacent bags; at least one drive mechanism (150) for griping and drawing the packaging material through said at least one guide; a cutting device for cutting first and second bags drawn from the supply, wherein the first bags are each adjacent to respective second bags; a plurality of transport carriages (210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), said carriages including a gripping means (270) being arranged to grip and carry first and second bags; a plurality of filling deviceType: GrantFiled: August 12, 2005Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Kencan Australasia Pty Ltd.Inventors: Derrick Pluckrose, Richard James Bacchus, Richard James Aislabie, Chris Robert Hall, Hugh Leslie Hall
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Patent number: 7950205Abstract: Pouches are provided to the user of an automated pouch handling apparatus in a pouch container. The pouches are oriented the same way in the box. The box may be sealed to prevent pouch contamination. A door on the box is opened or removed to define a door opening. A portion of the pouch stack is accessible through the opening. These pouch containers may be stacked near a pouch handling apparatus where the operator may open the door and load the pouch containers directly into the pouch handling apparatus. The pouch handling apparatus removes the pouches directly from the pouch container through the door opening. The apparatus may include a pouch separator that bends the edge of the pouch out through the door and slides the first pouch away from the second pouch.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Inventor: Anthony H. Gates
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Patent number: 7527079Abstract: Apparatus for delivering a plurality of containers to a plurality of filling machines for filling of the containers with a substance. The apparatus includes a feeding assembly including a first staging area aligned with a first filling machine of the plurality of filling machines for facilitating delivery of containers of the plurality of containers from the first staging area to the first filling machine, a second staging area aligned with a second filling machine of the plurality of filling machines for facilitating delivery of containers of the plurality of containers from the second staging area to the second filling machine, and a receiving area adjacent a supply of the plurality of containers. The feeding assembly is configured to move containers of the plurality of containers from the receiving area to the first staging area and to move containers of the plurality of containers from the receiving area to the second staging area.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2005Date of Patent: May 5, 2009Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.Inventors: Christopher Stephan Wadium, David Loyd Sorensen, Jeffrey Edward Kopish, Benjamin Bradly Petersen, R. Phillip Vanausdal, Kenneth David Goodworth
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Patent number: 7509792Abstract: A device for opening flexible containers, comprising a first gripping assembly (3, 4) active on a first portion of a container and second gripping assembly (5) active on a second portion of the container which faces the first portion and co-operating with the first gripping assembly (3, 4) to move the first and second portion away from each other. In operative conditions, the container is interposed between the first and second gripping assemblies (3, 4; 5). The second gripping assembly (5) is movable between at least one operative configuration in which the container is interposed between the first and second gripping assemblies (3, 4; 5) and at least one resting configuration in which the container is not interposed between the first and second gripping assemblies (3, 4; 5), as a consequence of a movement of the second gripping assemblies (5). In particular, the first and second gripping assemblies comprise suction cups (3, 4; 5).Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2004Date of Patent: March 31, 2009Assignee: Indag Gesellschaft fur Industriebedarf mbH & Co. Betriebs KGInventor: Filippo Furlotti
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Patent number: 7484923Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the individual production of rigid containers that are open on one side, such as cones or cups, by inserting the containers into dimensionally stable individually produced sleeves which are matched to their external contour. The containers are transported through by a transport apparatus having a plurality of transport tracks lying beside one another under a discharge apparatus, which deposits the sleeves in the transport tracks. The discharge apparatus includes a support provided with discharge channels extending obliquely downward for the bar-shaped stacks of sleeves, a holding apparatus disposed downstream of the support, for the stacks of sleeves, and a transfer apparatus having a carriage which is provided with suction heads, can be moved back and forth above the transport tracks and draws the sleeves off the stacks of sleeves with its suction heads and deposits them on the transport tracks.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2005Date of Patent: February 3, 2009Assignee: Franz Haas Waffel - und Keksanlagen -Industrie GmbHInventors: Johann Haas, Stefan Jiraschek, Josef Haas, Jr., Norbert Drapela, Gottfried Stilling
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Publication number: 20080264003Abstract: Supply device for bags, a frame, at least one elongated carrier means for bags that extends in a longitudinal direction and at one end is attached to the frame and of which the opposite end is free, first and second contact means that are disposed on a holder and by means of first transport means are reciprocally movable in a first direction of movement along the carrier, and third contact means that are movably connected to the frame, wherein the first, second and third contact means are suitable for engaging a wall of the bag in a retaining manner, wherein at least in a first direction of movement of the first transport means the first and second contact means have operative directions that face away from each other in the longitudinal direction, and the second and third contact means have operative directions that mutually face each other, wherein the supply device is furthermore provided with second transport means for moving the holder up and down out of and towards the first direction of movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2005Publication date: October 30, 2008Inventors: Arie Van Der Knijff, Gerard Cornelis Van Der Knijff, Klaas Nico Bredenhoff
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Patent number: 7363753Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the first pouch from a stack of pouches includes apparatus adapted to bend an edge of the first pouch away from the second pouch of a stack to define a bent edge and a bend in the first pouch. The first pouch is then slid away from the second pouch to remove the first pouch from the plurality of adjacent pouches. This method allows the first pouch to be reliably separated from the second pouch by overcoming the various forces that typically cause adjacent pouches to cling to each other while stacked together.Type: GrantFiled: January 19, 2006Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.Inventors: Anthony H. Gates, Scott E. Gates
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Patent number: 7328540Abstract: A product bagger and method where products are placed in inflated lead bags on a bag assembly without actuating a sensor for shutting down the bagger.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: Greydon, IncInventor: Gregory P. Rochon
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Patent number: 7320204Abstract: There are disclosed by a process and apparatus for positioning and sealing photostimuable phosphor imaging plates within barriers envelope blanks therefore and formed on a roll thereof wherein a barrier envelope blank including a U-shaped heat sealed portion thereof of such roll is indexed to a positioning station whereat the barrier envelope blank is caused to be opened at a free end thereof thereby permitting insertion of a restored imaging plate into such barrier envelope whereupon the barrier envelope including restored imaging plate is indexed to a station whereat heat sealing of the free end of the U-shaped heat sealed is effected to thereby enclose the restored imaging plate therein and thereafter the thus heat sealed barrier envelope is indexed to a product station for removal from the roll of barrier envelope blanks.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2006Date of Patent: January 22, 2008Assignee: Air Techniques, Inc.Inventors: Edgar Alzner, Henry Hubner, Yehuda Rosenstock, John Sylvester
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Patent number: 7194849Abstract: An apparatus for opening bags lying flat is part of a packaging system having a conveyor system, with receiving cups, located at equal intervals, for the bags. The bags are kept on hand in the form of blanks lying flat in bag magazines and are taken from the bags by means of a bag extracting device. By means of a gripper device, the blanks reach the region of suction plates, which open the blanks and insert them into the receiving cups. The apparatus according to the invention makes high capacity with a relatively simple construction possible.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2005Date of Patent: March 27, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Rainer Komp
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Patent number: 7162852Abstract: A device for filling stand-alone flat-bottom bags with opposing side edges and a bottom, in particular filling them with liquid including a filling carousel which can rotate about a vertical axis and which has a plurality of holders for one bag each provided on its circumference. The filling carousel has a bag feeding station, a bag opening station, a filling station and a removal station as well as a sealing station. To optimize the filling device and in particular to achieve a higher throughput, a magazine for prefabricated bags and a feeding carousel for the bags is provided in the bag feeding station, containing a plurality of holding devices for one bag each whereby the holding devices can be driven to rotate about a common axis in order to remove each bag individually from the magazine and transfer it continuously to a holder of the filling carousel.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2003Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: Krones AGInventor: Erich Eder
