Apparatus and method of packaging loose product

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12195218-B2
Application number	US-202318447448-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2023
Priority date	Nov 1, 2011
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus for packaging of loose product includes a loading station, a box forming station and an uploading station. The loading station includes moveable chutes in spaced apart relation. Each chute has an open top, an open upstream end, and an open downstream end. The open top is configured to receive loose product while moving along a first feed path. The box forming station is operable to partially erect boxes in spaced apart relation with first and second open sides and align the first open side of each box with the downstream end of a corresponding chute while moving along a second feed path. The unloading station includes a stationary vacuum head in communication with the second open side of each box. The vacuum head provides a continuous vacuum source along the second feed path operable to move loose product from the chute into the boxes.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method of packaging, comprising:
placing consumer products through a first opening of each of two or more chutes;
covering the first opening of each of the two or more chutes using a lid, the covering step occurring after the placing step;
advancing at least one first plunger through a first end of each of the two or more chutes to transfer the consumer products through a second end of each of the two or more chutes and respectively into a second opening of at least one first container; and
delivering air from a pressurized air source into at least one air inlet in the lid that is in communication with the first opening of the two or more chutes, the delivering step occurring after the covering step.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering delivers the air from a pressurized air source into at least one air inlet in the lid such that the air simultaneously travels through the first opening of each of the two or more chutes, the delivering step occurring after the covering step.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing advances the at least one first plunger within a horizontal plane, the first end and the second end being on opposing ends of each of the two or more chutes.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of covering simultaneously covers an upper portion of the two or more chutes using the lid, the opening being on the upper portion, the first end and the second end being on opposing sides of each of the two or more chutes.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering delivers the air during a first duration, the advancing of the at least one first plunger occurs during a second duration, and the first duration and the second duration at least partially overlaps in time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of delivering delivers a pulse of the air into each of the two or more chutes to agitate the consumer products while the at least one first plunger is advanced through the first end of each of the two or more chutes.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of covering simultaneously covers the first opening of each of the two or more chutes using a lid such that the two or more chutes are substantially sealed, other than the first end and the second end of the two or more chutes.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
conveying the two or more chutes in a first direction; and
conveying the at least one first container in a second direction,
wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially parallel to each other such that the at least one first container and the two or more chutes are adjacent to each other as the at least one first plunger is being advanced.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the step of covering covers such that the lid remains stationary relative to a conveying movement of the two or more chutes in the first direction.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
conveying the two or more chutes in a first direction; and
conveying the at least one first container in a second direction,
wherein the first direction and the second direction are substantially parallel to each other such that the at least one first container and the two or more chutes are adjacent to each other as the at least one first plunger is being advanced.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
applying a vacuum force near the second end of each of the two or more chutes to draw the consumer products into or towards the at least one first container.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of applying applies the vacuum force continuously, as the at least one first container approaches and passes by the at least one first plunger.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the consumer products are oral products.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
transferring the consumer products to a position above the first opening of each of the two or more chutes, the transferring occurring prior to the step of placing,
wherein the step of placing places the consumer products such that a movement of the consumer products through the first opening is assisted at least in part by gravity.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
conveying the two or more chutes in a first direction,
wherein the step of advancing advances the at least one first plunger by
aligning the at least one first plunger with the first end of each of the two or more chutes,
reciprocating the at least one first plunger into and out of the first end of each of the two or more chutes, and

moving the at least one first plunger in the first direction during at least part of the aligning, the reciprocating, or both the aligning and the reciprocating.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of advancing advances the at least one first plunger such that the at least one first plunger transfers the consumer products through the second end of each of the two or more chutes and respectively into one single container, the at least one first container being the one single container for each respective one of the two or more chutes.

Assignees

• Altria Client Services Llc

Inventors

• Smith Barry S
• Rinehart Steven R
• Crawford Danielle R

Classifications

• B65G53/06

  Gas pressure systems operating without fluidisation of the materials · CPC title

• B65G53/04

  Conveying materials in bulk pneumatically through pipes or tubes; Air slides · CPC title

• B65G51/02

  Directly conveying the articles, e.g. slips, sheets, stockings, containers or workpieces, by flowing gases · CPC title

• B65G53/16

  Gas pressure systems operating with fluidisation of the materials · CPC title

• B65G51/00

  Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface · CPC title