US3795084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Packaging apparatus
Assignee: RICHARDSON SERVICE DIVISION
•
Filing: 1972-08-15
•
Granted: 1974-03-05
•
Expires: 1992-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprises at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other. Each housing has a weighing chamber that is disposed above a compressing chamber with a guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween. A diverting chamber is adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings. Material is directed from a supply through the weighing chamber into the compressing chamber where it is compressed to a desired shape and size. The compressing chamber includes a vertically disposed movable wall which is laterally displaced a preselected distance across the width of the housing. A plunger means is disposed above and vertically movable into and out of the compressing chamber to compress material disposed therein. Features of the apparatus include a continuous package making operation used in conjunction with the packaging apparatus, a simplified control mechanism and a novel air supply system.
Inventors
- 👤 C Richardson
- 👤 R Corsentino
- 👤 O Gould
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B1/00; B65B1/30; B65B1/32; B65B63/00; B65B63/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
Packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprising: a. at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other, b. each said housing including a weighing chamber, a compressing chamber and a fixed passageway including stationary elements, said compressing chamber and said fixed guide passageway being separate and distinct with respect to each other, c. said weighing chamber being disposed above the compressing chamber with the guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween, d. a diverting chamber adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings, e. means for accumulating material within the weighing chamber until a predetermined amount of material is disposed therein, f. means for directing a flow oF the accumulated material from the weighing chamber through said guide passageway into the compressing chamber, g. said compressing chamber including a single vertically disposed sizing wall portion constituting one side of the compressing chamber and being movable between a retracted starting position and a sizing position during each cycle of the operation of the apparatus, said compressing chamber being freely open at the top thereof into said fixed guide passageway while the sizing wall portion is being moved to said sizing position, h. means for laterally displacing said single wall portion a preselected distance across the width of the housing, i. compressing plunger means disposed above said compressing chamber and vertically movable into and out of said compressing chamber, j. means for vertically moving the compressing plunger means to compress material disposed within said compressing chamber and k. means for discharging the compressed material from said compressing chamber into a container.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
Packaging apparatus for fibrous material comprising: a. at least two vertically disposed housings that are laterally spaced with respect to each other, b. each said housing including a weighing chamber, a compressing chamber and a fixed passageway including stationary elements, said compressing chamber and said fixed guide passageway being separate and distinct with respect to each other, c. said weighing chamber being disposed above the compressing chamber with the guide passageway fixedly disposed therebetween, d. a diverting chamber adapted to deliver material directly to a preselected one of said housings, e. means for accumulating material within the weighing chamber until a predetermined amount of material is disposed therein, f. means for directing a flow oF the accumulated material from the weighing chamber through said guide passageway into the compressing chamber, g. said compressing chamber including a single vertically disposed sizing wall portion constituting one side of the compressing chamber and being movable between a retracted starting position and a sizing position during each cycle of the operation of the apparatus, said compressing chamber being freely open at the top thereof into said fixed guide passageway while the sizing wall portion is being moved to said sizing position, h. means for laterally displacing said single wall portion a preselected distance across the width of the housing, i. compressing plunger means disposed above said compressing chamber and vertically movable into and out of said compressing chamber, j. means for vertically moving the compressing plunger means to compress material disposed within said compressing chamber and k. means for discharging the compressed material from said compressing chamber into a container.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said accumulating means includes a weighing mechanism and door means, said weighing mechanism having weight sensing means disposed at the bottom of the weigh chamber, and said door means being movably mounted between an open and closed position and being located adjacent the lower end of the weighing chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said diverting chamber includes a diverting mechanism which operates to close off delivery to one of the housings and simultaneously directs a flow of material from a supply into the top of the weighing chamber of an adjacent housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said diverting mechanism includes a diverter member, diverter control means and a limit switch actuated by said accumulating means when said predetermined amount of material is disposed within the weighing chamber, said diverter control means including a diverter air cylinder and a solenoid valve to energize said diverter air cylinder, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid valve.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said limit switch is actuated by the accumulating means or a push button.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said flow directing means includes a door control mechanism and a limit switch actuated by the change in position of the diverter mechanism to energize said door control mechanism to open said door means for a preselected period of time for allowing all of the accumulated material to pass from the weighing chamber into the compressing chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said door control mechanism includes a door air cylinder and a solenoid valve for activating said door air cylinder, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
