Tubular Receptacle Stored On Mandrel Patents (Class 53/576)
  • Patent number: 6050066
    Abstract: A bale bagging apparatus is used for inserting bales in sequence into a tube of plastic film. The apparatus has a set of panels surrounding the bale at a bagging station of the apparatus and supporting the tube in a stretched state out of contact with the bale. As the bale passes through the bagging station, the tube is pulled off the panels and shrinks onto the bale. The bale support panel is equipped with a resilient sheet on the outer surface to distribute the stretching load over the bag to eliminate areas of high stress concentration on the bag. The bales are supported as they travel through the apparatus on two parallel, linear rails to minimize the draft force on the apparatus. The tube support panels pivot on axes that lie in a common plane perpendicular to the bale path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Inventor: Gerald Brodrecht
  • Patent number: 6009688
    Abstract: A method for packaging specialty lighting strings and elongated items of narrow width, especially useful for specialty light strings which contain large, bulky decorative light covers or complicated patterns such as icicle lights. Scarves, decorative garland, ties, and lawn ornaments may also be packaged effectively. Items are passed through a cylinder of rigid material on which a quantity of thin plastic tubing is compressed. Once the item emerges out the end of the cylinder, the beginning of the plastic tubing is secured to the end of the item with a twist tie. The end is then grasped and the item is pulled completely through the cylinder. As it comes through, it is encased in the plastic tubing which unravels from the cylinder. Once through, the end of the item is secured to the tubing with a twist tie and the tubing is cut. Thus a completely packaged item which may be stored dust and tangle free.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Inventors: Stephen F. Pedersen, Kathy J. Rygle
  • Patent number: 5960612
    Abstract: An agricultural bagging machine is disclosed which includes a plurality of density control bars positioned within the tunnel of the machine. The density control bars are selectively pivotally moveable to the path of the silage being compacted in the bag so that the desired density of the silage is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5899049
    Abstract: System and method for packing loose fill materials in bags to form cushions for use in protecting articles in shipping cartons. The bags are produced from a length of flexible plastic tubing which is gathered or bunched to form a coil which is disposed about the outlet of a loose fill dispenser. A section of the tubing is pulled from the coil, and its lower end is closed to form a bag which is then filled with loose fill material dispensed through the outlet. Another section of tubing is then pulled from the coil, and the tubing is drawn together to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section. The closed ends are secured with tape, and the tubing is severed to separate the first section from the second. The cushions thus formed are placed in the shipping cartons with the articles, and in some embodiments are compressed and reexpanded in conformance with the contour of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunter G. Fuss, Vladimir Yampolsky, Ronald N. Clazie
  • Patent number: 5894713
    Abstract: An agricultural bagging machine is disclosed which includes a plurality of density control bars positioned within the tunnel of the machine. The density control bars are selectively pivotally moveable to the path of the silage being compacted in the bag so that the desired density of the silage is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5887415
    Abstract: The present application provides a cooked, extruded meat product comprising a meat extrudate having an outwardly facing surface, which meat extrudate is impregnated with an additive in an additive zone which extends inwardly from the surface to a depth of at least 1 mm, typically 1-5 mm. Said meat product may comprise a co-extruded layer of fat or meat emulsion disposed circumjacent the meat layer or core. The present invention also provides a method of making such an extruded meat product and apparatus for the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Bernard Matthews PLC
    Inventors: Bernard Trevor Matthews, David John Joll, Peter Elwyn Roberts, David Norman Wilson, John Harry Barker, Carl Richard Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5884346
    Abstract: Waste recovery device comprising a container (62) for receiving waste, a radially expansible sheath (19) which is disposed about the container (62) and forms a lining within it, a deflecting member (66, 67) arranged to incurve the path of the sheath (19), a mechanism (73-77, 80-82) for feeding the sheath (19) by holding it under tension so as to cause it to close once it contacts the deflecting member (66, 67), and by displacing as desired the sleeve (19) over a predefined distance so as to cause a new section of sleeve to pass into the container (62), and a mechanism (54) for actuating the feed mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Innovation-Ingeniere-Integration-Systeme
    Inventor: Patrick Hengl
  • Patent number: 5860271
    Abstract: A machine for compacting organic material such as silage and inserting the compacted material into an elongate elastic bag. A rotor positioned at an inlet of a tunnel propels and compacts the material. A barrier positioned in the tunnel strategic to the rotor restricts the flow of material directly into the bag. The barrier forces the material to flow through the barrier and upwardly over the barrier to insure complete filling of the bag. The barrier may be immovable or may be arranged to be pivoted to alter the resistance to the material flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Larry Inman, Mike Koskela, Richard G. Lovell
  • Patent number: 5857313
    Abstract: An adjustable, beveled press plate is provided on an agricultural bagging machine rearwardly of the rotor thereof. There vertical adjustablity of the press plate enables the machine operator to more precisely control the density of the material being packed in an agricultural bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Versa Corp.
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5829233
    Abstract: An apparatus for loading bales of agricultural products into a protective sheath. The apparatus includes a mobile framework adaptable at one end for connection with a vehicle. A detachable bale bagger is received at an end opposite the vehicle and supports a corrugation of protective sheath. In an attached mode, the apparatus is adaptable to retrieve, transport, handle and sheath bales of agricultural products. A lifting unit is adapted to retrieve bales from a location and mount them in an end-to-end fashion along parallel rails of the mobile framework. As bales are individually retrieved and loaded, a bale moving device movably connected to the mobile framework, rearwardly displaces the incoming bales a distance along parallel rails so as to make space for the next bale. Once the mobile framework is loaded with bales, the apparatus is transported to a location suitable for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: William Stirling
  • Patent number: 5826404
    Abstract: System and method for packing loose fill materials in bags to form cushions for use in protecting articles in shipping cartons. The bags are produced from a length of flexible plastic tubing which is folded and gathered to form a coil which is disposed about the outlet of a loose fill dispenser. A section of the tubing is pulled from the coil, and its lower end is closed to form a bag which is then filled with loose fill material dispensed through the outlet. Another section of tubing is then pulled from the coil, and the tubing is drawn together to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section. The closed ends are secured with tape, and the tubing is severed to separate the first section from the second. The cushions thus formed are placed in the shipping cartons with the articles, and in some embodiments are compressed and reexpanded in conformance with the contour of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventors: Gunter G. Fuss, Vladimir Yampolsky
  • Patent number: 5822957
    Abstract: Machine for arranging a plurality bales of hay into a compressed, contoured stack to be covered with protective plastic. The machine has top and side pressure plates which engage a stack of bales and compress the stack while convexly contouring the periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Hay Bale, Inc
    Inventor: Ivan B. Esch
  • Patent number: 5813200
    Abstract: A packaging and disposal system for sealing waste and related materials within flexible plastic tubing for odorless and sanitary disposal. Improvements in the latch, including the addition of a transverse mounted latch spring, and improvements in the support retention springs serve to increase the ability of the device to operate efficiently and effectively and reduce the potential of accidental spills or other exposure of the waste package. The latch requires two independent motions to actuate and incorporates a transversely mounted latch spring. The reduced cross-sectional area of the retention spring design concentrates force applied to the package to increase the effective holding ability of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Mondial Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Charles J. Jacoby, John R. Hickman, Michael J. Gallo
  • Patent number: 5782061
    Abstract: System and method for packing loose fill materials in bags to form cushions for use in protecting articles in shipping cartons. The bags are produced from a length of flexible plastic tubing which is gathered or bunched to form a coil which is disposed about the outlet of a loose fill dispenser. A section of the tubing is pulled from the coil, and its lower end is closed to form a bag which is then filled with loose fill material dispensed through the outlet. Another section of tubing is then pulled from the coil, and the tubing is drawn together to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section. The closed ends are secured with tape, and the tubing is severed to separate the first section from the second. The cushions thus formed are placed in the shipping cartons with the articles, and in some embodiments are compressed and reexpanded in conformance with the contour of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald N. Clazie, Gunter G. Fuss, Vladimir Yampolsky
  • Patent number: 5782067
    Abstract: Bag sealer and cutter having a guide for directing a portion of flexible tubing which has been gathered together along a predetermined path in a direction which is generally perpendicular to the axis of the tubing, a pair of tape applicators positioned side-by-side for simultaneously applying bands to the gathered together portion of the tubing as the tubing travels along the path, and a knife disposed in the path of the tubing after the applicators for cutting the tubing apart between the bands of tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunter G. Fuss, Vladimir Yampolsky
  • Patent number: 5778642
