Slide measuring system for filling pouches and associated method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10399712-B2
Application number	US-201414584668-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 29, 2014
Priority date	Dec 26, 2013
Publication date	Sep 3, 2019
Grant date	Sep 3, 2019

Abstract

Systems and methods for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches are disclosed. A system includes a hopper structured and arranged to hold a granular material in a hopper cavity. The system also includes a measuring system including a measuring cavity and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the measuring cavity. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move a portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position. The measuring system is structured and arranged to move the portion of the granular material from the measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A system for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches, the system comprising:
a hopper defining a hopper cavity configured to hold a granular material; and
a measuring system including a first measuring cavity, a second measuring cavity different than the first measuring cavity, and a tube that is slidable in the hopper cavity between a first position unaligned with the first measuring cavity and a second position over and aligned with the first measuring cavity, the tube being over and aligned with the second measuring cavity in the first position and unaligned with the second measuring cavity in the second position,
the measuring system being configured to move a first portion of the granular material from the hopper cavity to the first measuring cavity when the tube is in the first position,
the measuring system being configured to move the first portion of the granular material from the first measuring cavity to a pouch making machine using pressurized gas when the tube is in the second position,
the measuring system being configured to fill the second measuring cavity with a second portion of the granular material when the tube is in the second position, and
the measuring system being configured to move the second portion of the granular material from the second measuring cavity to the pouch making machine when the tube is in the first position.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a conduit connected to the tube,
wherein the tube and the conduit define a flow path between the first measuring cavity and the pouch making machine when the tube is in the second position.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first measuring cavity is in a bottom plate of the hopper.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the measuring system comprises:
a pin having a bore that is in fluid communication with the first measuring cavity;
a valve configured to selectively connect a vacuum source with the bore; and
a pressure source in fluid communication with the bore.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a water source that is structured and arranged to inject atomized water into the bore.

6. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:
a screen at an end of the pin adjacent the first measuring cavity.

7. The system of claim 4 , wherein
a location of the pin within a hole defines a volume of the first measuring cavity, and
the location of the pin within the hole is adjustable to selectively adjust the volume of the first measuring cavity.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a controller configured to detect a weight of at least one pouch made by the pouch making machine with the granular material from the first measuring cavity, compare the weight to an upper threshold and a lower threshold, and change the location of the pin in the hole based on the comparison.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein
the tube is connected to a slide that causes the tube to move in a reciprocating manner between the first position and the second position; and
the hopper includes moveable end blocks connected to the slide.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a sifter disposed upstream of the hopper to sift the granular material as the granular material moves to the hopper.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein
the sifter defines a compartment including a screen and a moveable wiper, and
the granular material moves through the screen to the hopper.

12. The system of claim 11 , further comprising:
a feeder disposed upstream of the sifter and configured to provide the granular material to the sifter.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a level sensor in the hopper; and
a controller that is configured to move the wiper in the sifter, agitate the feeder, or move the wiper in the sifter and agitate the feeder based on a signal from the level sensor.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the granular material is tobacco.

15. A system for metering a granular material for packaging in pouches, the system comprising:
a hopper defining a hopper cavity that is configured to hold a granular material; and
a measuring system including,
a first plurality of measuring cavities,
a second plurality of measuring cavities different from the first plurality of measuring cavities,
a plurality of tubes slidable in the hopper cavity,
a vacuum source, and
a pressure source,

the measuring system being configured to
move the plurality of tubes to a first position that uncovers the first plurality of measuring cavities, the plurality of tubes being over and aligned with the second plurality of measuring cavities in the first position,
fill the first plurality of measuring cavities with first respective portions of the granular material using the vacuum source when the plurality of tubes are in the first position,
move the plurality of tubes to the second position over and aligned with the plurality of first measuring cavities and fill the second plurality of measuring cavities with second respective portions of the granular material when the plurality of tubes are in the second position,
move the first respective portions of the granular material from the first plurality of measuring cavities to a pouch making machine using the pressure source when the plurality of tubes are in the second position, and
move the second respective portions of the granular material from the second plurality of measuring cavities to the pouch making machine when the plurality of tubes are in the first position.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the plurality of tubes are connected to slide that causes the plurality of tubes to move in a reciprocating manner between the first position and the second position, and
the hopper includes moveable end blocks connected to the slide.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein each one of the first plurality of measuring cavities has a volume that is selectively adjustable.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein
the measuring system includes a plurality of pins corresponding to the first plurality of measuring cavities,
each one of the plurality of pins includes an axial bore in fluid communication with a respective one of the first plurality of measuring cavities and a valve that selectively places the axial bore in fluid communication with the vacuum source or the pressure source.

19. The system of claim 15 , further comprising:
a sifter disposed upstream of the hopper and configured to sift the granular material into the hopper;
a feeder disposed upstream of the sifter and configured to provide the granular material to the sifter;
a level sensor in the hopper; and
a controller configured to turn on the sifter, agitate the feeder, or turn on the sifter and agitate the feeder based on a signal from the level sensor.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the granular material is tobacco.

21. A method of metering a granular material for packaging in pouches, the method comprising:
providing granular material to a sifter using a feeder;
sifting the granular material into a hopper;
measuring a first portion of the granular material in a first measuring cavity;
moving the first portion of the granular material from the first measuring cavity to a pouch making machine;
measuring a second portion of the granular material in a second measuring cavity;
moving the second portion of the granular material from the first measuring cavity to the pouch making machine;
making a pouch encapsulati

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Longest Jr Herbert Carrington
• Chalkley Jarrod W
• Murrell Tamika S
• Meyers Leah A
• Straight Jeremy J
• Garthaffner Travis M

Classifications

• B65B57/14

  and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged · CPC title

• B65B29/00

  Packaging of materials presenting special problems · CPC title

• B65B1/46

  Check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65B1/38

  by pistons co-operating with measuring chambers · CPC title

• B65B1/36

  by volumetric devices or methods (checking volume of filled material B65B1/48) · CPC title