# US 10,479,540 B2 · Adjustable bagging tunnel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,479,540 B2 - Document ID: US10479540B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/112,783 - Filed: 2015-02-10 - Published: 2016-11-17 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-10 - Assignees: SRC Innovations, LLC - Applicants: SRC Innovations LLC - Inventors: Steven R. Cullen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10479540B2 ## CPC - B65B 39/02: Expansible or contractible nozzles, funnels, or guides - A01F 25/14: Containers specially adapted for storing - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 39/007: {Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers} - B65B 43/42: Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position (by means of filling-nozzles B65B39/00); Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation (by filling-nozzles B65B39/00) - A01F 2025/145: {Bagging machines for loose materials making some kind of "sausage" on the field} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - A01F: PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE (devices for topping or skinning onions or flower bulbs A23N15/08) ## Abstract An adjustable tunnel for a bagging machine that enables a variety of bag sizes to be fitted to the tunnel is disclosed. The adjustable tunnel has a height adjustable overhead panel, an adjustable width base, a first and second side panel, a first and as second intermediate panel, and a surface tensioning assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable tunnel of a mobile bagging machine, the tunnel comprising: an expandable base having first and second ends, the expandable base having collapsed and expanded configurations, wherein a distance between the first end and the second end is less in the collapsed configuration than in the expanded configuration; a central arch panel disposed above the expandable base, wherein the central arch panel is vertically and continuously movable between first and second positions; a first side panel having a first side panel base coupled to the expandable base at the first end; a second side panel having a second side panel base coupled to the expandable base at the second end; a first intermediate panel disposed between the central arch panel and the first side panel; a second intermediate panel disposed between the central arch panel and the second panel; and a surface tensioning assembly disposed about the first and second side panels, the first and second intermediate panel, and the central arch panel, an end panel assembly comprising a lower end panel coupled to a bulkhead and an upper end panel connected to the central arch panel, wherein the lower end panel and the upper end panel are vertically movable relative to one another, wherein a height of the central arch panel varies between the first and second configurations. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable tunnel of claim 1, wherein the lower end panel couples to the lower portion of the expandable inlet through a first vertical hinge and the upper end panel couples to the upper portion of the expandable inlet through a second vertical hinge, wherein the first vertical hinge and the second vertical hinge have non-collinear axes. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable tunnel of claim 1, wherein the surface tensioning system comprises at least one strap coupled to the first side panel at a first strap end and to the second side panel at a second strap end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The adjustable tunnel of claim 3, wherein the strap has a fixed length and each side panel has a plurality of mounts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The adjustable tunnel of claim 4, wherein the plurality of mounts are spaced apart at a fixed interval. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The adjustable tunnel of claim 5, wherein the strap has a looped end and each of the mounts comprises a pin. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The adjustable tunnel of claim 6, wherein the plurality of mounting positions consists of two pins. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable tunnel of claim 7, wherein the strap selectively mounts in at least three configurations consisting of the loop about the first pin, the strap under the first pin and the loop about the second pin, and the strap under the first pin, the strap looping around the second pin, and the loop about the first pin. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The adjustable tunnel of claim 7 wherein the strap selectively mounts in at least two configurations consisting of the loop about the first pin and the strap under the first pin and the loop about the second pin. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The adjustable tunnel of claim 5, further comprising a graduated stop mechanism having a plurality of discrete positions for the height of the expandable inlet. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The adjustable tunnel of claim 10, where the number of plurality of mounting positions of the strap, the number of the plurality of the discrete stop position, and the number of the discrete positions of the height are each equal in quantity to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The adjustable tunnel of claim 9, wherein the number of plurality of mounting positions of the strap is two, the number of the plurality of the discrete stop positions is two, and the number of the discrete positions of the height is two. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The adjustable tunnel of claim 1, further comprising a bag hoisting assembly configured to lift a portion of a bag over the central arch panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The adjustable tunnel of claim 13, wherein the bag hoisting assembly comprises a frame disposed over the central arch panel and a longitudinally movable hoist coupled to a beam. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The adjustable tunnel of claim 13, wherein the bag hoisting assembly comprises a pair of rails disposed above the expandable base, the pair of rails having an axis of rotation about a base end of the beam and a trolley assembly configured to translate along the pair of rails. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The adjustable tunnel of claim 15, wherein the pair of rails extend rearward from the bulkhead and are configured to pivot about a pivot point. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The adjustable tunnel of claim 13, further comprising (i) a cradle having a first beam proximate the first side panel and a second beam proximate the second side panel, (ii) a trolley assembly having a first trolley disposed on the first beam and a second trolley disposed on the second beam wherein the cradle is coupled to the first and second trolleys.