    Abstract: System and method for packing loose fill materials in bags to form cushions for use in protecting articles in shipping cartons. The bags are produced from a length of flexible plastic tubing which is gathered or bunched to form a coil which is disposed about the outlet of a loose fill dispenser. A section of the tubing is pulled from the coil, and its lower end is closed to form a bag which is then filled with loose fill material dispensed through the outlet. Another section of tubing is then pulled from the coil, and the tubing is drawn together to close the upper end of the first section and the lower end of the second section. The closed ends are secured with tape, and the tubing is severed to separate the first section from the second. The cushions thus formed are placed in the shipping cartons with the articles, and in some embodiments are compressed and reexpanded in conformance with the contour of the articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Free-Flow Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gunter G. Fuss, Vladimir Yampolsky
  • Patent number: 5775069
    Abstract: A density control cable is provided on an agricultural bagging machine for engagement with the material being bagged as the material is forced past the density control means into the bag being filled with agricultural material. A beveled press plate is provided on the bagging machine frame rearwardly of the rotor on the bagging machine for forcing the agricultural material upwardly, rearwardly and outwardly as the material passes thereby. A hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected to the density control cable to enable the width of the loop of the cable to be selectively varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Versa Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5724793
    Abstract: A machine arranged to insert material to be composted into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is arranged to insert an elongate perforated pipe into the elongate elastic bag with the material. The perforated pipe is fed from an air tight container through a conduit into the bag. The machine may have an expander mechanism to enlarge the opening of the elastic bag with the expanding mechanism defining a tunnel through which the material will be forced into the bag. A reciprocating plunger movable within a channel or hopper forces the material into the elongate bag. The machine is arranged so that the composting process may commence when there is material available to only partially fill the bag. When a bag is filled partially, the plunger is moved to a position at the entry of the tunnel to seal the open end of the bag and a media may be applied to dispense the media into the material via the perforated pipe to commence the composting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Larry R. Inman, Ronald V. Garvin, Michael C. Stenblom
  • Patent number: 5701723
    Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and containing a material in an elastomeric net(26). The apparatus comprises a compression chamber(12), a material compressor(16), a holding chamber(18), a net expansion and placement mechanism (42), and a bale advance mechanism (20). The material compressor is coupled to the compression chamber to compress a selected amount of the fibrous material in a direction transverse to the general lay of the material within the compression chamber to form a compacted bale (10). The holding chamber has an outlet and an inlet coupled to the compression chamber. The holding chamber also has an axis defined by a line extending between the center of the inlet to the center of the outlet. The net expansion and placement mechanism is for receiving the net, stretching the net to obtain a cross-sectional shape that is slightly larger than that of the holding chamber, and placing the net over the holding chamber with one end of the net slightly extending beyond the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Bret A. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5692363
    Abstract: A machine for inserting baled material into an elongate elastic sheath. The machine has a moveable upper frame for enlarging the opening through which the bales will travel as they are inserted into the sheath. An elastic sheath is mounted on and surrounds radially moveable paddles and an end of a cradle. The paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the opening of the sheath and thereby stretch the sheath. The cradle receives the bales to be inserted into a sheath and has a bale pusher for pushing the bales into the sheath. The bale pusher has ram extensions that are pivoted into a position to extend the reach of the pusher to facilitate inserting the last bale into the elastic sheath and through the machine. The machine is portable and has wheels that are mounted in one position for the bagging operation and are mounted in another position for transporting the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International Limited
    Inventors: Larry Inman, Mike Koskela
  • Patent number: 5671594
    Abstract: A density control cable is provided on an agricultural bagging machine for engagement with the material being bagged as the material is forced past the density control means into the bag being filled with agricultural material. A beveled press plate is provided on the bagging machine frame rearwardly of the rotor on the bagging machine for forcing the agricultural material upwardly, rearwardly and outwardly as the material passes thereby. A hydraulic cylinder is operatively connected to the density control cable to enable the width of the loop of the cable to be selectively varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Versa Corp.
