Method and apparatus for compacting product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10308379-B2
Application number	US-201314036262-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 25, 2013
Priority date	Oct 23, 2009
Publication date	Jun 4, 2019
Grant date	Jun 4, 2019

Abstract

A method for compacting a slug of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form a compact slug of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slug can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the product is discharged to a packaging apparatus. Because the product in the final package is denser, a smaller package can be utilized reducing manufacturing and shipping costs.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for compacting a product slug, said apparatus comprising:
a weigher;
a product delivery cylinder;
a settling device; and
a fast acting gate;
wherein said settling device is located between said weigher and said product delivery cylinder, wherein said gate is located upstream from said product delivery cylinder, wherein said product delivery cylinder comprises a forming collar, and wherein said product delivery cylinder comprises at least one vacuum relief hole located above said forming collar.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said at least one vacuum relief hole is located three inches from the top of said product delivery cylinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said fast acting gate is located upstream from said product delivery cylinder, wherein said fast acting gate can be completely open in less than about 50 milliseconds.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device comprises a settling chamber.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said settling chamber is acted upon to facilitate and speed up a settling of product received and retained therein.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said settling chamber is characterized by an open top and an open bottom.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said settling chamber has a height of about 0.5 to 2.5 times a height of a package of packaged product.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device comprises two settling chambers, wherein said gate positioned at a bottom of each settling chamber of said two settling chambers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein each settling chamber of said two settling chambers is acted upon to facilitate and speed up a settling of product received and retained therein.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device comprises two settling chambers, each settling chamber of said two settling chambers positionable in relation to said gate to permit selective passage of a slug therefrom.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a funnel, said funnel intermediate said gate and said product delivery cylinder.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said funnel has a diameter larger than a diameter of a settling chamber of said settling device but smaller than a diameter of said product delivery cylinder.

Assignees

• Frito Lay North America Inc

Inventors

• Bierschenk Patrick J
• Brenkus Frank M
• Reaves Jerry M
• Melanson Amelinda
• Krause Leon J
• Gust Ronald M

Classifications

• B65B41/16

  by rollers · CPC title

• B65B9/20 Primary

  the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles · CPC title

• B65B37/18

  by weighing {(devices or methods for controlling the quantity of material or liquid fed or filled into a container by weighing B65B1/32, B65B3/28)} · CPC title

• B65B39/001

  with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves · CPC title

• B65B63/02

  for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles · CPC title