# US 10,766,641 B2 · Method and apparatus for a product settler > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,766,641 B2 - Document ID: US10766641B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/581,110 - Filed: 2014-12-23 - Published: 2016-06-23 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-23 - Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc. - Applicants: Frito-Lay North America, Inc. - Inventors: Eduard Edwards; Chad Arthur Huebner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766641B2 ## CPC - B65B 1/22: by vibration - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - B65B 1/24: by mechanical compression - B65B 9/10: Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs - B65B 9/20: the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles - B65B 31/045: {of Vertical Form-Fill-Seal [VFFS] machines} - B65B 51/306: {Counter-rotating devices} - B65B 59/04: Machines constructed with readily-detachable units or assemblies, e.g. to facilitate maintenance - 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) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for settling a product in a partially formed package. In one aspect, the invention comprises the steps: providing a partially formed package; filling the partially formed package with a product; and settling the product in the partially formed package. The settling step comprises rotating a paddle wheel comprising at least one paddle against the partially formed package. In a second aspect, the invention comprises an improved product settler for settling product in a partially formed package. The improved product settler comprises a paddle wheel. The paddle wheel comprises at least one paddle that is positioned to cause an impact against the partially formed package. The impact agitates the partially formed package and thereby settles the product. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising an improved product settler for settling product in a partially formed package; wherein the product settler comprises: a paddle wheel; wherein the paddle wheel comprises at least one paddle that is positioned and configured to cause an impact against the partially formed package above an unsettled height of the product in the partially formed package; and wherein the impact agitates the partially formed package and thereby settles the product; wherein the product settler is configured so that the impact against the partially formed package settles the product from the unsettled height to a settled height of the product in the partially formed package, wherein the settled height is lower than the unsettled height. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a source of pressurized gas. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus comprises a nozzle configured to direct the pressurized gas into the partially formed package. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler comprises a controller configured to set a number of impacts per minute that the paddle wheel causes on the partially formed package. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler comprises a positional sensor configured to determine a position of the paddle wheel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a positional sensor configured to determine a position of the paddle wheel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the impact occurs on one and only one face of the partially formed package. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the paddle wheel is configured to directly contact the partially formed package to cause the impact. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler comprises a motor, and wherein the product settler and the motor are configured and wherein the motor has sufficiently low torque so that if the motor turns off while the paddle wheel is in contact with the partially formed package, as the partially formed package is conveyed, the partially formed package will push the paddle wheel out of a path of the partially formed package. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is modular. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler comprises a frame configured to spatially fix the product settler in relation to a path of the partially formed package. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler comprises a first adjustable mount configured to move the product settler in a first direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the paddle wheel comprises a plurality of paddles. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a form, fill and seal machine. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the form, fill and seal machine comprises two seal jaw carriages; wherein a plurality of seal jaws are fixed to the seal jaw carriages; wherein the plurality of seal jaws are configured to form a first end seal to provide the partially formed package; wherein the plurality of seal jaws are configured to form a second end seal, thereby forming a package from the partially formed package; and wherein the product settler is located adjacent to one and only one side of the seal jaw carriages. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a form, fill and seal machine configured to advance film continuously along a product conduit configured to conduct the product into the partially formed package. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the paddle wheel rotates intermittently by rotating, stopping rotation, and then rotating again; and wherein the apparatus is configured so that the paddle wheel rotates intermittently while the form, fill and seal machine advances film continuously along the product conduit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus is configured so that the paddle wheel rotates continuously while the form, fill and seal machine advances film continuously along the product conduit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to be located adjacent to one and only one face of the partially formed package. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured so that the impact against the partially formed package occurs above the unsettled height of the product in the partially formed package and below a product conduit through which the product is introduced into the partially formed package. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to agitate the partially formed package in a cycle that comprises: (i) impacting the partially formed package to move the partially formed package into a deformed position, and (ii) subsequently allowing the partially formed package to move out of the deformed position; and wherein the product settler is configured to repeatedly perform the cycle to cause a plurality of impacts against the partially formed package. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to cause vibration of the partially formed package as a result of repeating a cycle involving the partially formed package, wherein the cycle comprises the partially formed package being pushed by the impact with the at least one paddle and then the partially formed package being allowed to return to a position of the partially formed package before the impact. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to contact one and only one face of the partially formed package. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to cause the impact repeatedly against the partially formed package, thereby providing impacts against the partially formed package at a rate of more than 180 impacts per minute. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the product settler is configured to cause the impact repeatedly against the partially formed package, thereby providing impacts against the partially formed package at a rate of up to 900 impacts per minute. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to cause the impact repeatedly against the partially formed package, thereby providing impacts against the partially formed package at a rate of at least 300 and up to 900 impacts per minute. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to operate intermittently. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the product settler is configured to operate continuously. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises one and only one product settler and wherein the one and only one product settler is configured to cause impacts against one and only one face of the partially formed package. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the product settler comprises one and only one paddle wheel and wherein the one and only one paddle wheel is configured to cause impacts against the one and only one face of the partially formed package.