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Patent number: 7013625Abstract: A bagging assembly for use with a bale bagging apparatus is disclosed. The bale bagging apparatus includes a frame assembly, a bale stuffer, and a bale chute. The bagging assembly includes a carriage frame having a first and a second side rail, a pivot end, and a movable end. The pivot end is mounted adjacent the bale chute and the movable end is secured to the frame assembly. A first and a second carriage assembly are movably mounted on the first and the second side rails and each includes an upper and a lower bagger arm that are configured to open simultaneously. A pincher assembly is supported by the upper bagger arms and the lower bagger arms. The pincher assembly is configured to grasp portions of a bale bag, thereby causing the bale bag to open as the upper and lower bagger arms are opened simultaneously.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2004Date of Patent: March 21, 2006Assignee: CTC Design, Inc.Inventor: Curtis Thomas Curles
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Patent number: 7003931Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: Gates AutomationInventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
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Patent number: 6976350Abstract: A bag presenter for moving a bag from a bag supply toward a packaging machine filling station, the bag presenter comprising: a bag supply holding area, a gripper for holding a bag in the filling station and a bag handler for moving the bag from the holding area toward the gripper, the bag handler including a bag feeder and a bag conveyor, the bag feeder being operable to pull a bag from a bottom of the bag supply holding area and to pass the bag to the bag conveyor. The bag handler can include a bag opening mechanism and a means for maintaining the bag in an open configuration, once the bag has been opened. The bag presenter is useful for handling non-wicketed bags and can be used to convert a packaging machine from reliance on wicketed bags to use of non-wicketed bags.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Assignee: Boss Packaging Inc.Inventors: Douglas Christian Greening, Authur Stephen Withington, Ralph Enzler
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Patent number: 6931817Abstract: An automatic grocery bag opener automatically opens plastic and polyethylene bags with forced air in produce departments and at checkout counters of grocery stores. Bags are held in position from any of several different types of hangers on the front of the enclosure. The outside bag is forced and held open by the forced airstream from the air supply. The bag can then be filled with the grocery items. Once the bag is filled, it is removed from the hangers and the next bag is automatically blown and held open. As long as the motion sensor sees movement, the blower stays on. If no movement is seen by the motion sensor, the motion sensor ends an electric signal, thus turning off the blower. In turn, if the motion sensor sees a motion, an electric signal is sent to the blower and turns the bagger back on.Type: GrantFiled: June 24, 2002Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Inventor: Dale Reed
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Patent number: 6920736Abstract: According to the present invention, a goods-wrapping apparatus for wrapping a particular article of a plurality of articles, includes: a goods storing section operable to store the plurality of articles; a goods carrying in/out section operable to carry in the articles into the goods storing section and carry out the article from the goods storing section; a printer operable to print a printing content associated with the particular article onto a printing medium based on the particular article; and a wrapping section operable to wrap the particular article carried out from the goods carrying in/out section with the printing medium onto which the printing content associated with the particular article has been printed.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2003Date of Patent: July 26, 2005Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takao Miyazaki
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Patent number: 6868655Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
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Patent number: 6823654Abstract: A bag filling and sealing machine includes a bag holder, a bag opening and filling station, and a sealing station. The bag holder holds wicketed bags in a manner that allows the bags to be easily torn from the holder. A funnel assembly successively opens each bag, tears the bag from the bag holder, fills the bag with material, and releases the bag to a grabber assembly. The grabber assembly engages the sides of the bag while the bag is attached to a funnel assembly and later pulls the sides of the bag away from each other so that the top of the bag is closed and ready to seal when the bag is delivered to a sealing apparatus. The grabber assembly moves in a manner so as to minimize the lost height when moving from the filling station to the sealing station.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: Gates Automation, Inc.Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
