Patents by Inventor Daniel J. Rack
Daniel J. Rack has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20180099770Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two piles of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2017Publication date: April 12, 2018Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey David Wintring, Richard Allan Roth, II
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Patent number: 9873533Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: GrantFiled: January 17, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: R.A. Jones & Co.Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey David Wintring, Richard Allan Roth, II
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Publication number: 20170361965Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2014Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard Allan Roth, II
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Patent number: 9061832Abstract: Bandoliers of pouches or separate pouches are carried by suction cups on a transfer wheel and operated to hold and release pouches through solenoid valves, each coupled to a respective cup. The solenoid valves are operated by a controller to release pouches from the respective cups at precise angular positions of the wheel to control the configuration of the bandolier in a package or tray. Embodiments provide lateral shifting or rotation of pouches held by the cups. Fold-leading or fold-trailing bandolier configurations are produced. Solenoid valves are disposed proximate cups at the wheel periphery or elsewhere and operably coupled to the cups.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: R.A. Jones & Co.Inventors: Daniel J. Rack, Frank G. Oliverio
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Publication number: 20140130460Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 17, 2014Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: R. A Jones & Co. Inc.Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard Allan Roth, II
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Patent number: 8631729Abstract: An adjustable knife for a pouch machine is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets each including a major and minor knife hub with respective major and minor axes. The hub sets have respectively differing diameters or different spacing between the respective major and minor axes to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. A gear linkage including a four gear anti-lash arrangement with a movable gear accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. A method of using the knife is also described.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2012Date of Patent: January 21, 2014Assignee: R.A. Jones & Co., Inc.Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard A. Roth
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Publication number: 20130126306Abstract: Bandoliers of pouches or separate pouches are carried by suction cups on a transfer wheel and operated to hold and release pouches through solenoid valves, each coupled to a respective cup. The solenoid valves are operated by a controller to release pouches from the respective cups at precise angular positions of the wheel to control the configuration of the bandolier in a package or tray. Embodiments provide lateral shifting or rotation of pouches held by the cups. Fold-leading or fold-trailing bandolier configurations are produced. Solenoid valves are disposed proximate cups at the wheel periphery or elsewhere and operably coupled to the cups.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2012Publication date: May 23, 2013Inventors: DANIEL J. RACK, Frank G. Oliverio
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Publication number: 20120325063Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 5, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: R.A. Jones & Co, Inc.Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard A. Roth
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Patent number: 8282538Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2011Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard A. Roth
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Publication number: 20110224061Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2011Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: R.A. JONES & CO. INC.Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard A. Roth
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Patent number: 7954307Abstract: An adjustable pouch machine comprises a vertical sealer module forms transverse seals between two plies of a pouch web to partially define a plurality of pouches. Rollers selectively tension and relax the web on the vertically oriented wheel, allowing them to drop away from heated lands on emergency and cycle stops. A filler wheel has a plurality of adjustable gripper units mounted directly thereon for transporting independent separate pouches cut from the pouch web. An adjustable knife is selectively provided with changeable knife hub sets to handle a variety of pouch sizes where a filler wheel alternately first fills and seals pouches in a train. Gear linkage accommodates variation in distance between hubs of different sets. Various embodiments, apparatus and methods are described.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: R. A. Jones & Co. Inc.Inventors: Sima Paunesku, Daniel J. Rack, Jeffrey D. Wintring, Richard A. Roth
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Patent number: 5551492Abstract: A rotary disc feeder includes a rotary plate with a plurality of radial slots and sliders disposed in the slots. The sliders are cam adjusted to define, respective volumetric chambers between their ends and the slot ends. The cams are carried on a rotational cam carrier positioned by an axially reciprocable but non-rotary positioner. The size of the volumetric chambers is adjusted on the fly. A hopper drops product into the chambers rotating thereunder. Product is dropped from the chambers through a slot in a shutter plate angularly spaced from the hopper. The chambers have a relatively extensive, open cross-section compared to chamber length and small doses of light density, static sensitive product is measured and dispensed rapidly.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 1994Date of Patent: September 3, 1996Assignee: R.A. Jones & Co. Inc.Inventors: Daniel J. Rack, Michael E. Myers
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Patent number: 5220993Abstract: Pouch transfer apparatus for positioning over and generally transverse to the upstream end of a multiple lane pouch conveyor. The apparatus includes a transfer wheel carrying a plurality of suction heads about its outer periphery for picking pouches off a cutting apparatus that has cut a pouch strip into individual pouches. The transfer wheel distributes the individual pouches at three predetermined angular drop-off positions during the rotation of the transfer wheel. The suction heads are divided into three series or flights, i.e., a first series for dropping pouches into a near lane of the pouch conveyor, a second series for dropping pouches into a middle lane of the pouch conveyor, and a third series for dropping pouches into a far lane of the pouch conveyor. Positive pressure is supplied to each suction head at its drop-off point to eject the pouch into the appropriate conveyor lane.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 1992Date of Patent: June 22, 1993Assignee: R. A. Jones & Co. Inc.Inventors: Eric W. Scarpa, Harold T. Benner, Jr., Daniel J. Rack