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5644896
    Abstract: An improved packaging device designed for the filling of flexible, tubular casing and for the sealing of the casing in discreet lengths which may then be further processed or packaged. The device includes a mounting assembly having a floor mounted frame with a rotatable platform supported by the frame. Adjacent the frame and platform is a device for feeding product through a product horn into casing which is shirred on the horn. The platform includes a plurality of specially designed clippers arranged in a circular array. As filled casing is discharged from the feeding mechanism it is directed tangentially into the circular array of rotating clippers which are equally spaced from each other. The clippers sequentially operate to gather the casing, apply spaced, double clips to the casing, sever the connection between adjacent clips, and to then discharge the packaged link from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Evans, Grant K. Chen, Dennis J. May, Edward P. Brinson
  • Patent number: 5628168
    Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products and/or organic material, into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is a portable unit and has radially adjustable fin like paddles that define a bale receiving opening. An opened ended bag into which the bales are to be sheathed is placed in a folded or bunched up condition on the paddles. A portion of the bag is pulled off the paddles and tied to define a closed end and the paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the bale receiving opening and thereby stretch the bag. The machine has a cradle for receiving bales to be sheathed, and a bale pusher pushes the bale along the cradle through the bale receiving opening into the bag. The cradle is arranged to accommodate bales having either a circular or rectangular cross section. The bale pusher has a low profile to facilitate loading bales onto the cradle from the front and either side of the machine. The pusher is extendable to facilitate pushing the last bale through the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International Limited
    Inventors: Larry R. Inman, Michael H. Koskela
  • Patent number: 5590512
    Abstract: A series of packages containing different sized objects are formed by pushing the objects in series into a funnel shaped portion of flexible tubing drawn from pack over the rim of a funnel. Each object pushes a preceding package from between spring-loaded jaws to take its place. Each package is closed at the top by twisting the tubing by turning the funnel fixed to the pack about its axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Melrose Products Limited
    Inventors: David C. Richards, Maurice S. Williams, Brian Ward
  • Patent number: 5570565
    Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and containing a material in an elastomeric net (26). The apparatus comprises a compression chamber (12), a material compressor (16), a holding chamber (18), a net expansion and placement mechanism (42), and a bale advance mechanism (20). The material compressor is coupled to the compression chamber to compress a selected amount of the fibrous material in a direction transverse to the general lay of the material within the compression chamber to form a compacted bale (10). The holding chamber has an outlet and an inlet coupled to the compression chamber. The holding chamber also has an axis defined by a line extending between the center of the inlet to the center of the outlet. The net expansion and placement mechanism is for receiving the net, stretching the net to obtain a cross-sectional shape that is slightly larger than that of the holding chamber, and placing the net over the holding chamber with one end of the net slightly extending beyond the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: International Packaging Incorporated
    Inventor: Bret A. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5566532
    Abstract: A bagger for organic material that incorporates gates that are yieldably biased to restrict the movement of the material into the bag until the material has been compacted. The gates are mounted at each side of a tunnel adjacent a material propelling rotor of the bagger. The rotor propels and compacts the material against the gates and when the force is sufficient the gates will yieldably open to permit material to flow into and deploy a portion of the bag on the ground. The arrangement of the gates reduces the force applied to the bag and thus limits the force urging the bagger to move away from the bag deposited on the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Ag-Bag International Limited
    Inventors: Larry Inman, Mike Koskela
  • Patent number: 5517806
    Abstract: An improved agricultural feed bagging machine for bagging feed materials in a bag including a rearwardly extending tunnel having elongated and arcuate spaced-apart ridges provided on the inside surfaces of the side walls of the tunnel to create turbulence in the flow of feed, thereby resulting in a greater compaction of the feedstuffs in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Versa Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5483784
    Abstract: An apparatus for, and a method of, loading a meat product into a thermoplastic bag or casing is disclosed. Particularly, the present invention discloses an apparatus for, and method of, loading a meat product into a thermoplastic bag or casing such that the area used to produce a heat seal closure of the bag or casing is protected against contamination during the product loading process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Owensby, Howard D. Conner, Frederick A. Dobbins
  • Patent number: 5483786
    Abstract: An apparatus for packaging articles straddles a conveyor line delivering articles to be packaged. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an article holding unit moveable linearly between a retracted position wherein it is positioned to one side of the conveyor line and an operative position wherein it is positioned downstream of the conveyor line so that it receives and holds an article arriving at the apparatus. A bag transfer unit is also moveable linearly between a first position to one side of the conveyor line opposite that of the article holding unit, to retrieve the bag in which the article is to be placed and a second position to pull the bag over at least a portion of the article holding unit and the article held thereby. As the bag transfer unit draws a bag over the article and the article holding unit, the article holding unit is moved to its retracted position allowing the bagged article to fall to another conveyor line and be carried away from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Technopac, Inc.
    Inventors: Ken Giesbrecht, Stefan Gudmundsson
  • Patent number: 5471815
    Abstract: An improved packaging device designed for the filling of flexible, tubular casing and for the sealing of the casing in discreet lengths which may then be further processed or packaged. The device includes a mounting assembly having a floor mounted frame with a rotatable platform supported by the frame. Adjacent the frame and platform is a device for feeding product through a product horn into casing which is shirred on the horn. The platform includes a plurality of specially designed clippers arranged in a circular array. As filled casing is discharged from the feeding mechanism it is directed tangentially into the circular array of rotating clippers which are equally spaced from each other. The clippers sequentially operate to gather the casing, apply spaced, double clips to the casing, sever the connection between adjacent clips, and to then discharge the packaged link from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1995
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred J. Evans, Grant K. Chen, Dennis J. May, Edward P. Brinson
  • Patent number: 5469693
    Abstract: A bale bagging method and apparatus are disclosed. Bales are passed through a collapsible tunnel, preferably formed of panels of flexible, yet self-supporting plastic material. A plastic film tube is supported on the tunnel as the bales are passed through. The tube has the same circumference as the bales so that the tunnel is held tightly against the bales. At the rear end of the tunnel is a retaining hoop over which the tube is stretched. Once the tube passes over the hoop, it contracts onto the bale to fit very tightly onto the bale, thus minimizing wind fatigue in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Inventor: Gerald Brodrecht
  • Patent number: 5465559
    Abstract: A hay roll bagging system for bagging a number of hay rolls as have been cut, harvested and dried in a hay field into a plastic sleeve that, is maintained in a stretched state during bagging and then tighten around each hay roll, which sleeve is tied at its ends forming a container. The system is preferably mounted onto a wheeled trailer to be moved into the hay field and includes a cradle structure to receive each hay roll, in turn, and includes a ram for urging a hay roll end off of the craddle and through a collapsing ring. The collapsing ring of the invention is mounted to the trailer across a craddle rear end and is formed to have, in an erected state, a greater diameter than that of a hay roll. The ring receives a folded plastic sleeve therearound when the ring is in a collapsed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Inventors: Hal R. Heiner, Kendall Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5464049
    Abstract: An agricultural bagging machine including density control cables positioned in the tunnel of the machine and including means for anchoring the opposite ends of the density control cables. The machine also includes a cable rewind spool which is mounted on one end of the rotor of the machine to enable each of the density control cables to be pulled from the tunnel after the bag has been filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Versa Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5463849
    Abstract: An improved agricultural feed bagging machine for bagging feed materials in a bag including a rearwardly extending tunnel having elongated and arcuate spaced-apart ridges provided on the inside surfaces of the side walls of the tunnel to create turbulence in the flow of feed, thereby resulting in a greater compaction of the feedstuffs in the bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Versa Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5426910
    Abstract: A compost bagging machine is described including a wheeled frame having a tunnel mounted thereon which is adapted to receive the opened mouth of a bag. The inside surface of the tunnel is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart flutes which create air channels in the material within the bag. An elongated perforated pipe is also positioned within the material in the bag and the bagging machine moves relative to the bag during the bagging operation. The presence of air in the channels created by the flutes and the air present in the perforated pipe ensures that sufficient air will be present in the mass to achieve complete decomposition of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Versa Corp.
