Insert Or Separating Sheet Patents (Class 53/157)
  • Patent number: 11827393
    Abstract: A machine (100) and a method for stabilising palletised loads (900) are described, comprising: a functional arrangement (105) provided with a reel (110) on which a covering tape (800) is wound, a gripping device (350) adapted to take a first end of the covering tape (800) wound on the reel (110) and to make it integral with the palletised load (900), a first movement apparatus (215) adapted to generate a relative motion of revolution of the functional arrangement (105) around the palletised load (900), according to a predetermined revolution axis (Z), a second movement apparatus (275) adapted to generate a relative motion of translation of the functional arrangement (105) with respect to the palletised load (900) in a direction parallel to the revolution axis (Z), a cutting device (115) placed in the functional arrangement (105) so as to separate the covering tape (800) from the reel (110), a fixing device (400) adapted to fix at least a second end of the covering tape (800) to the palletised load (900).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: A.C.M.I.—SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventors: Giacomo Magri, Giorgio Oppici
  • Patent number: 11807473
    Abstract: A conveying system employs independently controlled flights. The flights are controlled separately from a conveying surface using a linear transport system. The linear transport system allow the position of the flights to be controlled based on a parameter, such as the length of a conveyed object. The flights are pivotally mounted to a mover of the linear transport system and can pivot relative to the conveying surface to allow the flights to fit in a space between an end of carryway and a receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Matthew L. Fourney, Robert K. Paquin, James L. Brun, Christopher B. Spicer, David L. Marsh
  • Patent number: 11565839
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing bales, for agricultural machines provided with a chamber for forming a substantially cylindrical bale. The apparatus includes at least one structure for supporting a reel of banded material, of the type of a net, a polymeric film, and the like, designed to wrap the bale. The apparatus includes means of movement of a device for the transfer and delivery of an end flap of the reel to the forming chamber; such device is provided with an end blade which can move along a work path, from a first limit position, in which the blade is proximate to the reel supported by the structure, for the withdrawal of the end flap, to a second limit position, in which the blade is facing toward the chamber, for the delivery of the flap to the chamber, and vice versa, such limit positions having substantially the same height from the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: KVERNELAND GROUP RAVENNA S.R.L.
    Inventor: Paolo Ravaglia
  • Patent number: 11117692
    Abstract: Process for reducing the height of a box to the level of the apex of the stack of objects therein, wherein horizontal score lines are made at a height substantially equal to that of the apex of the stack of objects and such that the distance between the apex and the top of the box is greater than the half-width of the box. During a phase of simultaneous folding of the upper parts of the two side walls parallel to the length of the box toward the centre thereof, and before the upper edges or ridges of the upper parts meet, the angles of inclination of the upper parts are differentiated with respect to one another so that, when the upper parts meet, the upper edge of one covers the upper edge of the other, the upper parts sliding over one another during the final phase of folding the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: B+ Equipment
    Inventors: Claude Durand, Frédéric Duffes, Robert Casanova
  • Patent number: 10894621
    Abstract: A carton packing apparatus occupying a small footprint for efficient packing of articles includes a longitudinal frame housing and an article transfer means. The longitudinal frame housing has an article accumulation platform mounted within and in line with the longitudinal direction of the frame housing, wherein articles and cartons are fed transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the frame housing to an article loading station and a carton receiving station respectively located adjacent opposite ends of the accumulation platform. The article transfer means is movably mounted within the frame housing, the transfer means being movable over an internal pathway substantially in line with the accumulation platform between an article pick up position and article dispensing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: PACWELL IP PTY LTD
    Inventors: Gary Tempany, Paul Tamasauskas
  • Patent number: 10773837
    Abstract: A solid state disk packaging line, for packaging solid state disks, includes a stacking tray conveying system, a packaging system, a packaging box conveying system, and a packaging box packaging system. The packaging system includes a packaging box loading device, a sealing bag loading device, and a packaging machine. Two sides of the packaging system provided with the packaging machine are connected with the stacking tray conveying system and the packaging box conveying system respectively. The packaging machine receives stacking trays, and loads the stacking trays into a packaging box, and then transfers the packaging box to the packaging box packaging system via the packaging box conveying system. The packaging box with the stacking trays loaded therein is sealed by the packaging box packaging system. The packaging line packages and seals the packaging box without manual work which protects solid state disks, avoids doing damage, and improves production efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: WORLD PRECISION MANUFACTURING (DONGGUAN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinsuo Sun, Zhaoyuan Huang, Wenjun Li, Mengtao Yang
  • Patent number: 10703001
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for a single-track or multitrack provision of web-like interleaved sheet material at a cutting region in which products supplied on one track or on multiple tracks are cut into slices and interleaved sheets are introduced which are cut off from the provided interleaved sheet material in the cutting region, comprising an output device which is configured to eject at least one material web into the cutting region, wherein the output device comprises at least one driven feed roll and at least one counter-unit which forms a feed gap for the material web together with the feed roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventors: Tobias Einloft-Velte, Thomas Nispel, Noël Ritzen
  • Patent number: 10647013
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for a single-track or multitrack provision of web-like interleaved sheet material at a cutting region in which products supplied on one track or on multiple tracks are cut into slices and interleaved sheets are introduced which are cut off from the provided interleaved sheet material in the cutting region, having a material store; and having a removal device which is configured for a removal of a material web from the material store, wherein a loop store in which the material web forms a loop is provided for the material web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
    Inventors: Tobias Einloft-Velte, Thomas Nispel, Noël Ritzen
  • Patent number: 10315793
    Abstract: A product packaging system includes a tipping system that tips a product stack after the product stack is formed. The tipping system may have a turn plate that is selectively pivotable about a horizontal axis to tip a product stack onto a discharge platform located upstream from the product stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Valley Tissue Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Rooyakkers
  • Patent number: 10280013
    Abstract: An article loading facility includes an imaging device configured to capture an image of an article in a support member, and a weighing device configured to measure a weight of an article W in the support member. A controller is configured to perform a first determining operation, a second determining operation, and a third determining operation. The first determining operation is an operation in which an attitude and position of an article placed in the support member is determined based on image information from the imaging device. The second determining operation is an operation in which it is determined whether it is possible to place a target article in the support member in an attitude and position indicated by arrangement information based on arrangement information and attitude and position information obtained in the first determining operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Daifuku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuya Gondoh, Masami Iwai, Atsushi Minoo
  • Patent number: 10005577
    Abstract: A system for stacking and packaging a plurality of discrete products of different sizes is provided. The system includes a stacking system having a movable lift plate, a slide plate assembly, an adjustable stop plate, and adjustable sidewalls. Layers of articles are introduced into a stack area, and movement of the lift plate and the slide plate assembly are coordinated to stack products in layers on the lift plate. The stacking system includes an adjustment assembly that allows adjustment of the position of the stop plate and/or the sidewalls relative to a frame such that the stacking system can be quickly and efficiently configured for use with layers of articles that have different depths and/or widths. In another aspect, the stacking system cooperates with a tipping system that rolls or tips stacked product to facilitate further processing or use of the product package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Valley Tissue Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Rooyakkers
  • Patent number: 9969572
    Abstract: An automated palletizer includes an automated package pick device capable of moving packages from a package deposit section to a pallet to form a pallet load from packages, a controller that is operably connected to the automated pick device, the controller having a pallet load generator configured to determine a pallet load structure of mixed packages, the pallet load generator being programmed so that it determines the load structure from mixed package layers overlaid over each other at least one of the mixed package layers being formed of stacks of mixed packages, top and bottom surfaces of the stacks corresponding to the at least one mixed package layer respectively forming top and bottom surfaces of the at least one mixed package layer that are substantially flat. The controller generates commands for the pick device to build the pallet load from the load structure determined by the pallet load generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Symbotic, LLC
    Inventors: Kirill K. Pankratov, David Ehrenberg, Larry M. Sweet
  • Patent number: 9878462
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for inserting an interleaving paper between a first and a second food slice, or a second and third food slice, a third and fourth food slice, etc., wherein the interleaving paper is guided in a channel and, in a time interval between the slicing of the first food slice and the slicing of the second food slice, exits the channel and enters a slicing region, wherein the channel is designed in such a way that the channel shapes the flat cross-section of the interleaving paper. The invention further relates to a slicing device and an interleaving paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: GEA FOOD SOLUTIONS GERMANY GMBH
    Inventors: Winfried Hörberg, Alois Bochtler
  • Patent number: 9725197
    Abstract: An erecting aid for packaging materials is described and may include a table portion and a panel. A panel may be coupled to one side of the table portion. The table portion and the panel can be configured such that the table portion and panel form an acute angle and the panel acts as a type of back support wall with respect to the table portion. A clamp may cooperate with the table portion to produce a clamping force. The clamping force may occur by biasing at least a portion of the clamp towards a relaxed, closed. The combination of the table, panel and biased clamp provide the forces necessary to stabilize a partially folded corrugated box during the erecting process such that the partially folded corrugated box is stabilized and maintained in a partially assembled state while the operator can use both hands to complete the erecting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Packsize LLC
    Inventors: Niklas Pettersson, Ryan Osterhout
  • Patent number: 9617023
    Abstract: A method for producing a cluster pack forming containers received in a container stream into lanes of single-track container streams, then for each lane, separating containers from neighboring containers by a pre-determined separation distance, for a subset of containers in the lane, applying adhesive to selected regions of the containers, rotating the containers in the subset such that adhesive regions of containers in the subset that are to be joined face each other, dividing off a pre-determined number of containers from the single-track container stream to form a container group. The method then includes pressing the container group against at least one other container group to form the cluster pack. The adhesive is selected such that a container is separable from the cluster pack by hand without damaging the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Zahn, Thomas Nitsch
  • Patent number: 9053599
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for adjusting an installation position of modules in a self-service device that has a first module, a second module and a transfer module with a transfer slot for transferring notes of pecuniary value from the first module to the second module or vice versa. The transfer module is held in an operating position by a fastening device and forms a spacing to the second module. An adjusting mechanism is associated with the transfer module so that the transfer module, by forming different spacing to the second module, is mounted so as to be adjustable in an adjusting direction that extends perpendicularly with respect to the transfer slot and in a transfer plane of the notes of pecuniary value which is predefined by the transfer slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: WINCOR NIXDORF INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventor: Oliver Dietz
  • Patent number: 9044872
    Abstract: A sheet interleaver is provided for a slicing machine that includes a slicing plane for slicing an elongated food product and a sheet of web material beneath the elongated product. The interleaver includes a supply of web material, a drawing station, and a feed station. A tensioning station is disposed between the supply of web material and the drawing station to maintain the tension of the web material at a pre-determined tension. A web accumulation station is between the drawing station and the feed station to provide a slackened length of web material within an acceptable range of slack between the drawing station and the feed station. The supply of web material is disposed on a spool which rotates about a cylindrical shaft. The cylindrical shaft has a braking mechanism which protrudes from the shaft to generate a frictional force against the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FORMAX, INC.
    Inventors: Glen F. Pryor, Wayne H. Webster
  • Patent number: 8865502
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a back side surface field of a solar cell without utilizing screen printing. The method includes first forming a p-type dopant layer directly on the back side surface of the semiconductor substrate that includes a p/n junction utilizing an electrodeposition method. The p/n junction is defined as the interface that is formed between an n-type semiconductor portion of the substrate and an underlying p-type semiconductor portion of the substrate. The plated structure is then annealed to from a P++ back side surface field layer directly on the back side surface of the semiconductor substrate. Optionally, a metallic film can be electrodeposited on an exposed surface of the P++ back side surface layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kathryn C. Fisher, Nicholas C. M. Fuller, Satyavolu S. Papa Rao, Xiaoyan Shao, Jeffrey Hedrick
  • Patent number: 8635837
    Abstract: A food processing system having a slicer/former for food preparations having a feed conveyor, a stacker for stacking food preparations, and n interleaver for inserting a substrate under a food preparation from the food slicer/former as it transitions to the stacker. The interleaver is arranged such that a portion of the interleaver is located beneath the feed conveyor of the slicer/former. The interleaver includes an interleaver conveyor which extends from the feed conveyor to the stacker in-feed conveyor, and an overall length of the interleaver conveyor is less than a length of the interleaver in order to provide a reduced footprint interleaver for new and retro-fit applications having a limited length for the food processing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Packaging Progressions, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Ward, Dante Pietrinferni, Allen Ely
  • Patent number: 8544242
    Abstract: When sheets (1, 2) with different sizes are processed to a mail item, sheets (1, 2) with different sizes in conveying direction are supplied along first and second conveyor tracks, gathered into a stack and then folded. The folding of the stacked set (7) takes place with at least one predetermined folding length (a). In response to a difference between the folding length (a) and the size of the sheet (2) of the second size, which is within a predetermined range, the conveyor tracks (5, 6) are controlled by the control structure (9) for combining at least the sheets (1, 2) with leading edges (10, 11) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) and with trailing edges (12, 13) at a mutual distance in the conveying direction (3) to form the set (7). From the combining until the folding, the sheets (1, 2) are mutually fixed and during folding, at least one fold (14) is provided in the sheets (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventor: Christiaan Antoon Munneke
  • Publication number: 20120167524
    Abstract: A machine to be incorporated in a packaging line for beverage packages such as wines and sparkling wines, in a stage after the entering of bottles into a box, and before the closing of same. The machine is formed into a fixed frame (B) interposed in the packaging line, the fixed frame defining a lower sector where the boxes carrying the bottles pass, and a higher sector having a carrier horizontal frame for at least one placing head (C). The dividers (S) each comprise at least a pair of flexible laminar plates with square format joined to each other through a central and vertical adhesive line disposed between their opposite faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Marisa Rosana Lattanzi, Laura Isabel Lattanzi, Fernando Adrián Lattanzi, Carina Adriana Lattanzi
  • Patent number: 7992363
    Abstract: A method for palletizing confectioned units including the steps of grouping the confectioned units to a layer of confectioned units in a grouping device, providing a material for an intermediate layer comprising a partly elastic foil material, cutting a single sheet from the material for the intermediate layer, moving the layer of confectioned units and the single sheet of the intermediate layer to a transport device, moving the layer of confectioned goods and the single sheet of the intermediate layer into the loading station of the transport device, transporting the layer of confectioned goods and the single sheet of the intermediate layer to an unloading station, and positioning the layer of confectioned goods and the single sheet of the intermediate layer at the unloading station onto a pallet or onto layers of goods which are already positioned on the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Peter Zeiner, Kurt Perl
  • Patent number: 7669385
    Abstract: A machine for packaging articles, in particular CDs, DVDs and the like, into relative containers, which are formed by a pair of substantially box-like closure members, lower (GD and upper (G2), hinged to each other along a common hinge edge (D), includes a conveying line (L), which is equipped all around with gripping and transferring devices (1). The gripping and transferring devices (1) are moved continuously and grip lateral edges of die iowa closure member (G1) of the containers (C) housed in closed condition inside a magazie (S0) and remove the containers (C) from the bottom of the magazine (S0). The gripping and transferring devices (1) transfer the containers withdrawn from the magazine (S0) to subseqaent working stations associated to the line (L).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sichera S.r.l.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Sichera, Gianni Sichera
  • Patent number: 7634894
    Abstract: A system is provided for palletizing articles including a stacking area for stacking palletized article layers. Each palletized article layer is constructed from a plurality of arranged articles. The stacking area includes a structural member for structurally carrying a stabilizer over the stacking area. The stabilizer provides substantially continuous lateral support along the periphery of arranged articles of the article layer being constructed to substantially prevent tipping of the plurality of arranged articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: Dyco, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter D. Yohe, Ronald H. Cordingly, Justin L. Mowery
  • Patent number: 7624557
    Abstract: An assembling machine with a feeder is provided. The feeder feeds receiving components into an assembler, where a moveable coupling mechanism couples attaching components to the receiving components. Transporting mechanisms coupled to a plurality of drive trains deliver the receiving components across the feeder table and to the assembler. The transporting mechanisms alternate between a plurality of speeds so as to deliver the receiving components to the assembler such that the moveable coupling mechanism may operate at a continuous, periodic rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Box Partition Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gordon H. Campbell
  • Patent number: 7600357
    Abstract: A method of operating a beverage can packaging station in which the filled closed cans in a group of cans are individually spaced apart from one another at a distance sufficient to permit the lowering of a divider into the spaces between the individual cans substantially only by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventors: Michael Jörissen, Alexander Brüker, Thomas Nitsch, Josef Düpper
  • Publication number: 20090223178
    Abstract: A packaging group (10) with high packaging speed of products (11) fed in succession in accordance with a predefined and variable pitch, comprising a conveyor (14) of the products (11), at least one roll (15, 15?) of at least one plastic film (17, 17?), feed means (16, 16?) of the at least one plastic film (17, 17?) from the at least one roll (15, 15?) respectively atop and underneath the products (11) substantially upon exiting the conveyor (14), a counter-welder belt (18) downstream of the conveyor (14) which receives the products (11) covered on their upper and lower parts with the at least one plastic film (17, 17?), a transverse welder device (19) at the counter-welder belt (18), said transverse welder device (19) comprising a rotating star-like structure (21) equipped with at least three spokes (22) provided at their tips with welder means (23) cooperating one after the other in succession with the counter-welder belt (18), in order to weld together portions of the at least one plastic film between the p
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: SITMA S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aris BALLESTRAZZI, Lamberto Tassi
  • Publication number: 20090158689
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging unit (1), which comprises at least one agent-containing product (80), at least one main wrapping (30), and one secondary wrapping (10), wherein at least one agent-containing product (80) is stored sealed in each closed main wrapping (30), and wherein the main wrappings (30) are arranged in piles in the secondary wrapping (10) and are removably attached, at least in some regions, by means of perforation lines (38). Each main wrapping (30) of this is a sealed pouch with a gripping piece (70). The individual sealed pouch has a perforation seam (55) that bounds a tear-off region (47). The gripping piece (70) is joined to the tear-off region (47), opened by pulling a gripping piece (70), releases the agent-containing product (80). A further pulling of the gripping piece (70) separates the perforation line (38).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventor: Ronald Hackbarth
  • Publication number: 20080223002
    Abstract: The invention finds application in the field of systems for orderly packaging of plastic preforms in carton boxes. The system comprises a manipulator unit (6), having a vacuum gripping head (23) and one or more units (10) for handling and inserting separators (12) in the carton box (13) to be filled. The head (23) comprises a plurality of compartments (30) conforming to the shape of the performs (2) whereas the separator (12) has a plurality of partitions (12a) parallel to one of its sides and equally spaced at a distance at least corresponding to the length of the preform (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: LANFRANCHI S.R.L.
    Inventor: Lino Lanfranchi
  • Patent number: 7416379
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interlacing device which can be used automatically to interlace long products on a transport pallet in an economical and optimum manner, which can be adapted to tubes of any length and which operates concurrently with the palletizing machine. The inventive interlacing device (10) is characterized in that it comprises at least one interlacing gantry (11) which extends parallel to the palletized products along at least part of the length thereof and which comprises at least one wire guide (20), the wire guide being fed by at least one interlacing (12?) link reel (12). The aforementioned interlacing device (10) also comprises drive means (14) which are connected to the interlacing gantry (11) in order to move same alternatively between at least two end positions such as to move the guide wire (20) alternatively from one side of the transport pallet (7) to the other in at least one interlacing plane (P) which is essentially perpendicular to the palletized products (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Pack Industrie S.A.
    Inventor: Yves Roesch
  • Publication number: 20080184669
    Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging machine for inserting articles which are prepackaged in bags, into folding boxes in an insertion area. The bags can be inserted via an opening cross-section of the box which is able to be at least partially covered by an essentially flat top flap. A device having a receiving area for a top flap of a box is provided in the insertion area. The top flap is, in the insertion area, positioned in the receiving area and is kept in a convex shape so that, at least during the insertion of the bag and of the box when the top flap is convexly shaped, the opening cross-section of the box is larger than when the top flap is flat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Mueller, Ulrich Wieduwilt, Armin Rupietta
  • Patent number: 7302785
    Abstract: A packaging machine with a movable centering and lowering device for inserting partitions between groups of bottles or cans and a method of operation thereof. The movable centering and lowering device is designed to move with a group of bottles or cans and insert a divider between the bottles or cans in the group as the group moves through the packaging machine. The movable centering and lowering device is also adjustable to permit handling of dividers of different size and configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen-und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventors: Robert Van Den Heuvel, Hans-Peter Kuhlmann, Lothar Wess, Thomas Nitsch
  • Patent number: 7216470
    Abstract: A sheet package producing system for producing a sheet package having a predetermined number of sheets or X-ray films is provided. A cutting/stacking device forms the sheets by cutting continuous sheet at a regular length, and for stacking the sheets in the predetermined number. A covered sheet stack producing device inserts the stacked sheets into a protective cover, to obtain a covered sheet stack. A packaging device packages the covered sheet stack to obtain the sheet package. The cutting/stacking device, the covered sheet stack producing device and the packaging device are connected in series with one another. Those devices are balanced in line capacity balance relative to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting/stacking device includes a supply module for feeding the continuous sheet. A cutter module cuts the continuous sheet to obtain the sheets. A stacker module stacks the sheets in the predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Nishida
  • Patent number: 7159372
    Abstract: A sheet interleave system for a reciprocating mold plate patty-forming apparatus includes a hopper for holding sheets, a shuttle, a sheet transfer device, at least one precise position controlled motor, and a drive train. The shuttle has a sheet-holding frame that is slidable between a sheet receiving position and a sheet dispensing position beneath knockout cups of the patty-forming apparatus. The sheet transfer device has a suction device for gripping a sheet from the hopper. The suction device is moveable from a position to grip a sheet from the hopper to a position to place the sheet on the sheet holding frame. The drive train is driven by one or two precise position controlled motor. The drive train is mechanically connected to the carriage and to the sheet transfer device to impart controlled motion thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Formax, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Lindee, Salvatore Lamartino
  • Patent number: 7086213
    Abstract: A strapping installation, which serves in particular for longitudinally strapping stacks of printed products such as newspapers or periodicals with a strap (6), includes a strapping position with a bearing surface (2) and a device for positioning the objects to be strapped (1) in the strapping position and a device for discharging the strapped objects. The strapping position includes a fastening region (3), situated below the bearing surface (2) and equipped for feeding the strap (6) into a loop channel (4), securing one end of the strap loop (7), retracting the strap (6) from the loop channel (4), and fastening and severing a completed strapping. The installation also includes a loop guide (10), which is stationary during strapping, which rises from the bearing surface (2) inside of the loop channel (4) and beside the strapping position, and which arches across or towards the strapping position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ferag AG
    Inventor: Hans-Ulrich Stauber
  • Patent number: 7069708
    Abstract: A sheet package producing system includes at least a cutter module and a packaging module. The cutter module has a cutter blade, for producing X-ray films by cutting a continuous sheet material. The packaging module has packaging robots, for producing a sheet package by packaging the X-ray films stacked on one another. In the sheet package producing system, a first module control unit is incorporated in the cutter module, for controlling the cutter blade. A second module control unit is incorporated in the packaging module, for controlling the packaging robots. A CPU is connected with the first and second module control units removably by a component network, for controlling the cutter module and the packaging module in synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Ishii, Hiroyuki Nishida, Takao Asakura, Hideyuki Uezono
  • Patent number: 7059532
    Abstract: An apparatus that stores and synchronizes printed forms that are being transferred between a high speed forms printer and a mechanism for attaching plastic cards to the forms. The apparatus is also able to buffer the forms that are in progress in the printer should the card processing system need to be shut down or paused. The apparatus creates a shingled stack of forms, with the bottommost form in the stack being fed to the attaching mechanism as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventor: Roger D. McCumber
  • Patent number: 6931815
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a transfer device for inserting a product into a package and a circulating leaflet supply device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders which are sequentially disposed, each for receiving one leaflet and for bringing that leaflet into a region of the transfer device between the product and the package such that it can be inserted together with the product into the package. An opening unit with several stops, which can be actuated independently of each other, is disposed in the transport path of the holders for opening the holders to release the leaflet. The stops can be brought into an inoperative position in which the holders pass by the stops without releasing the leaflet. In this connection, the leaflet supply device comprises first holders to be opened by a first stop, and second holders to be opened by a second stop, and successive, sequential holders cooperate with and can be opened by different stops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: IWK Verpackungstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Dieter Plüschow
  • Patent number: 6918232
    Abstract: A package of a strip of material is formed by slitting or perforating a web to separate the web into side by side strips and fan folding the web to form a plurality of side by side stacks of the strips. The strip of each stack is spliced to the strip of the next stack to form a continuous strip through the package which can be unfolded for supply continuously to an end use machine. The package while compressed is wrapped by a packaging material which includes a bottom rigid plate, a top header and heat shrink bag wrapped around the package and under the bottom plate and heat sealed to a plastic layer covering a bottom surface of the bottom header plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: BKI Holdinfs Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Sze Wan Lam, Alan Jeffrey Campbell, Randall Flaman
  • Patent number: 6860091
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Foodtools, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano
  • Publication number: 20040231300
    Abstract: An apparatus for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano
  • Publication number: 20040163361
    Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a transfer device for inserting a product into a package and a circulating leaflet supply device comprising a plurality of tong-like holders which are disposed in a row, for receiving one leaflet each, and for bringing the leaflet into the region of the transfer device between the product and the package such that it can be inserted together with the product into the package. An opening unit with at least one stop is disposed in the transport path of the holders for opening the holders to release the leaflet. The stop can be adjusted in dependence on an opening signal of a control device between an operative position opening the holders and an inoperative position in which the holders pass the stop without releasing the leaflet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventor: Wolfgang Herkel
  • Publication number: 20040068961
    Abstract: Apparatus and a packaging machine comprising apparatus for placing packaging material in a pre-determined position relative to an array of articles for example bottles to be packaged, comprising a conveyor for conveying an array of articles, feed means for feeding the packaging material from a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel of the articles. The feed means accelerates the packaging material to a sufficient velocity relative to the velocity of the articles such that the packaging material is placed in the pre-determined position whilst continuous forward motion of the articles is maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Eric Chalendar, Pascal Portrait, Laurent Henot
  • Patent number: 6708842
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for unpacking a stack of products packaged in a sleeve, such as a stack of covers for cans, for instance drink cans, having the steps of removing a portion of the sleeve located on a longitudinal end; peeling away the sleeve over the stack with a relative movement of the stack and the sleeve; and separately discharging the stack without the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Can Systems Worldwide B.V.
    Inventor: Erwin Peter
  • Patent number: 6662529
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting separate portions of a food product and inserting dividers between adjacent portions, in which a cutting blade is ultrasonically energized during a first cutting movement, the blade is withdrawn while a divider sheet is inserted between the blade and the food item, and then the blade is driven in a second cutting movement to fold the divider sheet and to insert the thus-folded divider sheet into the cut between the two now separate portions of the food item. A particular feature of the invention is a camming mechanism to provide precise support for and folding of the divider sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Foodtools, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary R. Grano
  • Patent number: 6604339
    Abstract: A new and improved film wrapping or packaging machine has incorporated therein a new and improved mechanism or system for implementing the downward folding of outwardly projecting edge or tab portions of slip sheets interposed between successive tiers, levels, or layers of articles or goods forming a palletized load. The folding mechanism or system comprises a plurality of vertically oriented posts which are initially disposed above the outwardly projecting tab portions, subsequently independently aligned with outer edge portions of the outwardly projecting tab portions of the slip sheets, and thereafter lowered so as engage the tab portions of the slip sheets and fold the same vertically downwardly against the vertical sides of the palletized load such that the downwardly folded tab portions can now be enveloped within the wrapping or packaging film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Zitella, Kenneth J. Noakes
  • Patent number: 6598379
    Abstract: A new and improved film wrapping or packaging machine has incorporated therein a new and improved mechanism or system for implementing the downward folding of outwardly projecting edge or tab portions of slip sheets interposed between successive tiers, levels, or layers of articles or goods forming a palletized load. The folding mechanism or system comprises a plurality of vertically oriented posts which are initially disposed above the outwardly projecting tab portions, subsequently independently aligned with outer edge portions of the outwardly projecting tab portions of the slip sheets, and thereafter lowered so as engage the tab portions of the slip sheets and fold the same vertically downwardly against the vertical sides of the palletized load such that the downwardly folded tab portions can now be enveloped within the wrapping or packaging film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Marco Zitella, Kenneth J. Noakes
  • Patent number: 6557320
    Abstract: A the compact disk packing machine includes a base having a box providing device for move empty boxes to a box opening device which opens the empty boxes one by one. A transferring device transfers the opened boxes to a disk providing device and a disk positioning device to put a compact disk in each of the opening boxes. A sheet putting device puts a sheet of commercial in the open boxes and a closing device closes the boxes. The boxes having a compact disk and a sheet of commercial are transferred to a collection device and piled up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventors: Chen Hsien Chang, Chia Wen Liu, Mao Lung Chien, Ching Chuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 6558108
    Abstract: An apparatus for palletizing substantially cylindrical objects. The apparatus comprises at least one position-defining support device for at least one pallet, a supply of the cylindrical objects for palletizing, at least one holder for a roll of material intended for arrangement between the palletized objects and a handling device for removing the cylindrical objects from the supply and placing them on the pallet. The apparatus also comprises at least two support members each arranged on a side of a base of the position-defining support device. The handling device is adapted to removably place the at least one holder for the roll of material on different support devices after a number of objects for palletizing have been placed on the pallet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Celema B.V.
    Inventor: Jan J. J. Van Oord
  • Publication number: 20030056471
    Abstract: 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Frank V. Linker, Frank V. Linker