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Publication number: 20040226260Abstract: A bag supply device receives large bags are retained in a stacked state on its mounting portions that are provided on chains. In addition, this bag supply device includes a horizontal support mechanism that supports the rear portion of the stacked large bags so that they can be raised and lowered in order to retain an uppermost surface of an uppermost large bag in a horizontal posture at a discharge position. The chains and the mounting portions are disposed such that the rear portion of the large bags hangs down. The horizontal support mechanism includes a roller that moves along the transport direction, and the uppermost large bag will be retained in a horizontal posture by moving the roller to support the rear portion of the large bags from below.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.Inventors: Yuji Yokota, Seisaku Iwasa, Yuichiro Minakuchi
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Patent number: 6755008Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging articles in bags is proposed, where a packaging magazine is used for receiving and guiding an article to be packaged. An article to be packaged is slid by a slider into the packaging magazine. The packaging magazine then moves together therewith into an opened bag, which is removed from a bag stack. With the bag, which surrounds the packaging magazine, the latter is then slid into the transfer magazine from where further conveying takes place.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Optima Filling and Packaging Machines GmbHInventors: Dietmar Schmetzer, Klaus Griessmayr
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Publication number: 20040103619Abstract: Automated apparatus for filling of a bag with a loose commodity comprises a bag filling station for dispensing commodity into a bag; a wicket for feeding a stacked and interconnected array of empty bags; and a conveyor for removing filled bags from the filling station. Reciprocating clamps grip the open mouths of the filled bags, and transfer the filled bags away from the filling station, with a subsequent bag being drawn into appropriate position for filling by means of the connection formed between the contacting bags.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Applicants: Alberta Sunflower Seeds Ltd., Systematic Design Services Ltd.Inventors: Thomas W. Droog, Stephen A. Withington, Douglas Greening
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Patent number: 6739114Abstract: A feminine hygiene disposal unit for sanitary receipt and disposal of used sanitary products. The unit has a disposal bag dispenser, at least one disposal bag, a receptacle, and a liner for the receptacle. This liner having a lid flap having an opening therethrough, this lid flap being supported through use of a pair of sandwiching flanges for sandwiching the lid flap in a generally horizontal orientation.Type: GrantFiled: April 16, 2002Date of Patent: May 25, 2004Inventor: Kristin M. Shaffer
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Patent number: 6672038Abstract: A bag manipulating method and assembly including a pair of bag grippers that receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station. The bag grippers are movable in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station. The bag manipulating assembly also includes upper and lower bag spreader assemblies, each having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag. Preferably, the bag grippers move toward each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis while the bag is being spread apart to facilitate opening the bag. To facilitate closing and sealing the bag, the bag grippers move away from each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis after the bag has been filled.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: OPTIMA Machinery CorporationInventors: Thomas W. McGrane, Ronald R. Parsons, Gerald L. Townsend, Stefan Schabel
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Patent number: 6658821Abstract: A bag loading method and assembly including a bag tray for holding a stack of bags and a conveyor assembly positioned above the bag tray. The conveyor assembly is movable between a first position, where the conveyor assembly engages a bag, and a second position, where the conveyor assembly is inclined with respect to the bag tray. Preferably, the conveyor assembly includes first and second rollers, a body portion between the first and second rollers, at least one vacuum generator communicating with the body portion for providing vacuum to the conveyor assembly, and an endless belt encircling portions of the rollers and the body portion. The endless belt engages the bag from the bag tray when the conveyor assembly is in the first position, and moves the bag to a position where the bag can be opened and filled when the conveyor assembly is in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: December 9, 2003Assignee: Optima Machinery CorporationInventor: Gerald L. Townsend
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Patent number: 6651407Abstract: A bag supplying device including a conveying arm that has a fixed clamping element and a movable clamping element, a reciprocating-rotating assembly that causes the conveying arm to make a back-and-forth rotational movement between a downwardly-facing clamping position and a substantially horizontal intermediate position, a slide frame on which the rotational shaft is rotatably supported, a reciprocating movement assembly that reciprocates the slide frame horizontally so that the conveying arm advances toward and retracts from a transfer position (where bags are transferred) to a gripper, and an opening-and-closing assembly that opens and closes the movable clamping element. With the bag mouth of an empty bag clamped by the clamping element, the conveying arm rotates upward and then advances to the transfer position, then the movable clamping element opens so as to transfer the empty bag, which is in a vertical attitude, to the gripper.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinichi Hiramoto, Sumio Fukuda
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Publication number: 20030205033Abstract: Apparatus for loading packages into a bag is disclosed. The apparatus comprises at least one first suction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag which extends generally vertically downwardly from the first suction cup, a feeding station operable to store bags in a generally horizontal position, a transfer arm, at least one transfer arm suction cup operable, when vacuum is supplied thereto, to support one side of a bag, and means for moving the transfer arm suction cup longitudinally of the transfer arm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2001Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventor: Wayne Schmucker
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Publication number: 20030154692Abstract: A packaging method and assembly includes a bag loading assembly operable to load single sized bags into a loading station at a plurality of distances and a cutter assembly operable to cut the single sized bag to a desired size. A bag manipulating assembly operable to open the bag to allow a package to be inserted into the bag and to seal the bag after the package has been inserted into the bag. The packaging method and assembly also preferably includes a tail remover that removes the cut tail of the bag from the packaging assembly.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2001Publication date: August 21, 2003Applicant: OPTIMA Machinery CorporationInventors: Ron Parsons, Gerald Townsend
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Publication number: 20030131560Abstract: A bag holder holds a plurality of bags having spaced mounting holes formed in a top flange. The bag holder may be used with any of a variety of bag handling machines. The bag holder includes a frame member having a front, a rear, a top, and a bottom; a pair of pull-off hooks connected to the frame member; each of the pull-off hooks extending from the front surface of the frame member and under the bottom of the frame member; and a pair of rods each having a first end and a second end; the first end of each rod being connected to one of the pull-off hooks; each rod extending in a direction away from the rear of the frame member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2003Publication date: July 17, 2003Inventors: George C. Gates, Rod S. Gates
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Publication number: 20030041567Abstract: A packaging bag having a body portion with opposed sides, a bottom and a top formed of a pair of synthetic sheets. The sides of the bag are formed by securing the overlying edges of the synthetic sheets together by stitching. The bottom is formed by securing bottom edges of the synthetic sheets together with a heat sealed seam and the top is formed to include a panel of a re-sealable member secured with the top edge of each of the synthetic sheets. The opposed edges of the panels are releasable engagable providing a bag which is selectively opened and closed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2001Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventor: Neal Patrick Ferris
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Publication number: 20020124533Abstract: An apparatus and a method for packaging articles in bags is proposed, where a packaging magazine is used for receiving and guiding an article to be packaged. An article to be packaged is slid by a slider into the packaging magazine. The packaging magazine then moves together therewith into an opened bag, which is removed from a bag stack. With the bag, which surrounds the packaging magazine, the latter is then slid into the transfer magazine from where further conveying takes place.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2002Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventors: Dietmar Schmetzer, Klaus Griessmayr
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Publication number: 20020121073Abstract: A bag manipulating method and assembly including a pair of bag grippers that receive and grip opposing side edges of a bag positioned in a loading station. The bag grippers are movable in a plane substantially normal to a longitudinal axis of the loading station. The bag manipulating assembly also includes upper and lower bag spreader assemblies, each having a suction cup to apply suction to the bag and a spreader plate that is insertable into the bag and movable to spread apart the bag. Preferably, the bag grippers move toward each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis while the bag is being spread apart to facilitate opening the bag. To facilitate closing and sealing the bag, the bag grippers move away from each other in a plane substantially normal to the longitudinal axis after the bag has been filled.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2001Publication date: September 5, 2002Applicant: OPTIMA Machinery CorporationInventors: Thomas W. McGrane, Ronald R. Parsons, Gerald L. Townsend, Stefan Schabel