Patent US3818673A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3818673A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for packaging compressible materials
Assignee: Naremco Inc
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Filing: 1972-11-21
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-11-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of packaging compressible materials utilizes an apparatus comprising an open ended hopper with a reciprocating ram therein for compressing materials and a package loading chute at each end of the hopper or compression chamber. The materials to be compressed are placed in the hopper. The ram then moves across the hopper compressing the materials and expelling them from the hopper into one of the chutes. A ram in the chute having the compressed material then expells the compressed material from the chute into a package. While the compressed materials are being expelled from the chute, the hopper is being loaded for the next packaging operation.
Inventors
- 👤 F Rollins
- 👤 F Kubovich
- 👤 K Buess
- 👤 D Hartzell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:46
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65B; B65B63/00; B65B63/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for packaging compressible materials comprising: hopper means, said hopper means having a longitudinal center line, said hopper means having first and second side walls extending parallel to said longitudinal center line, said hopper means having a bottom wall extending between and secured to said side walls, said hopper means having an open top, and said hopper means having open ends; first ram means carried within said hopper means for compressing materials, said first ram means extending between said side walls and having a material engaging surface facing each of said open ends, said first ram means being movable relative to said hopper means in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; means for moving said first ram means back and forth across said hopper means in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; chute means adjacent each of said open ends for receiving The materials from said hopper means which are compressed by said first ram means, each of said chute means having a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said hopper means, each of said chute means having a lateral opening therein defined by one of said open ends of said hopper means, and each of said chute means having an open discharge end for discharging compressed materials into package means; second ram means carried in each of said chute means and movable parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means; and means for moving said second ram means back and forth in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
277 words
Apparatus for packaging compressible materials comprising: hopper means, said hopper means having a longitudinal center line, said hopper means having first and second side walls extending parallel to said longitudinal center line, said hopper means having a bottom wall extending between and secured to said side walls, said hopper means having an open top, and said hopper means having open ends; first ram means carried within said hopper means for compressing materials, said first ram means extending between said side walls and having a material engaging surface facing each of said open ends, said first ram means being movable relative to said hopper means in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; means for moving said first ram means back and forth across said hopper means in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; chute means adjacent each of said open ends for receiving The materials from said hopper means which are compressed by said first ram means, each of said chute means having a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said hopper means, each of said chute means having a lateral opening therein defined by one of said open ends of said hopper means, and each of said chute means having an open discharge end for discharging compressed materials into package means; second ram means carried in each of said chute means and movable parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means; and means for moving said second ram means back and forth in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: closure means for closing off said open top to confine compressible materials within said hopper.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: means to adjust the size of said hopper means, said first ram means and said discharge end of said chute means, to accommodate compressible materials of various sizes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: bag holding means adjacent said discharge openings for holding bags in place over said discharge openings while compressed material is inserted into the bags by means of said second ram means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 including: bag table means for supporting bags while compressed material is being inserted into the bags, said bag table means having means for confining the bags during insertion of compressed material to alleviate stresses on the bags as the compressed material expands in the bags.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including: means adjacent said open ends of said hopper to maintain material which has been compressed and deposited in said chutes by said first ram means in a compressed state after said first ram means has been withdrawn from contact with said material.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of packaging compressible materials comprising: placing units of compressible material side by side within a compression chamber having first and second open ends; compressing the units placed in the compression chamber; expelling the units from the first open end of the compression chamber into a first chute means; expelling the units, while still compressed, from an open end of the first chute means into package means; placing additional units of compressible material side by side within the compression chamber; compressing the additional units placed in the compression chamber; expelling the additional units from the second open end of the compression chamber into a second chute means; and expelling the additional units, while still compressed, from an open end of the second chute means into a package means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
129 words
A method of packaging compressible materials comprising: placing units of compressible material side by side within a compression chamber having first and second open ends; compressing the units placed in the compression chamber; expelling the units from the first open end of the compression chamber into a first chute means; expelling the units, while still compressed, from an open end of the first chute means into package means; placing additional units of compressible material side by side within the compression chamber; compressing the additional units placed in the compression chamber; expelling the additional units from the second open end of the compression chamber into a second chute means; and expelling the additional units, while still compressed, from an open end of the second chute means into a package means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as claimed in claim 7 including: clamping open ends of said package means about the open ends of said first and second chute means while said units are being inserted into said package means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as claimed in claim 8 including: confining said package means while said units are being inserted into said package means to alleviate stresses on said package means as the compressed units expand within said package means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of packaging compressible materials comprising: placing a first set of units of compressible material side by side within a hopper having a bottom wall, side walls, first and second open ends and an open top; compressing the first set of units placed in the hopper; expelling the first set of units from the first open end of said hopper into a first chute means; placing a second set of units of compressible material side by side within the hopper; compressing the second set of units placed in the hopper while maintaining the first set of units in a compressed state in the first chute; expelling the second set of units from the second open end of the hopper into a second chute Means; placing a third set of units of compressible material side by side in the hopper; compressing the third set of units placed in the hopper while maintaining the second set of units in a compressed state in the second chute means; expelling the third set of units from the first open end of the hopper into the first chute; and expelling the first and third sets of units from an open end of the first chute means into a package means.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
