Method and apparatus for compacting product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10308385-B2
Application number	US-201313737426-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 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 downstream from the weigher; and
a settling device located between said weigher and said product delivery cylinder; and
wherein the settling device comprises at least two settling chambers that are vertically aligned one above the other, wherein each of the at least two settling chambers comprises a separate gate that maintains product within their respective settling chambers for at least a period of time, wherein an upstream settling chamber partially settles the product to form a partially settled product slug, and wherein a downstream settling chamber receives the partially settled product slug and further settles the partially settled product slug, wherein the product slug is formed.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two settling chambers comprises a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the desired shape of the product slug.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said at least two settling chambers comprises a substantially oval cross-section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two settling chambers comprises a top end having a top opening and a bottom end having a bottom opening, and wherein the top opening is smaller than the bottom opening.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device further comprises a gate.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate funnel located between said settling device and said product delivery cylinder.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said intermediate funnel has straight walls.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said intermediate funnel has a larger diameter than each of said at least two settling chambers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said product delivery cylinder has a larger diameter than said intermediate funnel.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two settling chambers has a smaller diameter than said product delivery cylinder.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of said at least two settling chambers comprises an open top and an open bottom, and wherein said product delivery cylinder has a top end and a bottom end.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said open top of each of said at least two settling chambers comprises a first diameter, and wherein said top end of said product delivery cylinder comprises a second diameter, and wherein said second diameter is larger than said first diameter.

Assignees

• Frito Lay North America Inc

Inventors

• Bierschenk Patrick Joseph
• Reaves Jerry Mike

Classifications

• B65B1/22

  by vibration · CPC title

• B65B1/32

  by weighing (check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46) · 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

• B65B37/00 Primary

  Supplying or feeding fluent-solid, plastic, or liquid material, or loose masses of small articles, to be packaged (methods of, or means for, filling individual containers with such materials or articles B65B1/04, B65B3/04) · CPC title

• B65B9/20 Primary

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