US3694992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging compressible material
Assignee: JB Hunt Corp
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Filing: 1971-07-28
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Granted: 1972-10-03
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Expires: 1991-07-28
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method are disclosed by which a compressible and expandable material such as rice hulls may be packaged. The apparatus includes hydraulic press means for successively compressing and packing increments of compressed rice hulls into a container or bag without releasing expanding pressure therein which would otherwise rupture the bag or container in the packing operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Johnnie B Hunt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:00
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B63/00; B65B63/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for filling a receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom comprising the steps of telescoping the receptacle about an elongated loading chamber having an open end, the closed bottom of said receptacle being disposed across said open end; successively compressing distinct masses of material, sequentially accumulating a plurality of such compressed masses of material within said loading chamber in tiered array; supporting said plurality of masses within said chamber by lateral expansion forces thereof acting on the walls of the loading chamber; and periodically displacing a mass of material through the open end of said chamber into said receptacle while the bottom end thereof moves away from said open end of the loading chamber and while another compressed mass is introduced into said loading chamber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for filling a receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom comprising the steps of telescoping the receptacle about an elongated loading chamber having an open end, the closed bottom of said receptacle being disposed across said open end; successively compressing distinct masses of material, sequentially accumulating a plurality of such compressed masses of material within said loading chamber in tiered array; supporting said plurality of masses within said chamber by lateral expansion forces thereof acting on the walls of the loading chamber; and periodically displacing a mass of material through the open end of said chamber into said receptacle while the bottom end thereof moves away from said open end of the loading chamber and while another compressed mass is introduced into said loading chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein each mass of material is expansible and is partially decompressed as it moves toward the open enD of said loading chamber and before being placed within the telescoped receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said material is rice hulls, and wherein said accumulated masses are step-wise displaced from the loading chamber by a similar mass compressed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said loading chamber, and wherein said receptacle is a paper bag.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for filling a receptacle with compressible material comprising the steps of placing the receptacle about a confined loading zone having a lower open end with the closed bottom end of said receptacle abutting the lower end of said zone, successively compressing a series of masses of material, accumulating a plurality of compressed masses of material within said loading zone, and periodically transferring another compressed mass of material from said series into said zone and concurrently discharging a mass of material from the lower open end of said loading zone into said receptacle while the closed bottom end thereof and the discharging mass progressively move away from the open lower end of said loading zone.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
116 words
A method for filling a receptacle with compressible material comprising the steps of placing the receptacle about a confined loading zone having a lower open end with the closed bottom end of said receptacle abutting the lower end of said zone, successively compressing a series of masses of material, accumulating a plurality of compressed masses of material within said loading zone, and periodically transferring another compressed mass of material from said series into said zone and concurrently discharging a mass of material from the lower open end of said loading zone into said receptacle while the closed bottom end thereof and the discharging mass progressively move away from the open lower end of said loading zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein each compressed mass is partially expanded in moving through said loading zone prior to being displaced through said open end of the loading zone into said receptacle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein the retreating receptacle is restrained by a uniform opposing force which is less than the rupture strength of the walls of the receptacle but sufficient to prevent uncontrolled expansion of the mass discharging from the loading zone.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein the progressive withdrawal of the receptacle from the loading zone is controllably restrained to assure that the mass moves as a plug with the receptacle.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for filling a receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom comprising the steps of telescoping the receptacle about an elongated loading zone having an open discharge end, the closed bottom of said receptacle being disposed across said discharge end; successively compressing a series of distinct masses of material; sequentially accumulating a plurality of such compressed masses of material within said loading zone; restraining said plurality of masses within said loading zone by lateral expansion forces thereof acting on the walls of the loading zone; and periodically displacing a mass of material through the discharge end of said zone into said receptacle while the bottom thereof moves progressively from said discharge end of the loading zone and while another compressed mass is concurrently introduced into said loading zone.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for filling a receptacle having an open top and a closed bottom comprising the steps of telescoping the receptacle about an elongated loading zone having an open discharge end, the closed bottom of said receptacle being disposed across said discharge end; successively compressing a series of distinct masses of material; sequentially accumulating a plurality of such compressed masses of material within said loading zone; restraining said plurality of masses within said loading zone by lateral expansion forces thereof acting on the walls of the loading zone; and periodically displacing a mass of material through the discharge end of said zone into said receptacle while the bottom thereof moves progressively from said discharge end of the loading zone and while another compressed mass is concurrently introduced into said loading zone.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein each compressed mass of material is expansible and is partially decompressed as it moves through the loading zone and before being placed within the receptacle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as in claim 9 wherein the progressive withdrawal of the receptacle from the loading zone is controllably restrained to prevent turbulent expansion of the stabilized mass discharging from the loading zone into the retreating receptacle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as in claim 8 wherein said material is rice hulls, and wherein said accumulated masses are step-wise displaced from the loading zone by a similar mass compressed in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the loading zone, and wherein said receptacle is a paper bag.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2763973A
Cited
US3405744A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-03 | 1976-04-03 | 1976-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-03 | 1980-04-03 | 1980-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-03 | 1984-04-03 | 1984-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |