By Volume Of Contents Patents (Class 53/503)
  • Patent number: 11355256
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems, methods and devices for storing and/or disposing of hazardous waste material such as calcined material. In certain embodiments, the system comprises a filling nozzle having a valve body having a distal end and an outer surface, the outer surface proximate the distal end being configured to sealingly and removeably couple to an inner surface of a filling port of the container. In certain embodiments, the method comprises (a) coupling an outer surface of a filling nozzle with an inner surface of a filling port of a container to form a first seal (b) adding hazardous waste material into the container (c) decoupling the filling port from the filling nozzle and (d) inserting a fill plug into the filling port, the fill plug forming a second seal with the inner surface of the filling port, the second seal being distally spaced from at least a portion of the first seal with respect to the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
    Inventors: Salvatore Moricca, Walter Guillermo Bermudez, Allan Grant Murray
  • Patent number: 8997440
    Abstract: A packaging system (100) includes a controller (102), an input device (104) in communication with the controller (102) that identifies one or more characteristics of the container, an illustration with indicia representing different degrees of fill for a container; and a manual input device (106) in communication with the controller (102) for inputting an estimated degree of fullness of the packing container having one or more articles to be packed correlated with the indicia in the illustration. The controller (102) provides an output signal indicating a quantity of dunnage to dispense to the container based on the input estimated degree of fullness and the one or more identified characteristics of the container. Then the controller can determine the amount of dunnage that needs to be provided to fill the remaining void in the container, and the controller can signal a dunnage dispenser (110) to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Carlson, Timothy A. Frederick, Joseph J. Harding, Kevin W. Park
  • Patent number: 8985161
    Abstract: Method of controlling a container filling machine comprising a plurality of filling elements. Each of the filling elements has a flow measuring device which is used to measure the volume of filling material dispensed from its filling element. During filling, the time that a first filling element is open to dispense a predetermined volume of filling material is measured. A second filling element is then opened for essentially the measured time to thereby dispense essentially the predetermined volume of filling material into a second container. As an alternative, a time may be calculated from the measured times of a plurality of filling elements, which calculated time may be used to determine for how long another filling element is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventors: Karl Lorenz, Achim Kunz
  • Patent number: 8955294
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are processes for continuously bagging pellets. The pellets can be formed from a tacky and/or polymer-containing formulation. Other embodiments relate to systems for continuously bagging pellets. Still other embodiments related the individual components of the processes and systems for continuously bagging pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Gala Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne Free, Duane Boothe, Melinda Kay, Jeff Rose, Ed Beckner
  • Patent number: 8943786
    Abstract: A packaging and filling machine that is capable of easily preforming with the forming flaps by keeping the pressure of the filled liquid food in the tube at positive pressure, capable of preventing the pressure of the liquid food from dropping to negative pressure, even if the pressure of the liquid food decreases due to the change in the liquid food pressure, and capable of preventing outside atmosphere materials from invading into the tube. A pressure flange fixed on a periphery of the filling pipe absorbs fluctuation of the pressure of the liquid food in the tube below the pressure flange, and prevents the liquid food pressure from dropping to negative pressure to keep the pressure of the liquid food in the tube below the pressure flange at a positive pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Konno, Yutaka Kaneko, Keiji Yano
  • Patent number: 8935906
    Abstract: A system for distributing articles into an internal compartment of a storage unit has a longitudinally displaceable support or platform above the compartment which is movable longitudinally between a plurality of spaced discharge areas over corresponding storage positions. The support has at least one free edge, and is moved until an article carried on the support is displaced by a pusher moved into the path of the article and pushed over the edge to drop into the selected storage position. In one example, the support has opposite free edges and articles are selectively pushed over the edges into different storage positions. The process is repeated to dispense articles into different storage positions for uniform filling, and to control movement of the support and deployment of the pusher so that articles are dispensed into the storage positions with available space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Schur International A/S
