Apparatus for compacting product and high speed bagmaking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9284075-B2
Application number	US-201313764133-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 11, 2013
Priority date	Oct 23, 2009
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

A method for compacting and packaging a plurality of slugs of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form compact slugs of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber for each slug of product or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slugs can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the slugs of product are discharged to a multiple bagmaking packaging apparatus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for compacting and packaging a plurality of product slugs simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
a multiple bagmaker, said bagmaker having a number of product delivery cylinders;
a weigher split into sections, each section weighing and discharging a slug of product into a corresponding receiving funnel which guides product into a settling device, the settling device comprising at least four settling chambers, a gate, and a vibrator; and
wherein said settling device is located between said weigher and said product delivery cylinders, wherein said settling chambers are axially rotatable within the settling device, and wherein a number of said settling chambers equal to said number of said product delivery cylinders are grouped at a single position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weigher is divided into a number of sections equal to said number of product delivery cylinders.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multiple bagmaker comprises a duplex vertical form, fill, and seal machine.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling chambers comprise a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the desired shape of the product slug.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said settling chambers comprise a substantially oval cross-section.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling chambers comprise a top end and a bottom end, and wherein said bottom end comprises a larger opening than said top end.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stationary turret table, wherein said stationary turret table is located below said settling chambers.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said stationary turret table comprises an opening located above said gate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a stationary table located above said at least four rotating settling chambers.

Assignees

• Frito Lay North America Inc

Inventors

• Bierschenk Patrick J

Classifications

• B65B1/32

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

• B65B1/00 Primary

  Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars · CPC title

• B65B63/02

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

• B65B2210/02

  Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility · CPC title

• B65B9/20

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