Successive Filling Stations Patents (Class 53/240)
  • Patent number: 11548729
    Abstract: Recycling systems can include a conveyor system, an optical device, and a processor operable to detect, identify, and count redeemable objects. The conveyor system can include a plurality of bins and be configured to move the bins from a first end of the conveyor system to a second end of the conveyor system. The optical device can be situated and configured to capture an image of a plurality of objects within a bin of the conveyor system. A processor including computer-readable instructions can be configured to detect and identify the objects within an image captured by the optical device as belonging to one or more object classes. Each object class can determine whether an object is redeemable or unredeemable. The processor can be configured to provide a count of only those objects identified as redeemable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative
    Inventor: Johann Klemmack
  • Patent number: 10926901
    Abstract: A blister packing device and a blister pack packing method are provided. The blister packing device includes a frame, a main hopper attached to the frame and configured to receive tablets, a rotation module located below the main hopper and including a plurality of cells and configured to sequentially receive the tables in the plurality of cells and convey the plurality of cells containing the tablets to a discharge region, and a buffer including a plurality of areas physically divided and configured to receive the tablets in the plurality of areas corresponding to a plurality of cells located in the discharge region and discharge the tablets to a blister pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: JVM CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jun-ho Kim
  • Patent number: 10843823
    Abstract: A drug packaging unit is disclosed. The drug packaging unit includes a storage portion separately discharging a plurality of units of a drug, a supply portion supplying the drug to a drug packaging member, a detection portion detecting a drug supply error by detecting the drug passing through the supply portion, an adjustment portion adjusting the number of units of drug discharged out of the supply portion, and a driver/controller individually driving the storage portion and the supply portion, thereby putting the drug on standby to be discharged. With this structure, it is possible to reduce a drug packaging time and it is easy to control drug supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: CRETEM (CO)., LTD.
    Inventor: Ho Yeon Kim
  • Patent number: 10589883
    Abstract: A system for packaging dosed quantities of solid drug portions comprises a plurality of dosing stations (2) for dispensing a dosed quantity of solid drug portions, a plurality of guiding ducts (7), a plurality of collecting containers (17) for receiving drug portions guided through the guiding ducts (7), and at least one discharge and packaging station (3) for transferring drug portions collected by each collecting container (17) to a packaging and for closing the packaging. The guiding ducts (7) are coupled to a transport means (6a, 6b, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16) for moving the guiding ducts (7) along the dosing stations (2), wherein each guiding duct (7) is adapted to receive drug portions dispensed from at least one of the dosing stations (2) when the guiding duct (7) is positioned at the at least one dosing station (2), and to guide the received drug portions to an passage opening of the guiding duct (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: BD SWITZERLAND SÀRL
    Inventor: Arie Van Wijngaarden
  • Patent number: 10295398
    Abstract: A method for providing a predetermined number of contiguous stored elements (A,B,C,D,E,F,G), that is which are touching each other, and in a line (2) in a supply chute (3) along which the line (2) may advance, these elements being essentially spheroidal, such as fruit, wherein initially the first element (A) in the line (2) is retained by retention means (4), comprising the operation of counting, by means of the emission and detection of a steady beam (6) of light, the signal variations produced in said detection by the line (2) advancing, specifically by the passage of the spaces between two consecutive elements in the line (2) through the detection beam (6), aiming the beam (6) at the gaps (7) that necessarily will be formed in the line (2) between two consecutive elements even if they are contiguous, due to the effect of said elements (A,B,C,D,E,F,G) being spheroidal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 9215879
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing pillow-shaped hollow bodies which are formed by the division of hot wafer tubes that are plastically deformable in the warm-baked state. In the frame of the device there is provided at least one crimping device which revolves along a circular orbit which is configured as a mechanically actuatable tongs and separates the wafer tubes into pillow-shaped hollow bodies. A horizontally disposed rotatable mounting is provided in the frame of the device which contains the crimping device configured as tongs and moves this along the circular orbit from an upper receiving position provided for receiving the wafer tubes to a lower dispensing position provided for dispensing the pillow-shaped hollow bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Haas Food Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Haas, Josef Haas, Stefan Jiraschek, Johann Sachsenhofer, Josef Hogl
  • Patent number: 8915051
    Abstract: A method of transferring a plurality of tablets of a product from a first blister card including a first plurality of blisters to a second blister card including a second plurality of blisters includes discharging the plurality of tablets from the first plurality of blisters of the first blister card. Then, each of the plurality of tablets are guided along one of a plurality of passageways defined by a transfer fixture positioned between the first blister card and the second blister card. Finally, the plurality of tablets are received in the second plurality of blisters of the second blister card.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Sean McGonagle, Greg Pankow, J. Randolph Lewis, Victor Lee
  • Patent number: 8844245
    Abstract: A method for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid, the method comprising dispensing a first portion of the beverage from a first source into containers, wherein the first portion of the beverage comprises at least a majority of the particulates and a first portion of the liquid, dispensing from a counterpressure filler a second portion of the beverage from a second source into the containers, wherein the second portion of the beverage comprises a second portion of the liquid, and sealing the containers to form packaged beverages. An apparatus for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid. A method for packaging, in sequence, a first beverage comprising particulates in a liquid and a second beverage comprising a carbonated beverage. A method for packaging a beverage comprising a dairy component and a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Hubertus U. Schubert, F. Fred Sadeghi, Alain Verbeke
  • Patent number: 8763348
    Abstract: Packing unit (1) with a packing machine (2) for filling bulk materials (3) in open sacks with a sack suspension device (7), for suspending the open sacks at a filling nozzle (8-10) of a product supply device (11, 13) and filling the same with at least one bulk material. The sack suspension device is provided with at least two selectable product supply devices. The at least two product supply devices and the sack suspension device are movable relative to each other in order to select a product supply device and to suspend a sack by means of the sack suspension device at the filling nozzle of the selected product supply device and to fill bulk material in the open sack by means of the corresponding filling nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Haver & Boecker OHG
    Inventor: Alois Combrink
  • Publication number: 20120017538
    Abstract: A modular unit (10) for automatic packaging of food products to be packaged in trays employs one or more pick-up heads for picking up and transferring the product from a feeding belt. The trays to be filled circulate multiple times on a dual-belt system having adjacent linear conveyors and pushing devices for the reversing function, for receiving multiple deposits of product therein. The pick-up head picks up and deposits the product using vacuum generating elements; an optical reader checks the position of the product on the feeding belt.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: STORCI S.P.A.
    Inventor: Massimiliano Ricco
  • Patent number: 8046976
    Abstract: A method for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid, the method comprising dispensing a first portion of the beverage from a first source into containers, wherein the first portion of the beverage comprises at least a majority of the particulates and a first portion of the liquid, dispensing from a counterpressure filler a second portion of the beverage from a second source into the containers, wherein the second portion of the beverage comprises a second portion of the liquid, and sealing the containers to form packaged beverages. An apparatus for packaging a beverage comprising particulates in a liquid. A method for packaging, in sequence, a first beverage comprising particulates in a liquid and a second beverage comprising a carbonated beverage. A method for packaging a beverage comprising a dairy component and a liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventors: Hubertus U. Schubert, F. Fred Sadeghi, Alain Verbeke
  • Patent number: 8037659
    Abstract: An automated medication preparation system for preparing a prescribed dosage of medication in a drug delivery device. The system includes a plurality of stations for receiving, handling and processing the drug delivery device so that the prescribed dosage of medication is delivered to the drug delivery device and a transporting device that receives and holds more than one drug delivery device and moves the drug delivery devices in a controlled manner from one station to another station. The system is configured so that two or more separate drug delivery devices can be acted upon at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: ForHealth Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel A. Osborne, Dennis Tribble, Abdul Wahid Khan, Morris W. Wallace, Edward J. Lefebre
  • Publication number: 20100242415
    Abstract: In a process for introducing individual products into containers by means of a picker line comprising at least two pickers individual products are individually picked and transposed to containers. The individual products and the containers are delivered in counterflow on at least one transportation device for the individual products and on at least one transportation device for the containers. The delivery of a next container to be filled into the transposition area of the picker line is controlled by any picker. The picker which is controlling the delivery of the next container to be filled is determined by the number of currently introduced products at the infeed of the picker line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: VELTRU AG
    Inventors: Matthias Ehrat, Jürgen Renner
  • Patent number: 7661249
    Abstract: A device for picking up articles from a supply station and depositing the articles in corresponding blisters of a blister strip, comprising: at least a group of depression-activated gripping units, each of which units is shaped to a specific format for receiving and retaining a corresponding article having predetermined lie and orientation; connecting organs of the gripping units to an operating head whereby the gripping units are positioned in relation to a positioning of the corresponding blisters afforded in the blister strip; organs for moving the operating head in outward and return runs, respectively between the supply station of the articles and a release station of the articles in the corresponding blisters of the blister strip; enabling organs being activated in phase-relation with the movement organs, for activating the gripping units in the supply station, which gripping units collect a number of articles equal to a number of the gripping units, and for deactivating the gripping units in the releas
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Marchesini Group, S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giuseppe Monti
  • Patent number: 7637079
    Abstract: An installation for filling weekly blister packs, i.e. packaging units, with doses of different medicaments corresponding to the weekly requirements of several patients and to be taken by the respective patient in a certain order according to the day of the week and the time of the day, according to a doctor's prescription. The installation is provided with output stations associated with the medicaments, for automatically filling all or selected compartments line-by-line. In order to control the output stations in such a way as to fill the weekly blister pack with the prescribed medicament, an electronic control unit processes information about patients, the information being continuously supplied to the unit in such a way that it is synchronized with the blister pack advancing movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Edwin Kohl
    Inventors: Hans Klingel, Edwin Kohl
  • Patent number: 7584592
    Abstract: An automated packaging system has a plurality of dunnage dispensing stations that can dispense dunnage and a transport network for conveying containers to and from at least two dispensing stations for dunnage to be placed therein. At at least one loading station upstream of a dispensing station articles are placed in the containers for shipping. Optionally, an intermediate void determination station determines how much dunnage to dispense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: David M. Gabrielson, Robert C. Cheich, Joseph J. Harding, Daniel L. Carlson
  • Publication number: 20090107855
    Abstract: Additives that could interfere with the sealing of a cover onto a contact lens package are delivered separately from the bulk saline delivered into the lens package, thereby allowing more precise control of the additive delivery, reducing the incidence of additive in the seal area of the lens package, and improving the seal integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: Scott J. Gault, Kent M. Grothe
  • Patent number: 7240465
    Abstract: A transfer system for food products (P) having a product conveyor (11); a first support conveyor (13) suitable for moving supports (12) in equicurrent with the food products (P); a plurality of pickers (R1, R2, R3) situated in series along the run of the products (P) and supports (12) for individually collecting the products (P) from the product conveyor (11) to arrange them on the supports (12) translated from the first support conveyor (13); presence and position surveying devices (C1, C2) of which at least one is situated upstream with respect to the food products (P), of a first picker (R1) of the plurality of pickers (R1, R2, R3) suitable for detecting the presence, number, position and orientation of each product (P); an electronic image with a presence and position surveying device (C3), also connected to an electronic image identification and data processing system (34), wherein the pickers (R1–R4) are equipped with handlers (22) with an individual grip of the sucker type, with an anti-crash system an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: C.T. Pack S.r.l.
    Inventors: Daniele Davi', Daniele Mezzaro, David Rosignoli
  • Patent number: 7152756
    Abstract: A dispensing system dispensing items includes a dispensing station and a first conveyor for transporting containers to the dispensing station. The dispensing station includes a dispenser for dispensing items to the containers, a mechanism for spacing the containers to a predetermined pitch, a transfer wheel for removing the containers from the first conveyor, a star wheel for receiving the containers from the transfer wheel and for transporting the containers in synchronization with the dispenser, and a turret for removing the containers from the star wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Campbell Soup Company
    Inventor: John Baranowski
  • Patent number: 7104027
    Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Thomas Rice, Steven Brown
  • Patent number: 6993889
    Abstract: A product packaging system for receiving a series of products from one or more product transport lines. The products are loaded into a series of carriers and transported through a downstream inserter unit. Inserter assemblies moving in timed relation with the movement of the carriers through the inserter unit engage and urge the products out carriers and into a carton for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin Ford, Thomas Rice, Steven Brown
  • Patent number: 6993884
    Abstract: A dispensing system dispensing items includes a dispensing station and a first conveyor for transporting containers to the dispensing station. The dispensing station includes a dispenser for dispensing items to the containers, a mechanism for spacing the containers to a predetermined pitch, a transfer wheel for removing the containers from the first conveyor, a star wheel for receiving the containers from the transfer wheel and for transporting the containers in synchronization with the dispenser, and a turret for removing the containers from the star wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Campell Soup Company
    Inventor: John Baranowski
  • Patent number: 6925774
    Abstract: An automated solid pharmaceutical product packaging machine includes a plurality of temporary storage members for receiving a plurality of solid pharmaceutical products in a plurality of cavities. The use of the temporary storage cavities enables the machine to process several prescriptions simultaneously. Advantageously, at least one of the temporary storage members is capable of being automatically displaced in a vertical direction in order to increase the capacity of the overall filling system for processing a greater number of solid pharmaceutical products while minimizing the overall footprint of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: MTS Medication Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Raymond Peterson
  • Patent number: 6892509
    Abstract: Tiltable containers (3) with a filling opening (4) are arranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction of a shelf. A lower conveyor (5), is associated with the tiltable containers (3) in the longitudinal direction of the shelf. One or more containers (3) are filled with selected products preferably simultaneously in a filling position (F) of the containers. The selected products are released onto the conveyor (5) by tilting the filled containers into a tilted position (K). Each tiltable container (3) has, aside from the filling opening (4), a open container side (7), which is kept closed in the filling position (F) of the container by a stationary shelf wall (8) and is open in the tilted position (K) that is away from the stationary shelf wall (8) and forms the release opening of the container (3), from which the products of the container fall onto the conveyor (5).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Knapp Logistik Automation GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Freudelsperger
  • Patent number: 6742552
    Abstract: A method and system for producing a flavored beverage wherein the flavor is added in a separate step to a combination of the base ingredients of the beverage is provided. The flavor can be added to a container either before, during or after a thermally processed master batch base is hot filled into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Stokely-Van-Camp, Inc.
    Inventor: Subodh Raniwala
  • Patent number: 6568151
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a disposable conveyor for use with an apparatus handling contamination-sensitive discrete items. The conveyor has at least one cavity, each cavity capable to carry at least one discrete item. The conveyor is adapted to be mounted on the contamination-sensitive apparatus that, in operation, is capable to impart movement to the conveyor for displacing the conveyor, and its cavities, along a predetermined path. The present invention also relates to a method for transporting discrete items in a machine performing production runs with different types of contamination-sensitive discrete items. The method involves installing a conveyor as described above on the machine and using it to perform a first production run with a first type of discrete items. The conveyor is then disposed of and a new conveyor installed on the machine, used to perform a second production run with a second type of discrete items, different from the first type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Kalish, Inc.
    Inventors: David Buckley, Max Yablonovitch
  • Patent number: 6526724
    Abstract: Packaging method and apparatus using multiple packaging material are improved so that multiple packaging filled with goods and sealed may be separated easily to each goods filling section. The multiple packaging material (40, 50) has plural goods filling sections connected in series via adjacent side edge portion (42, 52, 53) between each of the goods filling sections. Goods to be packaged are filled in the multiple packaging material at goods filling portion (12). Multiple packaging so filled with the goods is covered and sealed with sheet coming from master roll (16). The multiple packaging is made separable at the adjacent side edge portion. Overlapped portion of outer peripheral edge portion (41, 51) of the multiple packaging material and the sheet is first sealed at sealing portion (14) and then the adjacent side edge portion is sealed with the sheet at longitudinal sealing portion (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Daisey Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ribun Tazaki, Kenichi Nakabayashi
  • Patent number: 6434914
    Abstract: A tag placement apparatus useful for placing a tag or label into communication with a container. The tag placement apparatus includes at least one tagging head having a linear slot in which a cam portion of a tag placement arm assembly reciprocally travels in response to a cylinder stroke to which it is attached. The tagging apparatus further includes an encoder for translating the roller rotation of a conveyor assembly into belt position and travel which in turn regulates the speed in which the reciprocal movement of the tag placement arm operates during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Bouldin & Lawson, Inc.
    Inventors: E. Lloyd Bouldin, Graham Goodenough
  • Patent number: 6276115
    Abstract: A process for packaging selected traditional cuts of pork loin by cutting the whole pork loin at successive saw stations to form a predetermined number of traditional cuts and moving the formed traditional cuts to corresponding traditional cut locations. After a first traditional cut is formed at the first saw station, the remainder of the whole loin is positioned at another saw station where a differing traditional cut is formed. The process is continued at additional saw stations so that the entire loin is formed into traditional cuts, the cuts are collected at collecting locations, and an array of cuts are placed in a package tray. The package is then sealed and can be gas flushed and thereafter accumulated in bulk or cases for removal to a remote location where they can be refrigerated or frozen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Inventors: Lee Kramer, Roger S. Williams
  • Patent number: 6122895
    Abstract: In a process and an apparatus for introducing individual products into containers for receiving a given number of individual products for filling the containers, by means of a picker line, the individual products and the containers are not advanced with a transportation movement in co-flow relationship, and delivery of the next container to be filled, into the working region of the pickers of the picker line, is controlled in dependence thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Gerhard Schubert GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Schubert
  • Patent number: 6067772
    Abstract: A packing apparatus for packing bags in packaging containers, the apparatus comprising a conveying means for the packaging containers, an endless transportation means including receiving chambers in which respective groups of sheet bags are transported that are to form a partial filling in the packaging containers, and at least two discharge stations in which the bags corresponding to one partial filling are respectively discharged into the packaging containers at the same time, and to a corresponding method. The conveying means can transport at least two packaging containers side by side and the endless transportation means is provided in the area of the discharge stations with straight discharge sections in which at least two discharge stations are respectively arranged side by side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Indag Gesellschaft fur Industriebedarf m.b.H
    Inventors: Eberhard Kraft, Hans-Peter Wild
  • Patent number: 5927052
    Abstract: A method for flavoring tea with a granular flavoring agent includes the step of removing from a reservoir a predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent. The predetermined amount of granular flavoring agent is placed as a small heap onto a moving endless filter paper strip. Subsequently, a predetermined amount of tea is placed adjacent to or onto the small heap of flavoring agent. The tea and flavoring agent heaped onto the filter paper strip are subsequently enclosed in a tea bag made from the filter paper strip accordingly. The inventive device for performing the method includes a device for moving the endless filter paper strip in an advancing direction. A tea metering device and a metering device for a flavoring agent are positioned directly above the endless filter paper strip whereby the metering device for the flavoring agent is positioned upstream of the tea metering device in the advancing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Teepak Spezialmaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Nippes, Michael Klein
  • Patent number: 5799468
    Abstract: A blister-pack package is made by forming a strip with a plurality of fields of upwardly open pockets and filling the pockets with respective objects while leaving at least one pocket empty and then scanning the fields and determining an address of the empty pocket in the respective field. A refilling head is then loaded at a stationary location with at least one of the objects. The loaded refilling head is then positioned above the empty pocket in accordance with the determined address, and the object is dropped from the loaded and positioned head into the empty pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Uhlmann Pac-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Werner Eck, Detlev Gertitschke, Richard Mertens, Gunther Bochtler, Reinhold Kopf, Andreas Weiss, Rudolf Arb
  • Patent number: 5727365
    Abstract: A method for packaging flat or stacked article groups within a packaging unit such as a paperboard carton. The method comprises the steps of supplying a stream of packaging units, for example paperboard cartons, supplying at least one stream of articles, for example beverage cans; forming at least one article group, for example a group of from six to twenty-four cans, optionally placing a support base on a top surface of the article group, and loading the article group in the packaging unit. In a stacked packaging mode a second article group is formed and loaded into the packaging unit, on top of the support base on each first article group disposed in the packaging unit. An apparatus for implementing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey A. Lashyro, Kelly W. Ziegler
  • Patent number: 5551207
    Abstract: An apparatus for preparing a layered food product has a station for introducing a first food component into a container and a station for introducing a second food component into the container on top of the first food component. The apparatus also has a unit for metering CO.sub.2 snow onto the first food component and a suction unit for removal of residual CO.sub.2 snow before introduction of the second food component into the container, the metering and removal being effected during passage of the first food component in the container through a tunnel in which air conditions about the container may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1996
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Hans-Joachim Beyer, Hans J. Jung, Manfred Wild
  • Patent number: 5531055
    Abstract: An assembly for refilling a printer cartridge includes a base that receives the printer cartridge to be refilled. A lid is located on the base and includes separate stations that sequentially open a refill opening, provide a predetermined amount of air to an equalize opening of the cartridge, dispense ink through the refill opening into the cartridge, and seal the refill opening. In a preferred embodiment, the four stations are mounted on the lid that is rotatable about an axis. The lid forms a seal with the printer cartridge so that air flow to an internal chamber of the cartridge is controlled during the refill process. The base contains any spills, mess, or the like, overcoming the types of problems associated with other ink refill processes and provides an accurate, dependable refill of ink to the printer cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Nu-Kote International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan M. Sell, Christopher L. Allgeier, Sr., Martin A. Carpenter, Mordechai Lev, William T. Kearney, III, William G. Goff, III, Joseph E. Domhoff, Jonathan K. Voet
  • Patent number: 5457934
    Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing agitator balls into aerosol cans being transported thereunder is disclosed. The apparatus includes a one or more rotary ball supply heads each receiving agitator balls at its inlet and conveying same to its outlet for dispensing into the aerosol cans. Each ball supply head includes a rotatable inner plate having a plurality of arm members rotatably attached thereto, a spacer member interposed between adjacent arm members, a cover member and an adjustable bar cam which operatively contacts the arms members and rotationally positions same to form a pocket defined by the arm member, spacer member and the inner surface of the cover member for the receipt and retention of an agitator ball as it is being conveyed through the rotary ball supply head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: The Sherwin-Williams Company
    Inventor: Karl P. Lehtola
  • Patent number: 5426917
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the automated and large scale preparation of layered stacks of one or more food items such as sandwich meats, hors d'oeuvre servings and the like ("set-ups"). The apparatus conveys a continuous web of paper through a plurality of slicer stations, each slicer station providing one or more slices of one or more food items to sequentially form set-ups of two or more stacked layers of horizontally spaced food slices. The apparatus is synchronized so that each sliced layer is conveyed to a subsequent slicer station before the next layer of food slices is deposited directly on top of that previous layer. The set-up is formed with two or more stacked layers of food slices before being conveyed to a cutter/wrapping station where the paper web is cut to separate the finished set-ups which are then wrapped by folding a portion of the cut paper over the finished set-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Daane, Gary A. Handel, John A. Jonovic, James A. Rattmann
  • Patent number: 5408804
    Abstract: A method for filling and closing off a two-chamber container with different filling materials includes two sealing steps for the closing-off procedure, the first chamber being filled with the first material under sterile conditions and closed off over a first partial seal with a covering sheet, after which the second chamber is filled with the second material and closed off by means of a second partial seal with formation of a fully sealed two-chamber container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: GEA Finnah GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Schroder
  • Patent number: 5339607
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined count and/or weight of objects into a receptacle includes a conveyor, an object sensor, a controller, a trickle-feed conveyor, and a receptacle conveyor. The conveyor conveys the objects and has at least one grouping assembly which is capable of capturing a group of objects and supporting that group of objects during conveyance. The object sensor is disposed to detect the presence of each of the groups of objects prior to discharge and relays information relating to the number of objects within each group of objects. The controller communicates with the object sensor, monitors the information relayed, generates instructions, and tracks the location of each grouping assembly from detection to discharge into the receptacle. The controller also monitors the number of objects in each group of objects discharged into the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Inventor: Robert D. Regier
  • Patent number: 5299409
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the automated and large scale preparation of layered stacks of one or more food items such as sandwich meats, hors d'oeuvre servings and the like ("set-ups"). The apparatus conveys a continuous web of paper through a plurality of slicer stations, each slicer station providing one or more slices of one or more food items to sequentially form set-ups of two or more stacked layers of horizontally spaced food slices. The apparatus is synchronized so that each sliced layer is conveyed to a subsequent slicer station before the next layer of food slices is deposited directly on top of that previous layer. The set-up is formed with two or more stacked layers of food slices before being conveyed to a cutter/wrapping station where the paper web is cut to separate the finished set-ups which are then wrapped by folding a portion of the cut paper over the finished set-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Oscar Mayer Foods Corporation
    Inventors: Larry E. Daane, John A. Jonovic, James A. Rattmann
  • Patent number: 5121589
    Abstract: A lettuce head holding tray is defined in which both the upper tray layer and the lower tray layer are packed side-by-side at packing stations. At a carton loading station, two side-by-side arrays of plungers each are used for packing of discrete layers of the cartons. One array of plungers packs the bottom carton layer; the other array of plungers packs the top carton layer. Two cartons are disposed opened upwardly to the plunger array at the packing station; one carton is disposed to the bottom layer loading plunger array for packing of the bottom layer and the other carton--with its bottom layer previously packed--is disposed to the top layer loanding plunger array for packing of its top layer. The cartons--between the packing of the bottom layer and the packing of the top layer--are conveyed between positions underlying the plunger arrays. Thus each carton has is lower layer packed by the lower layer loading plunger array and then its top layer packed by the upper layer loading plunger array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1992
    Assignee: Bud of California
    Inventors: Leon P. Ventura, Javier Diaz-Infante, Edward Wynn, Peter deGroot, Anna M. Boeh
  • Patent number: 4959947
    Abstract: An apparatus for the production and packaging of a compound mixture, in which extremely accurate and rapid weighing-out, proportioning and packaging of individual components are achieved, is provided. For this, filling stations (4 to 6) are equipped with combined discharge, weighing and transfer devices (22) which allow single-component treatment. The mixture introduced into a plastic bag (30) is further treated in a separate welding station (37), an ejection station (42) and a monitoring weight station (45). A combined bag-suction device (9) with a bag compacter (10) and dust-extraction device (11) serves for the disposal of the empty bags (8) of the individual components and for the removal of dust in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: Motan Verfahrungstechnik GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Werner Reif
  • Patent number: 4934126
    Abstract: A container for the components of an unassembled ceiling fan includes a first casing of expanded polystyrene foam. The first casing includes at least one internal recess shaped to receive a first component of the ceiling fan to protect it from damage during shipping. A second casing of expanded polystyrene foam includes at least one internal recess shaped to receive at least a second component of the ceiling fan to protect it from damage during shipping. The first and second casings have comparable cross-sectional areas and include structure integral therewith for interlocking the casings to restrict relative movement of the casings. At least the first casing provides sufficient protection to its contents to protect them from damage when the first casing is shipped without the second casing. A box or the like of suitable size receives the first and second interlocked casings to form a package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1990
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Charles F. Wiegand, Terrence L. Stanek
  • Patent number: 4881356
    Abstract: An assembling apparatus which is capable of assembling a multi-part article having a base with a plurality of receptacles for receiving components, such as make-up trays, and a lid hinged to the base, comprises an assembly chassis, having an endless rectangular guideway. A plurality of pucks are moveable from one accurately located station to another along the guideway. A transporting conveyor feeds a plurality of articles in an upside down condition to a labeling device which labels the bottom of each article. The articles are then flipped over to a right side up position and unloaded one at a time onto pucks of the endless guideway. The lid is mechanically opened and glue is deposited into each receptacle. Components are then loaded into each receptacle as are a brush or applicator and a dust cover. The lid is then closed and the articles are unloaded from the pucks. Sensors along the guideway sense whether each operation has been achieved successfully. A computer is connected to the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: Stelron Components
    Inventors: William E. Beezer, Earl F. Beezer
  • Patent number: 4751806
    Abstract: A production apparatus comprises a step-wise driven conveyor adapted to receive articles to be subjected to different operations. Along the conveyor operative devices are arranged for carrying out the different operations to which the articles are to be subjected. The operative devices having comparatively short operation periods are stationarily arranged along the conveyor, whereas at least two operative devices having comparatively long operation periods, are movably arranged along the conveyor so as to follow the conveyor while the conveyor makes at least one step and then to be moved one such step opposite to the direction of movement of the conveyor. By such doubling of the operative device or devices having long operation periods, an increased capacity of the production apparatus is achieved. The production apparatus can be used in producing ice cream coronets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Br drene Gram A/S
    Inventor: Klaus Gram
  • Patent number: 4739606
    Abstract: A system for in-line processing of envelopes and the like includes a first upstanding feed hopper for feeding primary envelopes through a first printing station operative to print predetermined indicia on the primary envelopes after which they are conveyed in the direction of their major longitudinal axes through a plurality of inserter stations operative to insert special event envelopes between selected ones of the primary envelopes. The primary and insert envelopes are conveyed by conveyance means in-line past an ink jet type printer station operative to print particular cluster data on each successive envelope making up a set, followed by a station for the automatic collating and packaging of sets of envelopes into cartons. The conveyance means include a endless vacuum belt which holds the envelopes flat in a continuous stream and allows easy transfer to and from the conveyance means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1988
    Assignee: Hammermill Paper Company
    Inventor: Jack W. Cantile
  • Patent number: 4724656
    Abstract: An automatic molten substance bagging system which can fill a molten substance such as asphalt latex into a bag in a short period of time fully automatically without operation by hand. A bag is first supplied into a carrying can on a circulating conveyor system and is inflated with air. Then, the bag is filled rapidly with a fixed volume of a molten substance and then further filled moderately with the molten substance until a predetermined weight is reached. The thus filled up bag is sealed at a mouth thereof by a sewing machine, and finally a plurality of such filled up, sealed bags are transferred onto another conveyor for further processing while their carrying cans are left on the circulating conveyor system so as to repeat such a sequence of operations for further bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Inventor: Sokichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 4677808
    Abstract: The assembly comprises several transport bands for advancing the products to be disposed in the preformed containers for assorted packings to a distributing station, from where several band conveyors transport the products to different filling stations. Each filling station comprises a depositing means for the products being mounted on a slewing arm comprising an extensible horizontal arm. The depositing means comprises a tubular stem connected to a coupling piece which in turn is carried by the head of a conveyor thus connecting the conveyor and the slewing arm. The assembly is designed to facilitate the regulations which are necessary for a change of the format of assorted packings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1987
    Assignee: Sapal, Societe Anonyme des Plieuses Automatiques
    Inventor: Alexis Chenevard
  • Patent number: 4630428
    Abstract: Small articles, particularly chocolate and candies, are placed in predetermined positions in a receiver, such as deep-drawn compartmented boxes. The articles (1) are assigned coordinate positions (90) in the receiver, in X-Y coordinate system. The receivers (2) are transported at a predetermined, preferably speed passed an insertion station, where the articles are moved in a predetermined insertion path (47) transversely to the X direction of movement of the receivers. The movement of the articles and the transport speed of the receivers are synchronized. To permit placement of the articles at selected X coordinate positions, a temporal phase shift is introduced between the movement of the articles in the insertion path and the transport speed of the receivers, for example by changing the position of a cross gear in a differential. The insertion path in the Y direction is predetermined by guide tracks (14, 15) which is shifted bodily in the Y direction by a positioning motor (60, 61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Sapal Societe Anonyme des Plieuses Automatiques
    Inventor: Hans-Bernd Lesch