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5425220
    Abstract: An agricultural feed bagging machine comprising a pair of criss-crossed cables positioned in the tunnel of the machine. One of the cables is stationary while the other of the cables is adjustable so that the width of the adjustable cable may be varied to increase or decease the resistance of the cable to the feedstuffs passing through the tunnel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Versa Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5421140
    Abstract: A tree compressing and binding apparatus has particular usefulness in handling of Christmas trees, employs a hydraulic power system which utilizes the even stroke of one or a plurality of hydraulic cylinders to drive a tree through a loader funnel. The apparatus is capable of being used in harsh weather environments and provides a low cost mechanism for packaging trees either for point of sales use or for large scale harvesting and shipping jobs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventor: Ralph Theriault
  • Patent number: 5421144
    Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like. The machine has radially adjustable posts mounted on a polygon frame to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The polygon frame is configured with vertical sides that closely conform to the width dimension of the largest sheath in its stretched condition. The machine width is dictated by the frame width, i.e., the distance between the vertical sides and accordingly the machine has a width only as needed to accommodate the designated bale size, the restricted width being desirable for shipping and towing. The movable posts are strategically positioned and individual cylinders are provided for opening and closing the posts for optimum utilization of the power source for the posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Ag-Bag Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Inman, Mike Koskela, Walter L. Jay
  • Patent number: 5419102
    Abstract: A crop bagging machine is provided with a movable chassis having adjustable brakes and a grain container having a rear tunnel defining a rear opening. A pliable plastic bag is fit to the tunnel with the bag bottom closing the opening. A bin on the chassis receives grain, e.g., from a truck and an auger transports the grain from the bin to an elevated position in the container that is above the height of the filled bag. The adjustable brakes are set to establish the level of grain pile in the container to cover the opening and thereby fill the bag. The brakes are independently controlled to provide limited steering. An additional embodiment of the invention shows downsizing for reduction in cost and in dimension for compatibility with conventional shipping containers while further providing adjustability in tunnel size to accommodate variation in bag diameter. A further additional embodiment provides for a modified conveyor system for the grain that utilizes air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Ag-Bag Corporation
    Inventors: Larry R. Inman, Ronald V. Garvin, Patrick S. Welch
  • Patent number: 5408791
    Abstract: The invention involves an apparatus (1) for the portion packing of lumpy goods, in particular of impact-sensitive fruit and vegetables. The apparatus preferably includes two conveyor pipes (2, 3) with one inlet and one outlet each in their end regions, and with a conveyor device (11) that exhibits an inner receiving chamber (14), side conveyors (6) for the cyclical forward movement of a net tubing supply (7) provided on each conveyor pipe (2, 3) as packaging material, a closing and separating device (9) in the region of the outlet end of the conveyor pipe (2, 3) that is in the operating position for the closing and severing of a filled net tubing section (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Profi Glas- und Gebaudereinigung, Handels GmbH
    Inventor: Rudolf Marie
  • Patent number: 5398487
    Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material, such as farm crop products, into an elongate elastic bag. The machine is a portable unit and has radially adjustable fin like paddles that define a bale receiving opening. An opened ended bag into which the bales are to be sheathed is placed in a folded or bunched up condition on the paddles. A portion of the bag is pulled off the paddles and tied to define a closed end and the paddles are moved radially outward to enlarge the bale receiving opening and thereby stretch the bag. The machine has a platform for receiving bales to be sheathed, and a bale pusher pushes the bale off the platform through the bale receiving opening into the bag. The bales as they exit the machine and are deposited on the ground are encased in the bag. The bag being elastic conforms closely to the shape of the bale. The pusher is extendable to facilitate pushing the last bale through the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 21, 1995
    Assignee: Ag-Bag Corporation
    Inventors: Larry R. Inman, Michael H. Koskela
  • Patent number: 5396753
    Abstract: An agricultural bagging machine is disclosed comprising a vertically disposed feeder positioned above the rotor thereof to move silage downwardly into contact with the rotor. A substantially horizontally disposed feeder is positioned forwardly of the rotor to move silage rearwardly into contact with the rotor. Each of the feeders comprises a plurality of spaced-apart augers which are mounted to permit the separation of the same should the operator inadvertently come into contact with the rotating augers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5392591
    Abstract: An apparatus for compressing and containing a material in an elastomeric net(26). The apparatus comprises a compression chamber(12), a material compressor(16), a holding chamber(18), a net expansion and placement mechanism (42), and a bale advance mechanism (20). The material compressor is coupled to the compression chamber to compress a selected amount of the fibrous material in a direction transverse to the general lay of the material within the compression chamber to form a compacted bale (10). The holding chamber has an outlet and an inlet coupled to the compression chamber. The holding chamber also has an axis defined by a line extending between the center of the inlet to the center of the outlet. The net expansion and placement mechanism is for receiving the net, stretching the net to obtain a cross-sectional shape that is slightly larger than that of the holding chamber, and placing the net over the holding chamber with one end of the net slightly extending beyond the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: International Packaging Incorporated
    Inventor: Bret A. Simpson
  • Patent number: 5385002
    Abstract: Baled material (4) is fed into a resilient sheath (4) through an open end thereof with at least the open end portion held in a resiliently expanded condition so that after insertion of the material the sheath can contract around the material, so expelling excess air. The sheath is held by a holding device having members (25; 124) movable on cranks between positions in which the sheath can be readily located on the members in its unstressed condition and in which at least the open end of the sheath is enlarged by stretching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Ag-Bag Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Cundall
  • Patent number: 5367857
    Abstract: Feedstuff is compacted in a tube which lies on the ground by a mobile device which includes a traction vehicle, a trailer unit, and a rotatable feeding screw mounted at the rear of the trailer unit for feeding feedstuff from a container into the tube where it is compacted. The screw is rotated by a hydraulic motor which is driven by hydraulic fluid at a pressure which is proportional to loading of the feeding screw due to compaction of feedstuff by the screw. A brake system brakes the wheels of the trailer unit to produce a braking force while the feedstuff is being fed into the tube. A control unit controls the brake system in response to signals from a transducer which senses the hydraulic pressure at the motor. The braking force is reduced when the sensed hydraulic pressure rises to a predetermined maximum value, and the braking force is increased when the sensed hydraulic pressure decreases to a predetermined minimum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Sockerbolaget AB
    Inventor: Stig Carlson
  • Patent number: 5367860
    Abstract: A conveyor for an agricultural feed bagging machine is disclosed and includes a double-bottom auger trough which extends upwardly and rearwardly over the upper end of the front hopper panel of the hopper on the machine. A pair of elongated augers are mounted in the double-bottom trough and have flighting thereon which are oppositely disposed with respect to each other. The augers are rotated in opposite directions so that the feed is conveyed upwardly towards the upper end of the hopper. The front auger has flighting thereon which terminates at approximately where the front auger intersects the upper end of the front panel. The back auger has flighting thereon which terminates at approximately where the back auger intersects or passes over the front wall of the hopper panel. Projections are provided on the upper ends of each of the augers above the flighting thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Versa Corporation
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5355659
    Abstract: An agricultural feed bagging machine including a length adjustable tunnel is provided to permit the adjustment of the compaction resistance offered by the tunnel. The length adjustable tunnel comprises an outer tunnel shell which is movably mounted on a fixed inner tunnel shell so that the length of the tunnel may be selectively varied. A pair of hydraulic cylinders are connected to the outer tunnel shell for moving the outer tunnel shell relative to the inner tunnel shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5323591
    Abstract: A machine for sheathing bales of material such as hay, straw and the like. The machine has radially adjustable posts mounted on a polygon frame to stretch a resilient sheath for the free insertion of the bales. The polygon frame is configured with vertical sides that closely conform to the width dimension of the largest sheath in its stretched condition. The machine width is dictated by the frame width, i.e., the distance between the vertical sides and accordingly the machine has a width only as needed to accommodate the designated bale size, the restricted width being desirable for shipping and towing. Tandem wheels are provided on each side of the machine with the wheels strategically mounted in relation to the polygon frame to resist the tilting forces on the machine resulting from the weight of the bales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Ag-Bag Corporation
    Inventors: Larry Inman, Walter L. Jay
  • Patent number: 5297377
    Abstract: An agricultural bagging machine is disclosed which includes a plurality of horizontally disposed and vertically spaced cables positioned at the rearward end of the tunnel of the machine. The cables are dragged through the silage being bagged as the bagging machine moves away from the closed end of the bag so that the proper amount of density is created in the material being bagged. Each of the cables defines a cable loop which extends rearwardly from the output end of the tunnel into the open end of the bag. The lengths of the cables may be adjusted to permit the density to be controlled. The number of cables may also be varied to control the density in various types of silage materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Inventor: Steven R. Cullen
  • Patent number: 5220717
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making capsules of dehydrated sludge which can omit conventionally required unit operations, reduce or eliminate the cost of the equipment and power, heat energy and consumables required for operation, and assures simple operation. The method includes the steps of shaping a steel strip into the form of a channel, supplying sludge into the channel formed in the previous step, shaping the channel formed steel strip with the sludge charged therein such that it has practically a circular cross-section to enclose the sludge, pressing and crushing an outer periphery of a steel tube shaped in the previous step to form a constriction, pressing and cutting the constriction and repeating series of the above-described steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshio Matsuoka, Yasuhito Kougami