    Inventor: Henrik Pape
  • Patent number: 8919081
    Abstract: A method of producing a sealed package of a pourable food product involving feeding a tube of packaging material along an axis; moving a pair of first jaws and a pair of second jaws cyclically and alternately along sealing paths parallel to the axis, and along repositioning paths; moving the jaws, as they travel along the sealing paths, into a closed position in which the sealing members grip the tube and respectively form, at different times, a first and a second seal sealing the tube and defining respective opposite ends of the package; and moving the jaws, as they travel along the respective repositioning paths, into an open position, in which they are detached from the tube; acquiring a desired value of a quantity related to the package weight; and forming the second seal at a distance, which is a function of the value, from the first seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Andreotti, Andrea Donati, Marco Poppi
  • Patent number: 8707661
    Abstract: A packing and filling machine produces a container by forming web-shaped packing material into a tube, filling the tube with liquid food up to a liquid level, and laterally sealing the tube with a seal jaw and a counter jaw under the liquid level. The machine includes a diagnostic device having a pressure flange above the position of the lateral sealing under the liquid level and including sterilized gas to detect a vibration propagated when the packing material is clamped by the seal jaw and counter jaw and to diagnose the residual quantity of sterilized gas from the vibration thus detected. The packing and filling machine operating at high speed does not damage the external surface or the longitudinal sealing portion of a packing container, and even the forming/lateral sealing pressing from the opposite sides at high speed does not have a tendency to vary or oscillate the liquid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Shigeharu Kinoshita, Dennis Lundmark, Naoya Isshiki, Katsunori Nakanishi, Keiji Yano
  • Patent number: 8701719
    Abstract: A method for filling containers with liquid. Liquid is provided from a reservoir and at least two filling positions, of a filling position group, are each configured to fill a container with liquid at a filling rate. With a common flow meter, a total volume of liquid flowing into the containers at the filling positions of the filling position group is measured during a filling phase. A liquid control valve of each of the filling positions is opened and closed in response to: a measurement signal provided by the flow meter; and at least one of (a) and (b) where: (a) is a time correction compensating for filling rates being different for the filling positions; and (b) is at least one throttle influencing the filling rates. The containers at the filling positions are filled such that each of the containers contains a required volume of liquid at the end of the filling phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Ludwig Clüsserath
  • Patent number: 8639472
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, package evaluation systems and methods are provided for evaluating the sustainability of packaging used in the shipment of goods. In particular, the package evaluation systems and methods are configured for performing package evaluations and managing and providing access to data resulting from package evaluations. The package evaluations are designed to assess, among other things, the ability of sample packages to prevent damage to their contents, the volumetric efficiency of sample packages, and the sustainability of the materials used to construct sample packages. In addition, the systems and methods are further configured for assigning a certification to an entity associated with the evaluated packages based on the results of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Barlow, Dennis R. Estep, Andrew J. Gruber, Patrick McDavid, Quinto Marini, Nancy Parmer
  • Patent number: 8584715
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the filling of a capsule with a medicament, to a corresponding filling method, to the associated apparatuses, and to a computer program for controlling the method and the apparatus. In the monitoring method, after at least part of the capsule has been filled with a predefined filling mass of a predefined closed contour of the medicament, at least the filling mass in the part of the capsule after the filling operation is recorded using digital imaging in a first step, the contour of the filling mass in the part of the capsule is determined from the digital imaging recording in a second step, and the contour is analysed in a third step in order to assess the filling operation in comparison with the predefined contour. The invention provides for external influences on the image properties to be compensated for by controlling the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Stoeckel, Frank Biedenbender, Thomas Kruger
  • Patent number: 8561375
    Abstract: A system for producing and transporting portions of food includes a filling machine for continuously transporting a stream of food, a separating device for dividing portions from the transported food stream, and a transport device for delivering the portions to a subsequent processing device. To prevent fluctuations in portion size and weight, the system further includes a sensor unit for generating a portion request signal in response to a portion request from the subsequent processing device. The sensor unit outputs the portion request signal to the filling machine, which is designed to control the continuous transportation of the food stream using the portion request signal. The system is operable to synchronize the entire line, including the filling machine, the separating device, the transport device, and the subsequent processing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: VEMAG Mashinenbau GmbH
    Inventors: Tobias Kiel, Dieter Meier, Christian Carstens, Uwe Aldag
  • Patent number: 8539738
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for packaging a curable resin composition and a catalyst composition that react with each other when mixed, comprising providing a partitioned tube for receiving the resin composition and the curing agent in separate compartments; delivering a stream of a resin composition into one compartment of the tube; delivering a stream of a curing agent in the other compartment of the tube; advancing the partitioned tube and constricting and sealing the partitioned tube at spaced apart intervals and severing the sealed tube to produce a package partitioning the resin composition from the catalyst composition. Solid particulate is continuously added into the stream of at least one of the catalyst composition and the resin composition and mixing the solid particulate and stream to produce a mixed composition; and the relative amount of solid particulate in the mixed composition is controlled by continuously determining the mass of solid particulate added to the mass of the stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: J-Lok Co.
    Inventors: John G. Oldsen, Walter J. Simmons, W. Neal Simmons, Robert A. McGinnis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8296101
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, package evaluation systems and methods are provided for evaluating the sustainability of packaging used in the shipment of goods. In particular, the package evaluation systems and methods are configured for performing package evaluations and managing and providing access to data resulting from package evaluations. The package evaluations are designed to assess, among other things, the ability of sample packages to prevent damage to their contents, the volumetric efficiency of sample packages, and the sustainability of the materials used to construct sample packages. In addition, the systems and methods are further configured for assigning a certification to an entity associated with the evaluated packages based on the results of the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Barlow, Dennis R. Estep, Andrew J. Gruber, Patrick McDavid, Quinto Marini, Nancy Parmer
  • Patent number: 8272195
    Abstract: A system for providing dunnage to a container for packaging an object in the container includes a void volume probe and a supply of dunnage. The void volume probe measures the void volume of the container and outputs information representative of the measured void volume. And the supply of dunnage is controllable to dispense an amount of dunnage to fill the void volume based on the information output from the void volume probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Harding, Richard O. Ratzel
  • Patent number: 8256474
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a flow meter integrated into the filling element and located in the flow path for filling bottles with a liquid beverage and a filling machine having such a filling element. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: KHS GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Stienen
  • Patent number: 8132392
    Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an ice-bagging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus comprises an ice maker for making ice and hopper for receiving the ice from the ice maker. The apparatus further includes a drawer system, operatively associated with the hopper, for measuring the ice and delivering of the ice. The drawer system includes top door and drawer. A bag delivery mechanism for placing the ice in a bag is also included, with the bag delivery mechanism including a bag supply mechanism, a blower engaged to open the mouth of the bag to receive the product, and a sealer that seals the open mouth of the bag once the bag is filled with the ice. A control device is included that manages and monitors the drawer and bag delivery mechanism and allows transmission of the collected data to the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Reddy Ice Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C. Metzger
  • Patent number: 8087215
    Abstract: A forming, filling and sealing machine for producing bags from semifinished products, and for filling and closing the bags, includes a plurality of processing stations. At least two processing stations of at least one first group are successively, largely linearly, arranged in the horizontal plane (x, z) in the transport direction (z) of the bags. The bags or semifinished products are transported between the processing stations by transport devices which generally include gripping devices. The machine also includes at least one second group having at least one processing station that is not linearly arranged behind the first group in the horizontal plane (x, z) in the processing direction (z) of the bags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Windmoeller & Hoelscher KG
    Inventors: Martin Koelker, Ludger Schulten, Thomas Knoke, Ulrich Stienecker
  • Patent number: 8087218
    Abstract: A system, and associated components and methodology, that provides for automatic determination and supply of an amount of dunnage to fill the void left in a container in which one or more objects have been placed. The system comprises a dunnage dispenser which is operable to dispense a controlled amount of a dunnage, a container scanner, and a logic device. The container scanner includes a height sensor for sensing a height characteristic of a container, a width sensor for sensing a width characteristic of the container, and a contour sensor for sensing a contour characteristic of the objects in the container. The logic device can (1) process sensed characteristic information from the height sensor, width sensor and contour sensor, (2) determine the amount of dunnage needed to fill the void not occupied by the objects, and (3) command the dunnage dispenser to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Harding
  • Patent number: 8015779
    Abstract: A portioning and packaging apparatus and a portioning and packaging method. The portioning and packaging apparatus has a conveyor device for filling material which has a pump for producing a continuous volume flow, a filling tube which is connected to the conveyor device and which provides a supply of a tubular packaging case such that it can be pulled off the filling tube with the filling material which is expelled through the filling tube, a closure device which is arranged downstream of the filling tube and which locally constricts the filled packaging case to provide a tube end plait portion during the filling operation and closes a closure element around the tube end plait portion. The closure device also has a control device which produces a control signal for the constriction and closure operations on the basis of a selected portion size and the continuous volume flow and outputs it to a drive of the closure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Poly-Clip System GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Klaus Töpfer
  • Patent number: 7861491
    Abstract: A powder medicine dispensing/packaging apparatus includes: a divisional container composed of a first divisional container and a second divisional container connectable to each other and each including a plurality of powder medicine accommodation parts accommodating powder medicine in equal amounts corresponding to one package, each powder medicine accommodation part being equipped with a bottom plate that can be opened and closed; a carrying device for horizontally carrying the divisional container between an initial position and a first movement terminal position; a dispensing/packaging device for recovering powder medicine dropped from the divisional container carried by the carrying device by successively opening the bottom plates and dispensing/packaging the powder medicine package by package; and a swinging device for canceling the connection between the first divisional container and the second divisional container at the first movement terminal position to enable the first divisional container to move
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Yuyama Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Yuyama, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Hiromichi Tsuda, Takashi Ueno
  • Patent number: 7823367
    Abstract: The invention relates to the making of boxes of a variable volume adapted in each case to the height of the packed products, including cutting the box along its vertical edges and forming fold lines at a suitable height around the sides of the box to define top flaps; and then folding these flaps onto the contents of the prefilled box. At least one inflated or inflatable void-filling bag is inserted into the box, around and/or above the packed products, after the fold lines have been formed, and before the flaps are folded onto the contents of the box. The invention also provides a combined machine that cuts, marks, prepares and inserts void-filling bags, and closes boxes. Applicable to order filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Savoye
    Inventors: Michel Boigues, Joel Foulon
  • Patent number: 7814734
    Abstract: A packaging system (10), and associated components and methodology, that provides for automatic detection of a full, overfull, closed or partially closed container, even when mixed with other containers. An exemplary packaging method includes the following steps: (a.) determining the dimensions of a container; (b.) detecting a height of the container and its contents in one or more locations within a scan area of an open side of the container; (c.) comparing the detected height of the container and/or its contents to pre-specified criteria; and (d.) when the detected height exceeds the pre-specified criteria, generating a signal that indicates that the scan area includes a height that exceeds the pre-specified criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Bilkie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7810301
    Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an ice-bagging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus comprises an ice maker for making ice and hopper for receiving the ice from the ice maker. The apparatus further includes a drawer system, operatively associated with the hopper, for measuring the ice and delivering of the ice. The drawer system includes top door and drawer. A bag delivery mechanism for placing the ice in a bag is also included, with the bag delivery mechanism including a bag supply mechanism, a blower engaged to open the mouth of the bag to receive the product, and a sealer that seals the open mouth of the bag once the bag is filled with the ice. A control device is included that manages and monitors the drawer and bag delivery mechanism and allows transmission of the collected data to the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Reddy Ice Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C. Metzger
  • Publication number: 20100220187
    Abstract: The invention relates to the optical measurement of fill level in the aseptic bottling or packaging of biopharmaceuticals. The process according to the invention allows in particular in-process fill level measurement of primary packaging means filled with protein solution with small volumes and with considerable variations in the packaging means. The invention also relates to an apparatus according to FIG. 5B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM PHARMA GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Christina LICHTBLAU, Stefan BASSARAB, Karoline BECHTOLD-PETERS, Christian BRADER
  • Publication number: 20100192523
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for monitoring the filling of a capsule with a medicament, to a corresponding filling method, to the associated apparatuses, and to a computer program for controlling the method and the apparatus. In the monitoring method, after at least part of the capsule has been filled with a predefined filling mass of a predefined closed contour of the medicament, at least the filling mass in the part of the capsule after the filling operation is recorded using digital imaging in a first step, the contour of the filling mass in the part of the capsule is determined from the digital imaging recording in a second step, and the contour is analysed in a third step in order to assess the filling operation in comparison with the predefined contour. The invention provides for external influences on the image properties to be compensated for by controlling the optical system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Stoeckel, Frank Biedenbender, Thomas Kruger
  • Publication number: 20100192521
    Abstract: A method of filling bottles or similar containers in a bottle or container filling plant and a filling system for filling bottles or similar containers in a bottle or container filling plant. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventor: Ludwig Clüsserath
  • Patent number: 7650916
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage material having a filling element and a filling machine having such filling elements. The filling elements each have a movable probe which may be moved into a bottle or container to be filled in order to detect the level of liquid, such as a beverage, in the bottle or container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventor: Ludwig Clüsserath
  • Patent number: 7587884
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for adjusting height of a crate or box made of flexible material, having a base and at least four side walls by folding. After the base has been placed in a generally horizontal, a horizontal crease is produced on each side wall, parallel to the base and at a height substantially equal to a top of a stack of objects. At least one oblique crease is produced in each corner of the crate, with one end located at the intersection between two horizontal creases and the other end located on an upper ridge of one side wall. The upper part of each side wall is folded towards the center of the crate, at an angle substantially equal to 90°. The various flaps are folded on one another, being separated by oblique creases, bringing the upper part of side walls in a substantially horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: B Plus Development, Societe Anonyme
    Inventors: Claude Durand, Frédéric Duffes
  • 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: 20090173040
    Abstract: A system, and associated components and methodology, that automatically acquires data representative of the space left in each of a series of containers (32) in which one or more articles have been placed for packaging, and dispenses a controlled amount of dunnage material based on that data from a selected one of a plurality of dunnage dispensers (12). The system includes void volume data acquisition apparatus (11) for acquiring void volume data for the containers sequentially supplied thereto and for associating the sequentially acquired void volume data with the container. The system also includes a plurality of dunnage dispensers remotely located relative to the void volume data acquisition apparatus to dispense a controlled amount of dunnage material for insertion into one of the containers selectively transported to that dispenser from the void volume data acquisition apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: RANPAK CORP.
    Inventors: Daniel L. Carlson, Thomas A. Bilkie
  • Patent number: 7549268
    Abstract: A division-packaging method for an automatic medicine packaging machine that allows stable packaging even when total volume of each dose of medication for making a package is bigger than packaging volume of any medication envelope established in the automatic medicine packaging machine and that prevents incapability of packaging due to excess volume of each dose of medication. The method includes step of acquiring packaging volume of each medication envelope; step of computing total volume of each dose of medication; step of judging excess volume of each dose of medication; and step of division-packaging each dose of medication when the total volume of each dose of medication for making a package is bigger than the packaging volume of any medication envelope established in the automatic medicine packaging machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: JVM Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Ho Kim
  • Publication number: 20090120039
    Abstract: In accordance with the principles of the present invention, an ice-bagging apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus comprises an ice maker for making ice and hopper for receiving the ice from the ice maker. The apparatus further includes a drawer system, operatively associated with the hopper, for measuring the ice and delivering of the ice. The drawer system includes top door and drawer. A bag delivery mechanism for placing the ice in a bag is also included, with the bag delivery mechanism including a bag supply mechanism, a blower engaged to open the mouth of the bag to receive the product, and a sealer that seals the open mouth of the bag once the bag is filled with the ice. A control device is included that manages and monitors the drawer and bag delivery mechanism and allows transmission of the collected data to the Internet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Reddy Ice Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C. Metzger
  • Patent number: 7426812
    Abstract: A method for bagging ice using an ice-bagging apparatus comprising an ice maker for making ice and hopper for receiving the ice from the ice maker, a door and drawer system operatively associated with the hopper for measuring the ice and delivering of the ice, a bag delivery mechanism for placing the ice in a bag, a bag supply mechanism, a blower for opening the mouth of the bag to receive the ice, a sealer for sealing the mouth of the bag once the bag is filled with the ice, and a control device for managing and monitoring the drawer and bag delivery mechanism and allows transmission of the collected data to the Internet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Reddy Ice Corporation
    Inventor: Mark C. Metzger
  • Publication number: 20080168750
    Abstract: A capsule filling machine (100) for the production of hard gelatin capsules (C) of the type with lid (3) and body (2) containing a quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material comprises a rotary turret or carousel (15) which defines at least one capsule (C) handling line (L) and on which the following are positioned, one after the other: at least one station (6) for feeding empty capsules (C); at least one opening station (20) where the capsule bodies (2) are separated from the lids (3) to form two separate rows of capsule bodies (2) and lids (3); at least one station (7) for feeding and dosing the quantities (1) of pharmaceutical material to be filled into the capsule bodies (2); and at least one station (8) for closing the capsules (C) by placing a lid (3) over each respective body (2); the machine (100) also comprises means (9) for detecting and volumetrically checking the quantity (1) of pharmaceutical material filled into each capsule body (2), the detecting and checking means (9) comprise transducer means (5
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 17, 2008
    Inventor: Roberto Trebbi
  • Patent number: 7337595
    Abstract: A system, and associated components and methodology, that provides for automatic determination and supply of an amount of dunnage to fill the void left in a container in which one or more objects have been placed. The system comprises a dunnage dispenser which is operable to dispense a controlled amount of a dunnage, a container scanner, and a logic device. The container scanner includes a height sensor for sensing a height characteristic of a container, a width sensor for sensing a width characteristic of the container, and a contour sensor for sensing a contour characteristic of the objects in the container. The logic device can (1) process sensed characteristic information from the height sensor, width sensor and contour sensor, (2) determine the amount of dunnage needed to fill the void not occupied by the objects, and (3) command the dunnage dispenser to dispense the determined amount of dunnage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Harding
  • Patent number: 7299607
    Abstract: A beverage bottling plant for filling bottles with a liquid beverage, having a filling element for filling bottles with a liquid beverage and a filling machine having such a filling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: KHS Maschinen- und Anlagenbau AG
    Inventors: Ludwig Clüsserath, Dieter-Rudolf Krulitsch
  • Patent number: 7260922
    Abstract: A monitoring system for monitoring one or more packaging material conversion machines includes one or more sensors for monitoring one or more operating characteristics of the one or more conversion machines. The system also includes a controller in communication with the one or more sensors. The controller evaluates the one or more operating characteristics of the one or more conversion machines to thereby provide diagnostic, inventory and machine usage information. In addition, a method of monitoring one or more packaging material conversion machines includes sensing an operating characteristic of the one or more conversion machines and evaluating the operating characteristic of the one or more conversion machines. The sensed operating characteristics may be evaluated either local to the conversion machines or at a remote site, thereby providing a substantial amount of flexibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Harding, Richard O. Ratzel
  • Patent number: 6877297
    Abstract: A packaging system includes a cushioning conversion machine for converting stock material into relatively low density cushioning material or dunnage and a packaging system controller. The packaging system controller provides packaging instructions related to a part or parts to be packaged and instructs the cushioning conversion machine to produce the cushioning material. In one aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by retrieving a predetermined set of packaging instructions associated with a particular part. In another aspect of the present invention the packaging system controller provides packaging instructions by determining an optimized packaging methodology using one or more characteristics of the part or parts to be packaged. The packaging system also provides for automated inventory control and productivity monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: Steven E. Armington, Richard O. Ratzel, Paul J. Guth, MacDonald C. Booze
  • Patent number: 6770823
    Abstract: A system for check weighing the content of a blister strip which includes a guide adapted to receive a blister strip comprised of at least one blister, a punch aligned with the guide for receiving the at least one blister, an actuator engaged with the punch for driving the punch toward the blister strip, whereby the blister is punched from the blister strip, and a balance adapted to receive the punched blister for weighing the punched blister and generating a weight signal after subtracting a predetermined value representing the weight of an empty blister. An alternative method of determining the content of a blister strip comprises reflecting a beam of energy off of a blister strip and determining the height of the blister from the reflected energy. The measured height is compared to a predetermined height to derive the amount of powder contained therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Smithkline Beecham Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Amick Buckner, III, Milton David Bynum, David Brian Moody, Michael Richard Strong, Thomas Scott Wilson
  • Patent number: 6729110
    Abstract: A dunnage bag includes a sealed, flexible bag, and a rigid valve assembly connected in fluid communication to the flexible bag. The valve assembly has a rigid collar which mounts in an opening in a wall of a container to receive an exit end of a fill nozzle of an inflating system which supplies pressurized gas for inflating the flexible bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Sealed Air Corporation
    Inventors: Laurence B. Sperry, Eric Kane
  • Patent number: 6715268
    Abstract: A card package production system (100) for producing card packages (115) composed of printed paper carriers (113) with matching cards (128) attached to the carriers (113) selectively outputs the card packages through a card package multi-directional distribution module (136) having a carrier transport with a primary carrier transport path extending between a package inlet (262) and a primary package outlet (144) for transporting the card packages along the primary carrier transport path. A movable stacker gate assembly (214, FIG. 7) mounted for movement between a stacking position (FIG. 26). In the stacker position, the card packages are inserted laterally through a laterally facing inlet (145) of a stacker (146) in two stages with successive pairs of card packages (115, 115′) being kept in an interleaved state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Dynetics Engineering Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffery L. Hill, Gregory S. Hill, Fred J. Kassabian
  • Patent number: 6688083
    Abstract: This invention provides a mechanism for receiving flat articles, such as mail, moving in a travel path with a substantially horizontal orientation and for dropping selected such articles into either a single receptacle positioned below the mechanism or into a plurality of receptacles spaced along the length of the travel path, while maintaining the substantially horizontal article orientation for all such articles. The mechanism includes a holding station for each receptacle into which each article to be dropped is initially deposited, the holding station being just below the travel path, a retractable floor for the holding station and a driver selectively operable for rapidly retracting the floor in a substantially horizontal direction to permit articles accumulated in the holding station to drop substantially vertically into the corresponding receptacle. The driver may be activated in response to the holding station being filled by a selected amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Fitzgibbons, Douglas A. Slocum, Louis B. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6684609
    Abstract: A packaging machine (1) for continuously producing sealed packages (2) of a pourable food product from a tube (4) of heat-seal sheet packaging material fed along a vertical path (A) and filled continuously with the food product by means of a fill conduit (8) extending inside the tube (4). The packaging machine (1) has a capacitive level sensor (14) located outside the tube (4) and in turn having a plate element (20) made of conducting material, positioned facing the fill conduit (8), and defining, together with the fill conduit (8), a capacitive element (22) whose capacitance depends, among other things, on the amount of food product between its plates. The level sensor (14) also has a detecting circuit (24) connected to and for detecting the capacitance of the capacitive element (22), and generating a level signal (SL) indicating the level of the food product inside the tube (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventors: Fabio Bassissi, Giorgio Galavotti
  • Publication number: 20030057129
    Abstract: A transportable container for bulk goods and a method for forming the container are disclosed. The transportable container is formed from a bag having a closed base and an open top. The open top is in a folded over position and a bottom support is located adjacent to the closed base. A particulate material is filled into the bag and an outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bottom support and the bag such that the outer wrap secures the bag to the bottom support and secures the open top in the folded over position. The method for forming the transportable container includes the steps of securing the open top of the bag in an opened position and supporting a base of the bag. The bag is filled to a predetermined level with a particulate material and while being filled the fill level of the particulate material in the bag is monitored. Simultaneously with filling of the bag, an outer wrap is spirally wrapped around the bag in an upward direction to a predetermined fill level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: David C. Ours, Randall L. Cary
  • Patent number: 6499279
    Abstract: A capsule filling machine is provided which is characterized in that contents substance m is force fed into a body B accommodated and held in a body pocket 221 using a force feeding screw 33 to fill the contents substance m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taizo Yamamoto, Hirokazu Konishi
  • Patent number: 6474048
    Abstract: A machine that produces, dispenses and automatically bags ice. The machine will have at least one ice producing unit for producing ice. An auger mechanism is coupled to the ice producing unit for collecting and moving the ice that has been produced by the ice producing unit. A volumetric drum is coupled to the auger mechanism. The volumetric drum stores the ice moved by the auger mechanism and measures the amount of ice to be bagged by volume. A heat sealer coupled to the bagging mechanism is provided to seal the bag once the bag has been loaded with ice. The machine further has a freezer compartment which stores the bag when the bag has been loaded with ice and sealed. The machine has a monitoring and communication system which monitors operating conditions of the machine and sends information on the operation of the machine to the manufacturer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: The Arctic Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Metzger, Shawn M. Stannard, James Shaker
  • Patent number: 6421982
    Abstract: A container filling apparatus for filling containers with discrete articles is disclosed. The apparatus has a container conveyor for transporting containers to and from the apparatus and a rotatable filling head adjacent the conveyor. The head has a plurality of circumferentially spaced metering stations for metering and dispensing a stream of a predetermined number of articles into a container. A container carousel with a plurality of container receiving zones is mounted for rotation with the head and the containers are filled as the head and the carousel rotate in synchronism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Bosspak PTY LTD
    Inventor: Martin Eichenberger
  • Patent number: 6405100
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and device for the automatic loading of e.g. commissioned goods in the form of articles into or onto individual transport containers such as cardboard boxes or pallets. The goods, all or some of which may be commissioned, are conveyed to at least one pre-defined loading point past which the transport containers continuously move. The goods are placed in or on the appropriate transport container at the loading point. The supplying and loading of the goods and the movement of the transport containers are controlled in timely, i.e. synchronized, fashion by a control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Inventor: Ferdinand Christ
  • Patent number: 6055795
    Abstract: A cushioning conversion machine for converting a sheet-like stock material into a dunnage product includes a frame having an upstream end and a downstream end, conversion assemblies, mounted on the frame, which convert the sheet-like stock material into a continuous strip of a dunnage product, a feeding assembly, mounted on the frame, for feeding the stock material through the conversion assemblies, a cutting assembly, mounted on the frame downstream of the conversion assemblies, which cuts the continuous strip of dunnage into a section of a desired length, a probe for determining the packaging requirements of a particular container, and a controller which controls the feeding and cutting assemblies to produce the required sections of dunnage product for the container as determined by the probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Ranpak Corp.
    Inventors: James Harding, Richard O. Ratzel