206 words
A method of packaging compressible materials comprising: placing a first set of units of compressible material side by side within a hopper having a bottom wall, side walls, first and second open ends and an open top; compressing the first set of units placed in the hopper; expelling the first set of units from the first open end of said hopper into a first chute means; placing a second set of units of compressible material side by side within the hopper; compressing the second set of units placed in the hopper while maintaining the first set of units in a compressed state in the first chute; expelling the second set of units from the second open end of the hopper into a second chute Means; placing a third set of units of compressible material side by side in the hopper; compressing the third set of units placed in the hopper while maintaining the second set of units in a compressed state in the second chute means; expelling the third set of units from the first open end of the hopper into the first chute; and expelling the first and third sets of units from an open end of the first chute means into a package means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
339 words
Apparatus for packaging compressible materials comprising: hopper means, said hopper means having a longitudinal center line, said hopper means having first and second side walls extending parallel to said longitudinal center line, said hopper means having a bottom wall extending between and secured to said side walls, said hopper means having an open top, and said hopper means having an open end; a first ram means for compressing materials carried within said hopper means, said first ram means extending between said side walls, said first ram means being movable relative to said hopper means in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open end; means for moving said first ram means back and forth across said hopper means in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open end; chute means adjacent said open end for receiving the materials from said hopper means which are compressed by said first ram means, said chute means having a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said hopper means, said chute means having a lateral opening therein defined by said open end of said hopper means, and said chute means having an open discharge end for permitting the discharge of compressed materials from said chute means; a second ram means carried in said chute means, said second ram means being movable parallel to the longitudinal center line of said chute means; means for moving said second ram means in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line of said chute means, and bag holding means adjacent said discharge opening for holding a bag in place while compressed material is inserted into the bag by means of said second ram means, said bag holding means comprising a bag table means for supporting a bag while compressed material is being inserted into the bag, said bag table having means for confining the bag during insertion of compressed material to alleviate stresses on the bag as the compressed material expands in the bag.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
339 words
Apparatus for packaging compressible materials comprising: hopper means, said hopper means having a longitudinal center line, said hopper means having first and second side walls extending parallel to said longitudinal center line, said hopper means having a bottom wall extending between and secured to said side walls, said hopper means having an open top, and said hopper means having an open end; a first ram means for compressing materials carried within said hopper means, said first ram means extending between said side walls, said first ram means being movable relative to said hopper means in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open end; means for moving said first ram means back and forth across said hopper means in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open end; chute means adjacent said open end for receiving the materials from said hopper means which are compressed by said first ram means, said chute means having a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said hopper means, said chute means having a lateral opening therein defined by said open end of said hopper means, and said chute means having an open discharge end for permitting the discharge of compressed materials from said chute means; a second ram means carried in said chute means, said second ram means being movable parallel to the longitudinal center line of said chute means; means for moving said second ram means in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line of said chute means, and bag holding means adjacent said discharge opening for holding a bag in place while compressed material is inserted into the bag by means of said second ram means, said bag holding means comprising a bag table means for supporting a bag while compressed material is being inserted into the bag, said bag table having means for confining the bag during insertion of compressed material to alleviate stresses on the bag as the compressed material expands in the bag.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for packaging compressible materials comprising: a compression chamber, said compression chamber having a longitudinal center line extending between open ends of said compression chamber, and said compression chamber having an opening through which materials can be introduced into said compression chamber in a side by side arrangement for compression, first ram means carried within said compression chamber for compressing materials, said first ram means having material engaging surfaces extending transverse with respect to said center line and facing each of said open ends, said first ram means being movable relative to said compression chamber in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; means for moving said first ram means back and forth across said compression chamber in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; chute means adjacent each of said open ends for receiving the materials from said compression chamber which are compressed by said first ram means, each of said chute means having a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said compression chamber, each of said chute means having a lateral opening therein defined by one of said open ends of said compression chamber, and each of said chute means having an open discharge end for discharging compressed materials into paCkage means; second ram means carried in each of said chute means and movable parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means; and means for moving said second ram means back and forth in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
268 words
Apparatus for packaging compressible materials comprising: a compression chamber, said compression chamber having a longitudinal center line extending between open ends of said compression chamber, and said compression chamber having an opening through which materials can be introduced into said compression chamber in a side by side arrangement for compression, first ram means carried within said compression chamber for compressing materials, said first ram means having material engaging surfaces extending transverse with respect to said center line and facing each of said open ends, said first ram means being movable relative to said compression chamber in a direction parallel to said longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; means for moving said first ram means back and forth across said compression chamber in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center line and perpendicular to said open ends; chute means adjacent each of said open ends for receiving the materials from said compression chamber which are compressed by said first ram means, each of said chute means having a longitudinal center line perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of said compression chamber, each of said chute means having a lateral opening therein defined by one of said open ends of said compression chamber, and each of said chute means having an open discharge end for discharging compressed materials into paCkage means; second ram means carried in each of said chute means and movable parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means; and means for moving said second ram means back and forth in the direction parallel to the longitudinal center lines of said chute means.
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) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |