Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10654597-B2
Application number	US-201715730528-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2017
Priority date	Aug 14, 2012
Publication date	May 19, 2020
Grant date	May 19, 2020

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for tamping the contents of a container are disclosed. An embodiment of an apparatus includes a tamp head for tamping the contents of the container; and a container support assembly structured and arranged to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface, wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. An apparatus for tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending, cracking, or both bending and cracking during tamping, comprising:
a tamp head configured to tamp the contents of the container; and
a container support assembly configured to temporarily support the bottom surface of the container during tamping, the container support assembly including,
a support element including,
an upper surface, the upper surface being substantially flat and horizontal, and
a protrusion extending upwardly from the upper surface, the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to a size and a shape of the bottom surface of the container, and

an actuator configured to move the support element between a first position and a second position, the actuator connected to a slide bar having at least one inclined surface that abuts at least one corresponding inclined surface on the support element.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first position is a retracted position and the second position is an extended position, the extended position placing the protrusion in contact with the container for tamping.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a pneumatic piston, and
a cylinder actuator.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises:
a wax-coated paperboard container.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the container comprises:
a concave bottom surface.

6. A method of tamping the contents of a container having a bottom surface prone to bending, cracking, or both bending and cracking during tamping, the method comprising:
temporarily supporting the bottom surface of the container by positioning a container support assembly comprising a support element having a protrusion extending upward from a substantially flat and horizontal upper surface;
tamping the contents of the container,
wherein the protrusion is sized and shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the bottom surface of the container; and
actuating the support element between a first position and a second position by an actuator connected to a slide bar having at least one inclined surface that abuts at least one corresponding inclined surface on the support element.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first position is a retracted position and the second position is an extended position, the extended position placing the protrusion in contact with the container for tamping.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the container comprises:
a wax-coated paperboard container.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the container comprises:
a concave bottom surface.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Evans James D
• Longest Herbert Cary
• Murrell Tamika S
• Powell Jr Robert V
• Straight Jeremy
• Chalkley Jarrod

Classifications

• B65B5/08

  Packaging groups of articles, the articles being individually gripped or guided for transfer to the containers or receptacles · CPC title

• B65B65/006

  Multiple parallel packaging lines · CPC title

• B65B39/007

  Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers · CPC title

• B65B9/20

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

• B65B1/46

  Check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles · CPC title