85 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 6 wherein said door control mechanism includes a second limit switch actuated by the opening of said door means to energize said solenoid valve for activating the door air cylinder to close said door means, said door control mechanism further including a timer means to delay the activation of the solenoid valve for closing the door after a preselected period of time to allow all of the accumulated material to pass from the weighing chamber to the compressing chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said wall portion displacing means includes control means for initiating displacement of the sizing wall portion across the width of the housing in response to the closing of the door means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said wall portion displacing means includes at least one air cylinder for effecting desired movement of said wall portion, said wall portion control means includes a limit switch actuated by the closing of said door means and being directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates said air cylinder for moving the sizing wall portion.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
42 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plunger moving means includes control means for activating the vertically movable plunger means in response to the movement of the sizing wall portion to a predetermined location across the width of the housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
62 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 11 wherein said plunger moving means includes an air cylinder adapted to move the plunger means, said plunger moving control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates the air cylinder for moving the plunger means, said limit switch being actuated by movement of said wall portion to said predetermined location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
58 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharging means includes an opening located at the bottom of the compressing chamber and a gate means movably disposed over said opening, said discharging means including gate control means actuated by movement of the plunger means to a predetermined location to move the gate means away from the opening.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said gate means includes an air cylinder adapted to move a gate member, said gate control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which activates the air cylinder for moving said gate member.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein said discharging means includes an ejecting piston mechanism for pushing compressed material out of the housing through said opening, said discharging means including ejecting control means actuated by the opening of said gate means to energize said ejecting piston mechanism.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said ejector piston mechanism includes an air cylinder adapted to activate an ejecting piston means to discharge said compressed material, said ejecting control means includes a limit switch directly connected to a solenoid valve which energizes said air cylinder for moving said ejecting piston means, said limit switch being directly actuatable by the opening of the gate member.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said discharging means includes retracting control means actuated by movement of said ejecting piston means to a predetermined discharge position upon the discharge of the compressed material to return said ejection piston means, said vertically movable plunger means and said wall portion to their respective starting positions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
110 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein a separate air cylinder is connected to each of the ejecting piston means, the compressing plunger means, and the movable wall portion, each of said air cylinders is directly connected to a respective solenoid valve, said retracting control means includes a limit switch directly connected to each of the solenoid valves for the air cylinders, said limit switch being actuated by movement of said ejecting piston means to said predetermined discharge position to energize the solenoid valves thereby activating the respective air cylinders for retracting the ejecting piston means, the compressing plunger means and the wall portion to their respective starting positions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 17 wherein said gate control means includes a limit switch actuated by the return of the ejecting piston means to its starting position, said limit switch being directly connected to said solenoid for energizing the gate air cylinder that moves the gate means to a closed position over said discharge opening.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said discharging means includes a discharge chut disposed at the bottom of each said housing and an ejecting piston means for discharging compressed material into a container, means for forming the container is disposed adjacent the discharge snout, and said container which has been formed at the dischargE snout is positioned for filling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said container is a continuously formed bag configuration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 21 wherein said bag configuration is composed of thermoplastic material and said forming means includes heat sealing means to form said bag while the compressed material is being discharged from the discharge snout.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow directing means includes air cylinders disposed at different heights along said housings and said vertically disposed tubular main air supply is adjacent said housings, said apparatus including feeder lines extending from said main air supply to each individual air cylinder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-03-04 | 1977-09-03 | 1978-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-03-04 | 1981-09-03 | 1982-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-03-04 | 1985-09-03 | 1986-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |