Applied To Continuous Web Material Patents (Class 53/135.3)
  • Patent number: 10919651
    Abstract: A method is for producing individual dosing quantities of a powdered product via a drum dosing device. Individual masses of multiple ejected dosing quantities are sequentially determined. A mass mean value is formed and compared to a predetermined inner target mass range. If the mass mean value is inside the range, the level of the partial vacuum acting on the dosing opening in the filling position remains unchanged, and the above formation of a mass mean value begins anew. If the mass mean value is outside the range, an adapted partial vacuum is ascertained such that in the case of excessively low mass mean value, the level of the partial vacuum is increased, and in the case of excessively high mass mean value, the level of the partial vacuum is decreased. The adapted partial vacuum is applied to the dosing opening in the filling position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Inventors: Sven Brecht, Bernhard Handel, Marcus Hild
  • Patent number: 8713897
    Abstract: A system and method for inspecting a filled prescription order is described. The prescription order includes a first plurality of tablets that is different from a second plurality of tablets. Additionally, the first plurality of tablets has a particular shape and a color that is different from the second plurality of tablets. The system and method generates an order that is communicated to a filling system. A code is then generated at the filling system when the filling system can fill the order. An automated inspection at visual wavelengths is performed for each of the pouches at an inspection station. The automated inspection at visual wavelengths inspects a color and a shape of each tablet. The method then proceeds to scan the code at the inspection station to verify that the correct pouches are associated with the tablets that correspond to the prescription order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Edge Medical Properties, LLC
    Inventors: Robert A. Luciano, Jr., Leslie Baker, Larry Luciano
  • Patent number: 8650837
    Abstract: A product roll packaging apparatus includes a transfer unit for lifting and transferring a product roll from a conveyor, a wrapping unit for wrapping a protective sheet around the roll and attaching an end thereof with an adhesive tape, a protective sheet supply unit for cutting off the sheet from a sheet roll and supplying it along a protective sheet path line to the wrapping unit, and a tape supply unit for supplying the tape to the end of the cut sheet. The transfer unit includes a position correcting mechanism for establishing a reference line depending on the roll size, and bringing a reference end face of the roll into alignment with a vertical plane including the reference line. The protective sheet supply unit includes an edge position control mechanism for bringing a reference edge of the sheet into alignment with the reference line corresponding to the roll size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Fumio Watanabe, Tsutomu Tada, Nobuyasu Akiyoshi, Yasushi Kikuchi, Toshiaki Kenmotsu
  • Patent number: 8601773
    Abstract: An in-line insert folder system includes a continuous roll of preprinted inserts, and a cutter for cutting individual inserts from the roll. A transport serially conveys the individual inserts in a downstream direction to a buckle folder that receives the inserts and folds each one along at least one fold line. An applicator serially receives the folded inserts from the buckle folder and applies the inserts to consumer packs such as cigarette packs, for example. The folded inserts may be directly applied to the packs before placement of flexible outer wrap or the folded inserts may be applied onto the flexible outer wrap before that wrap is placed around the packs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Philip Morris USA Inc.
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Jr., Barry S. Smith, Robert G. Scott, Martin T. Garthaffner, Steve R. Rinehart, Xuan Pham, Linwood H. Carneal, Jr., Hubert Coleman Goodman, Jr., Joshua L. Roby, Christopher Crawford, James D. Evans
  • Patent number: 8579204
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for visualization of non-visible information on a packaging material to provide traceability. The method comprises the steps of: reading the non-visible information from the packaging material by means of a magnetic head reader, processing the non-visible information in a central processing unit together with additional new non-visible information, and printing an optional portion of the amount of combined non-visible information onto the packaging material as a traceability marking. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method and a packaging line with a filling machine making use of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Per Scharfenort, Hans Johansson, Lars Bergholtz, Lars Sickert, Paolo Benedetti, Guido Wiener
  • Patent number: 8087216
    Abstract: RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: James Thomas Noonan, Donald Lee Goodrich, Jesse Dru Haecker, Jerry Bob Hall, Mark Alan Cracraft, Earl Franklin Canfield
  • Patent number: 8033081
    Abstract: A packaging apparatus wherein each product is packaged by enveloping the product in flexible packaging material. A programmed microprocessor calculates the length of flexible packaging material needed to package the product based on the physical dimensions of the product, calculates the weight of the flexible packaging material needed, and calculates a total package weight as the sum of the weight of the product and the calculated weight of the flexible packaging material. A printer prints information specific to the product that is being packaged onto a label that is then affixed to the flexible packaging material prior to the product being packaged. The information can be a function of the package weight, and the calculated total package weight can be communicated from the microprocessor to the printer. Finally, the product is packaged in the flexible packaging material having the label already affixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation (US)
    Inventors: Laurence Sperry, Brian A. Murch, Ross Patterson
  • Publication number: 20100263331
    Abstract: A method for wrapping a wrap film around an object includes the steps of—feeding the wrap film around the object from a wrap film roll, feeding an additional film from an additional film roll to the vicinity of the wrap film fed from the wrap film roll. The additional film and the wrap film are contacted with each other to adhere the additional film to the wrap film and to feed the adhered films around the object. The additional film adhered to the wrap film is cut at a point which is separate from the wrap film to stop feeding the additional film around the object. In particular, the method includes recognizing of a recognition mark arranged to the additional film that is fed adhered to the wrap film around the object, and cutting the additional film, at a predetermined point relative to the recognition mark.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: OY M. HALOILA AB
    Inventors: Jari Paavola, Yrjo Suolahti
  • Patent number: 7784247
    Abstract: An object is to enable a strip tape to be bonded to a packaging material at a proper position and enable longitudinal sealing to be performed well. A packaging-container manufacturing apparatus includes a bonding member, a first detection section which detects an edge of the packaging material, a second detection section which detects an edge of the strip tape (12), position determination processing means for determining the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material, and position correction processing means for correcting the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material. Since the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material is determined on the basis of outputs of the first and second detection sections and the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material is corrected on the basis of results of the determination on the position, the strip tape (12) is placed on the packaging material at a proper position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Konno
  • Patent number: 7775019
    Abstract: An automated operation application module for a packaging machine comprises a frame, a suspension joined to the frame for rolls of packaging material, and a pre-unwinding unit for supplying the packaging material to the film storage unit. The application module has a film storage unit joined to the frame, a sealing station joined to the frame, a film pre-drawing unit joined to the frame for supplying the packaging material to the sealing station, and a film-forwarding unit joined to the frame for forwarding the processed packaging material to a packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Haak, Tobias Greif
  • Patent number: 7694491
    Abstract: RFID tags pre-installed on bale wrap segments provide location information for a specific area of the bale wrap. RFID tag readers located on the cotton harvester provide signals for use by the module wrapping apparatus for initiating a cutting or separating operation, once a module has been wrapped, and for warning an operator of a situation where the wrapping function has not proceeded in an orderly fashion after a signal for starting the wrapping function has been received. A wrapped module carries the pre-installed RFID tags which are readable by RFID readers carried by module handlers in the field and/or at the gin input which identify the modules and establish a position to which the module may be automatically oriented so that an ideal module wrap cutting location is easily calculated. The RFID tag reading taken in the field or at the gin thus senses the number on the tag as well as the location of the tag, and the module identification is input to an electronic database.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: James Thomas Noonan, Donald Lee Goodrich, Jesse Dru Haecker, Jerry Bob Hall, Mark Alan Cracraft, Earl Franklin Canfield
  • Patent number: 7694499
    Abstract: Packaging equipment for continuously making packages of stacks of tiles on a working conveyor that feeds the stacks of tiles to be packaged. The equipment has a first element for feeding a plastic film on top of the working conveyor that projects laterally below the stacks of tiles and also has a second element for feeding two laminar elements parallel to each other on top of the plastic film which laterally project below the stacks of tiles. Guiding rods are provided for vertically lifting and upper winding of the projecting portions of the plastic film that is around the stacks of tiles as they advance on the conveyor. Longitudinal welding device and another welding device are provided for welding the plastic film around the stacks of tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: SITMA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
  • Publication number: 20090293428
    Abstract: An object is to enable a strip tape to be bonded to a packaging material at a proper position and enable longitudinal sealing to be performed well. A packaging-container manufacturing apparatus includes a bonding member, a first detection section which detects an edge of the packaging material, a second detection section which detects an edge of the strip tape (12), position determination processing means for determining the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material, and position correction processing means for correcting the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material. Since the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material is determined on the basis of outputs of the first and second detection sections and the position of the strip tape (12) in relation to the packaging material is corrected on the basis of results of the determination on the position, the strip tape (12) is placed on the packaging material at a proper position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Konno
  • Patent number: 7509787
    Abstract: A method for the packaging of editorial products (11) in plastic film comprising the phases of unwinding a plastic film (12) from a bobbin (13) and feeding it in a longitudinal direction (F), applying preprinted self-adhesive labels (16) to the film (12) transversally with respect to the longitudinal direction (F) and distanced between each other by a pre-established length greater than the length of the editorial products (11), positioning the editorial products (11) on the film (12) in the space between two subsequent labels (16), folding the plastic film (12) over the editorial products (11), welding the plastic film (12) longitudinally and transversally with a first transversal welding line (22) to form two containment areas (100a, 100b) of the label (16) and editorial product (11) respectively, and also with a second transversal welding line (23) forming a head of a finished packaging (100, 100?) separated by the second transversal welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: SITMA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aris Ballestrazzi, Lamberto Tassi
  • Patent number: 7082740
    Abstract: A device for wrapping bales of agricultural produce such as bales of hay, straw or green crop with a film. The bales are completely wrapped with the film and are marked to set forth the quality of the bale as silage and with further information. The information may include the amount of film used to wrap the bale and thus the number of wrapping layers, and the name of the person responsible for wrapping the bale. Electronic devices may be applied to the wrapping film for ascertaining the location of the bale after it has been wrapped by GPS or DGPS. The information can be imprinted directly on the film used for wrapping the bale or on labels applied to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Lely Research Holding A.G. A Swiss Limited Liability Co.
    Inventor: Olaf van der Lely
  • Patent number: 6865860
    Abstract: A form-fill sealing machine (1) for manufacturing resealable packages (W) includes a tearable line forming device (30) that serves to form tearable lines (104) in a film (F). A labeling device (40) serves to stick re-stickable labels (103) onto the film in positions to cover respective tearable lines. A tube forming device (60) serves to form the film into a tubular film (T). A first sealing device (80) serves to seal lapped edges of the tubular film so as to form a lengthwise sealed portion (111). A second sealing device (90) serves to seal the tubular film in a crosswise direction, so that crosswise sealed portions (109) are formed on the tubular film. Each tearable line is positioned between two adjacent crosswise sealed portions and adjacent to one of two adjacent crosswise sealed portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Fuji Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Arakawa, Takeo Matsui
  • Publication number: 20040000125
    Abstract: An in-line insert folder system includes a continuous roll of preprinted inserts, and a cutter for cutting individual inserts from the roll. A transport serially conveys the individual inserts in a downstream direction to a buckle folder that receives the inserts and folds each one along at least one fold line. An applicator serially receives the folded inserts from the buckle folder and applies the inserts to consumer packs such as cigarette packs, for example. The folded inserts may be directly applied to the packs before placement of flexible outer wrap or the folded inserts may be applied onto the flexible outer wrap before that wrap is placed around the packs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Applicant: Philip Morris Incorporated
    Inventors: Edmond J. Cadieux, Barry S. Smith, G. Robert Scott, Martin T. Garthaffner, Steve R. Rinehart, Xuan Pham, Linwood H. Carneal, Hubert Coleman Goodman, Joshua L. Roby, Christopher Crawford
  • Patent number: 6393808
    Abstract: A label film applicator mechanism which is integrally incorporated into the overall stretch wrap film applicator system so as to be located at the same wrapping station as that of the stretch wrap film mechanism whereby the stretch wrap film can be applied to or wrapped upon, for example, the palletized load independent of the label film, however, the stretch wrap film and the label film can also be simultaneously applied to or wrapped upon, for example, the palletized load when it is desired to apply a label film to, for example, the palletized load during a predetermined portion of the stretch wrap film load wrapping cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kallner, Joseph Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6230474
    Abstract: Method of manufacturing food packaging with a removable prize therein. Prizes are deposited at a predetermined spacing along a first sheet of plastic wrapping. The first sheet of plastic wrapping with the prizes adhered thereon is covered by a second sheet of plastic wrapping. A second surface of the first sheet, opposite the first surface, is folded over, or is covered by a third sheet of plastic wrapping, after food is placed on the second sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: Rodolfo Gerardo Murra Giacoman
  • Patent number: 6219992
    Abstract: A method in connection with wrapping of a piece (K), in which method the piece (K) is rotated, and at least one wrapping film (3, 11) is supplied and guided around the piece (K) during the rotation. A label (E, E1) to be adhered to the piece (K) is supplied under one or several wrapping film layers (3a) forming around the piece (K) during the wrapping. A device applying the method. A manipulating device for manipulating one or several labels (E, E1) in connection with wrapping of a piece (K).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Pesmel Oy
    Inventors: Jari Mäki-Rahkola, Hannu Mäki-Rahkola