Hollow Forming Mandrel Or Plunger Patents (Class 53/575)
  • Patent number: 8511048
    Abstract: An automated method for forming a packaged good article includes establishing a continuous path of travel for a mandrel. The mandrel defines an open interior between a package side and a loading side. With the mandrel at a first angle, a packaging material is wrapped about the mandrel at a first station along the path of travel to define a partial package. Product is dispensed into the partial package at a second station. With the mandrel at the second angle, the partial package and the mandrel are separated from one another at a third station. The first angle of the mandrel (at the first station) differs from the second angle of the mandrel (at the third station). The partial package is closed to form a packaged good article. In some embodiments, the mandrel is horizontal at the first station and is vertical at the third station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: Brenton L. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130139480
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for producing a pack (20) from a packaging-material web, comprising a forming tube (2), a filling tube (11), which runs, in part, through the forming tube, a forming shoulder (3), which is arranged on the forming tube (2) and is A intended for forming a flexible enveloping tube, a folding means (7), which is arranged downstream of the forming shoulder (3), as seen in the conveying direction (A) of the flexible enveloping tube, and a sealing means (6) with a multiplicity of sealing units (6a, 6b), which are arranged downstream of the folding means (7), as seen in the conveying direction (A) of the flexible enveloping tube, wherein the forming tube (2) has a first diameter (D1) and in the filling tube (11) has a second diameter (D2) wherein the first diameter (D1) is greater than the second diameter (D2), wherein the folding means (7) is arranged at the end has first of the forming tube (2) and wherein the folding means (7) has a parabola-form folding element (8) in order t
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Slenders
  • Patent number: 8353147
    Abstract: A vertical form, fill and seal machine in conjunction with a product supply apparatus provides a continuous, heat sealable plastic film and zipper tape and provides separate, product filled, reclosable, top opening sealed bags. The apparatus includes a means for supplying the continuous plastic film, a means for supplying zipper tape, a means for sealing the zipper tape sections to the film, a vertical fill tube assembly, a feeding means including a film drive roll upstream, film pull belts adjacent the vertical fill tube, a vertical sealing means for sealing the edges of the continuous film to the edges of the continuous zippered cap strip, a horizontal sealing, perforating, and severing means for severing the plastic tube between the first and second horizontal seals, and a tensioning means for horizontally elongating the flexible plastic tube transverse to its length prior to formation of the horizontal seals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventors: Gregory S. Sprehe, Donald Wright, Christopher Pemberton, Lester Siebert, Robert Beiser
  • Publication number: 20110232232
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in the formation and filling of a pouched product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicants: PHILIP MORRIS USA INC., PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventors: Steve Rinehart, Marc D. Belcastro, Dwight D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20110131934
    Abstract: A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacting by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FRITO-LAY NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Patrick J. BIERSCHENK, Frank M. BRENKUS, Jerry M. REAVES, Amelinda MELANSON, Leon J. KRAUSE, Ronald M. GUST
  • Publication number: 20110005172
    Abstract: A packing-packaging machine includes: sheet feeding means; a horizontal bonding unit for forming a bag body by forming horizontal bonding on a tubular body at predetermined intervals; and an object dispensing unit for dispensing an object to be packaged to the bag body during a repetition of the formation of the horizontal bonding. The object dispensing unit includes a shutter for opening and closing a falling path of a predetermined amount of the object into the bag body. The shutter is opened and closed such that the predetermined amount of the object and another predetermined amount of the object fall with a spacing therebetween, and that before the horizontal bonding is formed on the bag body packed with the predetermined amount of the object which has been dropped during opening-closing operation of the shutter, the other predetermined amount of the object for a next bag body starts falling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: OHKI CO., LTD., TSUBAKIMOTO KOGYO CO., LTD., FABRICA TOYAMA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fumio Miyahara, Yoshiyuki Tsuji, Tomohiro Takemoto
  • Publication number: 20100115894
    Abstract: A bag-making and packaging machine includes a forming mechanism, a vertical sealing mechanism, a transverse sealing mechanism and a receiving member. The forming mechanism is configured to roll a sheet-shaped packaging material into a cylindrical shape to form a cylindrical packaging material. The vertical sealing mechanism is configured and arranged to seal an overlapping portion of the cylindrical packaging material with heat vertically along a direction in which the cylindrical packaging material extends. The receiving member is attached to the forming mechanism in a position facing the vertical sealing mechanism, and configured and arranged to sandwich the overlapping portion together with the vertical sealing mechanism. The receiving member has elasticity with which the receiving member presses the overlapping portion toward the vertical sealing mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideshi Miyamoto
  • Publication number: 20100101193
    Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine for manufacturing pouches of a plurality of types having different shapes includes a tubular part, a conveying part and a sealing part. The tubular part is replaceable according to a shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The conveying part is configured and arranged to convey tubular packaging material along the tubular part with an internal surface of the packaging material facing an external surface of the tubular part. A position of the conveying part with respect to the tubular part is selectively movable according to the shape of the pouch to be manufactured. The sealing part is configured and arranged to seal a prescribed position on the packaging material conveyed by the conveying part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 29, 2010
    Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuya Iwasa, Makoto Ichikawa
  • Publication number: 20100024360
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a packaging machine having an ultrasonic device (1), the ultrasonic device (1) comprising: an ultrasonic generator (2) which generates electric vibrations; an ultrasonic converter (3) which converts the generated electric vibrations into mechanical vibrations of the same frequency; a transformation intermediate piece (4) which transfers the mechanical vibrations to a sonotrode (5); the sonotrode (5) comprising a sound-radiating end surface (6) at which it reflects the mechanical vibrations, so that a standing wave to be passed into a packaging foil (18, 19) is formed, and the sound-radiating end surface (6) being disposed in a vacuum and/or in a modified atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Applicant: MULTIVAC SEPP HAGGENMULLER GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Elmar Ehrmann, Tieme Jan Slomp, Roland Sparakowski
  • Publication number: 20100018170
    Abstract: A fill supply mechanism can include a pumping member that moves reciprocally within a pump cavity thereby causing fill material to be drawn into and expelled from the pump cavity. A valve member can be reciprocally movable and can allow fill material to be drawn into the pump cavity when in a first valve member position and allow fill material to be discharged from the pump cavity when in a second valve member position. A drive mechanism drives reciprocal motion of the pumping member and the valve member. The reciprocal motion of the pumping member and the valve member are along co-planar axes and can be along parallel co-planar axes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: TECHNOPHAR EQUIPMENT AND SERVICE (2007) LTD.
    Inventor: Adrian Oana
  • Publication number: 20100011718
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine, wherein at least one tool can be displaced to a lowered or to a lifted position by means of a lifting system, the lifting station being driven by at least one adjustable pneumatic/hydraulic drive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: CFS Germany GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Günter Donges, Bruno Baumeister
  • Publication number: 20090288371
    Abstract: A wrapping method and unit for producing a package containing a group of cigarettes and having a cigarette extraction opening; a sheet of wrapping material, complete with the cigarette extraction opening, is fed into a pocket of a wrapping wheel so that the sheet of wrapping material folds into a U inside the pocket; then the group of cigarettes is fed into the pocket containing the U-folded sheet of wrapping material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: MICHELE SQUARZONI, Stefano Serafini, Paolo Degliesposti, Andrea Biondi
  • Patent number: 7559186
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus for wrapping a carton around a packaged product comprises a box mandrel conveyor including a plurality of mandrels which support the packaged product thereon. Packages are precisely fed to the mandrels of the box mandrel conveyor by a conditioning conveyor. Carton blanks are delivered to a conveying system from a carton magazine and are conveyed in vertical confronting relation to a mandrel. Each mandrel moves the carton blank against a plow device thereby causing the carton blank to be folded around a mandrel containing a package. Folding and compression devices are provided for folding and compressing an end panel against a manufacturer's flap. Suitable flap closing means close the end flaps and upper and lower flaps after the mandrel is withdrawn from the carton.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Inventor: Brenton L Smith
  • Patent number: 7331916
    Abstract: A new and improved case former, or carton folding and erecting apparatus, is disclosed wherein a pair of pivotal support arms, upon each one of which is mounted a case or carton engagement roller, are mounted upon the machine framework such that when actuator mechanisms, for folding the oppositely disposed major side bottom flap members of the case or carton to their folded positions so as to complete the formation of the bottom portion of the case or carton, are actuated, the pair of pivotal support arms are effectively released from a restrained position, at which case or carton engagement rollers are disposed at retracted positions with respect to the case or carton blank so as to initially permit the case or carton blank to be inserted into the case former, or carton folding and erecting apparatus, in an unobstructed manner, whereby the case or carton engagement rollers can now engage the major side walls of the case or carton so as to retain the case or carton in position while the case or carton is subs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Bryce J. Fox
  • Patent number: 7146777
    Abstract: For the production of (cigarette) packs of different configurations, for example standard pack (13), round-edged pack (14) or octagonal pack (15), subassemblies and elements of the packaging machine are exchanged and/or uncoupled from the drive. For this purpose, a pack-specific operating element is provided with a drive which has a coupling and/or uncouplable gear-mechanism parts. These, in turn, are assigned operable handling elements which allow adjustment for coupling or uncoupling or removing sub-elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Jurgen Focke, legal representative, Doris Focke, legal representative, Jürgen Tempel, Gisbert Engel, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7134257
    Abstract: For producing hard packs, namely hinge-lid boxes or shell and slide packs in particular, inner and outer pack units are prepared separately in each case, namely a shell (20), on the one hand, and a blank for a hinge-lid box, on the other hand. The inner pack unit, comprising a cigarette block (10) and a further pack part, namely a slide (13) or a collar, is prepared in the region of a mandrel turret (24). The pack units are then brought together, with continued rotary movement, by axial displacement relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Jürgen Focke, legal representatives, Hans-Jürgen Bretthauer, Henry Buse, Heinz Focke, deceased
  • Patent number: 7100658
    Abstract: Machine for manufacturing mesh bags from a continuous roll of tubular mesh, and for filling and closing said mesh bags, which comprise an expansion device which is perimetric to the tubular mesh, the core expander of which is equipped with a vertical aperture which, as if it were a slot, traverses said core expander and connects the two frontal faces thereof and extends from its base to an intermediate point, for which the core expander adopts an inverted “U” shape, the machine also being fitted with preventive welding means, adapted for partially welding the two frontal faces of the tubular mesh and, as the case may be, the adjoining laminates of thermally weldable material through the aperture of the core expander; a traction device which drags a section of the tubular mesh provided with a bottom; conveyor means; and second and third filling and closing stations, respectively, both being arranged linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Giro GH, S.A.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 6996958
    Abstract: A wrapping machine for paper and plastic packing comprising a machine pedestal with a plastic wrapping fixture, a plastic wrapper supplier, a cutter, a clip board and a heating board are installed on the machine pedestal. The major feature are as follows: more than one packing holes are on the plastic wrapping fixture, the packing holes corresponds to the shape of the bottom of the packing box, a plurality of small holes are on the packing holes to connect to a vacuum pump; the vacuum pump sucks air out, the air goes out through the small holes of the plastic wrapping fixture and the crevices on the packing boxes to have the PET wrapper with back glue attach closely on the surface by the shape of the packing boxes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventors: Chi-Yee Yeh, Christine Huang
  • Patent number: 6952908
    Abstract: A method and machine for packing a tampon, whereby the tampon is inserted inside a tubular folding spindle of constant cross section; a sheet of packing material is then wrapped about the folding spindle and stabilized longitudinally to form a tubular wrapping; the folding spindle and the tubular wrapping, together with the tampon, are then parted; and the two ends of the tubular wrapping are closed transversely about the relative tampon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: G.D. Societa per Azioni
    Inventors: Mario Spatafora, Luca Borderi
  • Patent number: 6895731
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for populating transport tapes with electronic components includes a mold support having at least one recess over which a flat plastic strip is disposed. A heater heats the mold support and/or the plastic strip in an area of the recesses. An embossing tool, which has the electronic component in its embossing area, together with the electronic component, is embossed into the plastic strip in the direction of the recess into the mold support to form a tape pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Lehner, Stefan Paulus
  • Patent number: 6880315
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bait sack using a netting material comprises a filling collar having a tubular configuration and an inside surface for directing bait into the netting material. A forming sleeve has a tubular configuration and is disposed coaxially about the filling collar. A netting material is disposed between the filling collar and the forming sleeve. The filling collar and the forming sleeve are movable relative to each other to form a bait sack with the netting material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Stewart C. Burdorff
  • Patent number: 6766627
    Abstract: A machine for winding and boxing wound coils of filamentary material having a payout hole extending from the outer to the inner coil winding, a turret mechanism mounting two oppositely disposed end forms and corresponding collapsible mandrels and operative between first and second stations, wherein the first station enables filamentary material to be wound on one of the mandrels and associated end form and a second station wherein the mandrel and end form containing the wound coil is rotated to confront a boxing station; a boxing station including a platform having a movable back panel, a base panel and an inclined ramp facing the second station and being movable towards and away from second station for receiving the wound coil from the collapsible mandrel; the boxing station receiving an unfolded box deposited on the base panel with a box back panel folded against the back panel and including means for folding two opposite side panels of the box to enable reception of the wound coil in the partially assemble
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Windings, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank W. Kotzur, David B. Franklin, Brian P. Moore, Gregory A. Kotzur
  • Publication number: 20040098952
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a bait sack using a netting material comprises a filling collar having a tubular configuration and an inside surface for directing bait into the netting material. A forming sleeve has a tubular configuration and is disposed coaxially about the filling collar. A netting material is disposed between the filling collar and the forming sleeve. The filling collar and the forming sleeve are movable relative to each other to form a bait sack with the netting material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventor: Stewart C. Burdorff
  • Patent number: 6735928
    Abstract: A bagging and packaging machine for forming a bag from a strip of bag material and introducing an article into the bag includes a gas supply unit for supplying an inert gas into the bag to substitute for air contained in the bag and a gas supply control means for controlling supply of the inert gas by the gas supply means into the bag. The bagging and packaging machine is designed to allow the inert gas to be supplied under high pressure at a flow rate sufficient to increase the gas replacement rate in the bag when the machine is started, to be supplied under low pressure at a flow rate lower than the high pressure flow rate during a bagging and packaging operation subsequent to the start of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2004
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Kondo, Ryoichi Sato
  • Patent number: 6722109
    Abstract: A soft pack for cigarettes comprises a, for example, carton-form wrapper made of paper or similar packaging material. Folding tabs, namely border strips (18 and 19) on the one hand, base tabs, namely longitudinal tabs (24 and 25) on the other hand, and also a band (or revenue stamp) (32) are connected to one another or to the pack by adhesive bonding, use being made of hot-melt adhesive which is applied in the correct position to a material web for producing blanks for the packs, is set and, once the folds or packs have been completed, is reactivated by heat. The relevant folding tabs or band are/is respectively connected to one another or to the pack by pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Henry Buse
  • Patent number: 6599389
    Abstract: A belt-like film 18 is moved along a plate 15 folded to be rectangular in section, so that the film 18 is formed into a continuous tube by a tubular frame of the plate 15. A spring piece 30 having an anvil 31 bulged out therefrom is securely held on the inner side edge 16 of the aforementioned plate 15, and an ultrasonic hammer 32 is located face to face with said anvil 31, so that both side edges of the belt-like film 18 formed into a tube are placed on the anvil 31 to be melded by the ultrasonic vibration of the hammer 32.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Furukawa Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Noriaki Uneda
  • Patent number: 6564527
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for checking (cigarette) packs for the correct positioning of material strips. In order to check the correct position of a material strip (11) on a cigarette pack (10), at least two sensors are used to compare spaced-apart measurement or checking points (19, 20) in terms of the relative position in relation to one another. This gives the relative position of the material strip (11). If the latter is in a skewed position, the relevant cigarette pack (10) is separated out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Ralf Sinnerbrink
  • Patent number: 6502375
    Abstract: A machine for packaging a mattress in a sheet, comprising horizontal supporting and receiving mattress surfaces, guides for guiding the sheet on a vertical plane, so that by moving the mattress in the advancement direction from the supporting surface toward the receiving surface the sheet is arranged over and under the mattress, a device for joining and cutting the sheet upstream of the mattress and for forming a bag which wraps around the mattress, sheet unwinding assemblies comprising two rollers movable along the receiving surface with a return stroke, the rollers being articulated to rotate between alignment and parallel positions in which they are perpendicular or parallel to the advancement direction and to the sides of the mattress, and actuators for actuating the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Resta S.r.l.
    Inventor: Roberto Resta
  • Publication number: 20020069623
    Abstract: A mandrel for an automatic packaging machine enables a loading of product when a great precision is required or when the characteristics of a product will not tolerate mandrels with a plurality of separate parts. The mandrel is machined with great precision from a block of metal. A conveyor on the automatic packaging machine carries a plurality of mandrels around a closed path. To enable an exchange between different types of mandrels, an air cylinder controlled quick coupler enables an installation of the mandrel on and a release of the mandrel from the conveyor. The quick coupler is a stud on the bottom of each mandrel and a slide at each location on the conveyor where a mandrel is carried. The slide has a keyhole with a large end which allows the stud to pass into and out of the keyhole and be released from the packaging machine. The stud is captured in the small end of the keyhole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventor: Steven Tisma
  • Patent number: 6343460
    Abstract: A packaging machine includes a bottom breaker which has first to third prefolding members (41) to (43). The third prefolding member (43), serving to prefold a fold forming portion (27) by bending this portion (27) outward along a base part thereof, is pivotally movable from a nonoperative position P0 to a second operative position P2 via a first operative position P1. The fold forming portion (27) is moved with a first bottom panel (21) by the operation of the second prefolding member (42) so as to be brought into contact with the third prefolding member (43) and thereby bent outward while the third prefolding member (43) is pivotally moved from the nonoperative position P0 toward the first operative position P1. The third prefolding member (43) is pivotally moved from the first operative position P1 toward the second operative position P2 after the operation of the second prefolding member (42) to thereby bend the fold forming portion (27) through an increased angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuji Fujikawa, Kazuo Abe, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6339914
    Abstract: A packaging machine has a folding rail 36 for guiding a prefolded bottom forming portion 14 of a container 11 fitted around a mandrel 31 from a first process station to a second process station during the movement of the mandrel 31 from the first to the second station while folding the bottom forming portion flat by contact therewith. The folding rail 36 comprises right and left two rail members 71, 72, with a clearance C formed therebetween for permitting an outer end of the prefolded bottom forming portion 14 of the container 11 fitted around the mandrel 31 to be inserted thereinto during the movement from the first to the second station. An unfolding preventing guide member 73 is disposed in the rail clearance C so as to come into contact with a required part of the bottom forming portion 14 during movement through the clearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuji Fujikawa, Kazuo Abe, Michio Ueda
  • Patent number: 6263643
    Abstract: A machine for automatically loading tubes with elasticated netting in a folded condition comprises an array of fingers which, by reciprocative movement of the tube relatively through the array, will draw off a continuous sleeve of the netting from a spreader device and store it on the tube. Thereafter the fingers and spreader device are raised and the fingers splayed from the tube, enabling the sleeve of netting to be cut above the tube, after which the loaded tube can be removed and replaced by an unloaded one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Trunature Ltd
    Inventors: Zoli Kovacs, Stuart Baird Revill
  • Patent number: 6109002
    Abstract: An apparatus protects a bag so that waste may be compacted into the bag. The apparatus includes a shield having an upper shield opening and a lower shield opening, and a base that is constructed so that it may be secured, in a releasable fashion, to the lower shield opening. The shield separates the bag from compacted waste. The base cooperates with the shield to support the bag and its contents. The shield is placed almost entirely into the bag, the lower opening of the shield being secured to the base at an interface. Compacted waste rests on the bottom of the bag, which may be supported by the base. When the bag has become filled with waste, the shield is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Inventor: James K. McCabe
  • Patent number: 6082254
    Abstract: For strapping substantially parallelepipedic objects or stacks which are conveyed into a strapping position and out of this position after strapping, a strapping tape extending in a starting position substantially straight from one side of the conveying path to the opposite side is formed into a tape bow with the help of two tape positioning devices arranged on the two opposite sides of the conveying path. Then, the object to be strapped is conveyed into the tape bow and the tape is tensioned around the object and is closed around the object and cut off the tape supply in the region of its starting position such that the object is strapped and the tape is again in its starting position. By adapting the size of the tape bow according to the format of an object to be strapped, the tape does not have to be pulled back for tensioning it around the object or stack. Therefore, the device is simple and the time required for strapping is short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Ferag Verpakkingstechniek B.V.
    Inventor: Henk De Vlaam
  • Patent number: 5996309
    Abstract: In the manufacture of certain types of packets, rotary folding units (10) are used which have along their perimeter a plurality of hollow folding mandrels (14) projecting at one side. On these mandrels, blanks, namely inner blank (10) and pouch blank (11) are folded in succession. Holding bands (34, 59) serve to position the blanks exactly on the folding mandrels (14), said bands extending outside the movement region of the folding mandrels (14) and lying with a holding bight (35) against the side of the folding mandrels (14), or the blanks, lying radially on the outside, fixing same as they do so.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hans-Jurgen Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 5979140
    Abstract: The core of a packaging machine for cigarette packets or similar packets is a rotary folding unit (11). On the perimeter of the folding unit, there are arranged holding members for packets or packet contents, for example folding mandrels (18) on the one hand and holding pockets (21) on the other hand. For reasons to do with their construction and/or function, the latter are positioned at an axial spacing from one another. In order to transfer packets or packet parts from the folding mandrels (18) to the holding pockets (21), the latter may moved relative to one another, in such a way that, in a transfer region, the folding mandrels (18) and the associated coaxial holding pockets (21) lie directly against one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hans-Jurgen Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 5970682
    Abstract: To improve the efficiency of powerful packaging machines for cigarettes or the like, the blanks (10) for wrapping the cigarettes or the like are monitored in respect of correct formation whilst being conveyed along a blanks path (27) to a revolving folding unit (28). Bifurcate photoelectric barriers are positioned on side regions of the blanks path (28) as monitoring units (40, 41). These barriers monitor the state of folding flaps (19. .24), arranged at the side, of the transported blanks (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Martin Stiller
  • Patent number: 5941055
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a beverage container which contains an instant beverage material individually sealed within the beverage container by a filter disk and an insert disk combination. The apparatus includes a mandrel having a flange and a forming die which is slideably mounted on the mandrel. The forming die has a chamfered outer surface which fits into a beverage container and an inner stepped portion which is configured to engage the flange of the mandrel and receive the filter disk and insert disk to be inserted into a beverage container. A funnel press is provided which has a funnel portion and a press portion. The press portion mates with the mandrel and forming die to draw a portion of the filter disk into the mandrel to simultaneously form a pocket in and crimp a filter disk which is subsequently loaded with an instant beverage material using the funnel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Frank Coates
  • Patent number: 5848519
    Abstract: In the event of the transmission of forces or movements of drive members with a circular cross-section and connection members, in particular actuating levers (11), provided on said drive members, a non-round configuration is provided, in order to secure a precise relative position of the members, in a region where the actuating lever (11) is mounted on a shaft or the like. The shaft or a shaft end is provided with a flattened portion A bore (13) in the actuating lever (11) has a mating flattened portion (19) which corresponds therewith. This produces a precise relative position between the actuating lever (11) and the shaft or the like, said relative position not requiring any adjustment or measuring work and also being ensured in the event of repeated assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventor: Heinz Focke
  • Patent number: 5819501
    Abstract: A machine wherein block-shaped arrays of cigarettes are confined in envelopes having closed ends and open ends located at the adjacent end faces of the confined arrays. Each open end includes two confronting elongated flaps alternating with narrow tucks which are to be folded against the adjacent end face of the confined array ahead of the flaps. Successive envelopes are delivered onto a platform constituting the bottom wall of a receptacle and being movable from a lower level, in which the receptacle receives an envelope, to an upper level in which it delivers the finished envelope into a pocket at the underside of an indelible turntable. The tucks of an envelope on the platform are folded over the adjacent end face of the confined array by two folding elements which are movable in a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Topack Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Albrecht, Frank Bley, Reinhard Deutsch, Josef Glosmann
  • Patent number: 5806289
    Abstract: A packing machine presenting a wrapping conveyor for continuously feeding a succession of wrapping spindles along a given path; a feed device for continuously feeding a succession of sheets of wrapping material in a direction tangent to the path, along the path and in time with the spindles; and a pickup device associated with each spindle, and for gripping a front portion of a relative sheet and inserting the front portion between two successive spindles so as to fold an intermediate portion of the sheet about the rear spindle; a retaining member, associated with each spindle, cooperating with the intermediate portion of the relative sheet to retain it on the relative rear spindle and on the wrapping conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azinoni
    Inventors: Fabio Sassi, Fiorenzo Draghetti
  • Patent number: 5737903
    Abstract: A newspaper recycling disposal system that stacks and bundles used newspapers while eliminating need for using ties to tie the used newspapers to form bundles wherein the bundles are compatible with pulping processes used for recycling the used newspapers at paper mills, by virtue of eliminating the ties that are incompatible, and thereby eliminating contaminates which require labor and time to remove which reduces the value of the used newspapers that have been bundled. The system includes a generally circular-cylindrically-shaped container, a replaceable and circular-cylindrically-shaped rigid sleeve, and a circular-cylindrically-shaped mesh bag. The replaceable and circular-cylindrically-shaped rigid sleeve sits replaceably in the generally circular-cylindrically-shaped container and has the used newspapers stackable therein and has an open and circular-shaped top that forms an open mouth that receives the used newspapers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Inventor: Thomas Minutillo
  • Patent number: 5692363
    Abstract: A machine for inserting baled material into an elongate elastic sheath. The machine has a moveable upper frame for enlarging the opening through which the bales will travel as they are inserted into the sheath. An elastic sheath is mounted on and surrounds radially moveable paddles and an end of a cradle. The paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the opening of the sheath and thereby stretch the sheath. The cradle receives the bales to be inserted into a sheath and has a bale pusher for pushing the bales into the sheath. The bale pusher has ram extensions that are pivoted into a position to extend the reach of the pusher to facilitate inserting the last bale into the elastic sheath and through the machine. The machine is portable and has wheels that are mounted in one position for the bagging operation and are mounted in another position for transporting the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International Limited
    Inventors: Larry Inman, Mike Koskela
  • Patent number: 5628168
    Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products and/or organic material, into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is a portable unit and has radially adjustable fin like paddles that define a bale receiving opening. An opened ended bag into which the bales are to be sheathed is placed in a folded or bunched up condition on the paddles. A portion of the bag is pulled off the paddles and tied to define a closed end and the paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the bale receiving opening and thereby stretch the bag. The machine has a cradle for receiving bales to be sheathed, and a bale pusher pushes the bale along the cradle through the bale receiving opening into the bag. The cradle is arranged to accommodate bales having either a circular or rectangular cross section. The bale pusher has a low profile to facilitate loading bales onto the cradle from the front and either side of the machine. The pusher is extendable to facilitate pushing the last bale through the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International Limited
    Inventors: Larry R. Inman, Michael H. Koskela
  • Patent number: 5590513
    Abstract: On a cigarette packing machine, groups of cigarettes forming the content of respective packets are inserted inside a folding spindle and wrapped in a sheet of wrapping material which is folded on to the outer surface of the spindle before being unloaded off the spindle together with the respective group; the spindle being defined by a tubular shell, the relatively thin walls of which are reinforced internally by substantially triangular longitudinal ribs, each engaging, in use, the longitudinal gap defined by two adjacent peripheral cigarettes in the group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: G. D. Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventor: Bruno Belvederi
  • Patent number: 5588281
    Abstract: A method of producing cartons of cigarettes, whereby groups of packets of cigarettes are formed wherein the packets are arranged in at least two side by side stacks, and wherein each packet in each stack is laid flat with its longer axis horizontal and aligned with the longer axis of a corresponding packet in the other stack; and each group is fed, crosswise to the longer axes of the packets and together with a flat blank from which to form a rigid hinged-lid wrapping, into a folding spindle, the bottom wall of which supports the group with the interposition of a panel of the blank corresponding to a lateral wall of the rigid wrapping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: G.D Societa' Per Azioni
    Inventors: Silvano Boriani, Antonio Gamberini
  • Patent number: 5588286
    Abstract: For the production of soft-cup cigarette packs, use is made of folding mandrels (13) which are designed as hollow bodies, on the outside of which pack blanks (12) are folded, and into which a cigarette group (11) is pushed. To produce a precise pack, the folding mandrel (13) preferably consists of two mandrel parts (19, 20) which are connected to one another by thin laser-weld seams (21, 22). The two mandrel parts are made of spring-steel sheets. The folding mandrel (13) so designed is releasably fastened to a folding turret in a special way via a connecting piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Focke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
    Inventors: Heinz Focke, Hans-Jurgen Bretthauer
  • Patent number: 5566530
    Abstract: An apparatus for palletizing and wrapping a load of material which may be irregularly shaped solid articles; liquid or flowable granules comprising a support base and an open upstanding framework adapted to form a volume to be at least partially filled with articles, wherein said framework provides a formwork for plastic film wrapped there around at least on its vertical periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventors: Peter Johnstone, Gary Emmerton, Paul J. Fitzpatrick, Perehama Hanara, Lindsay G. Wyborn
  • Patent number: 5473858
    Abstract: The apparatus has a frame having a top portion with an opening. The frame frictionally supports the middle portion of the string in an initial position behind the opening. A movable funnel is adapted to force a sheet from an initial position above the opening to an intermediate position in which the sheet is located partially through the opening, around the funnel, and in front of the middle portion of the string. A selected quantity of bulk product is poured into the funnel and a knot is tied in the string in front of the sheet. As the knot is tightened, the string forces the funnel upward and the string tightens around the sheet thus forming an enclosed volume with the sheet in a final position around the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Rosemary C. Hayes
  • Patent number: RE42176
    Abstract: Machine for manufacturing mesh bags from a continuous roll of tubular mesh, and for filling and closing said mesh bags, which comprise an expansion device which is perimetric to the tubular mesh, the core expander of which is equipped with a vertical aperture which, as if it were a slot, traverses said core expander and connects the two frontal faces thereof and extends from its base to an intermediate point, for which the core expander adopts an inverted “U” shape, the machine also being fitted with preventive welding means, adapted for partially welding the two frontal faces of the tubular mesh and, as the case may be, the adjoining laminates of thermally weldable material through the aperture of the core expander; a traction device which drags a section of the tubular mesh provided with a bottom; conveyor means; and second and third filling and closing stations, respectively, both being arranged linearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo