# US 11,029,669 B1 · Pine straw processing and bagging system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,029,669 B1 - Document ID: US11029669B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/361,900 - Filed: 2019-03-22 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-25 - Assignees: Swift Straw II, LLC - Applicants: Swift Straw II, LLC - Inventors: Matthew William Lowe; Wade Haralson Goetz, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11029669B1 ## CPC - G05B 19/41815: {characterised by the cooperation between machine tools, manipulators and conveyor or other workpiece supply system, workcell} - A01F 15/046: {with press-boxes} - B27M 1/02: by compressing - B65D 65/10: rectangular - B65D 85/07: for compressible or flexible articles (for wearing apparel B65D85/18) - B65D 85/08: rod-shaped or tubular - G05B 19/4187: {by tool management} - B65B 25/00: Packaging other articles presenting special problems (bundling B65B27/00) - B65B 27/00: Bundling particular articles presenting special problems using string, wire, or narrow tape or band; Baling fibrous material, e.g. peat, not otherwise provided for - B65D 65/466: {Bio- or photodegradable packaging materials} - B65D 85/46: for bricks, tiles or building blocks - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - 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) - B27M: WORKING OF WOOD NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B27B - B27L; MANUFACTURE OF SPECIFIC WOODEN ARTICLES - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES - 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 system and method for packaging pine straw and a packaged mass of pine straw made therefrom, the method including providing an electronically-controlled system configured for packaging pine straw, the system including system logic that controls conveying, fluffing, cleaning, compressing and packaging of the pine straw, and using the system to compress a mass of pine straw into a rectangular mass of pine straw and enclosing the rectangular mass of pine straw within a flexible plastic sheet thereby forming a substantially rectangular packaged mass of compressed pine straw. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of packaging pine straw comprising: providing an electronically-controlled system configured for packaging pine straw, the system including system logic that controls conveying, fluffing, cleaning, compressing and packaging of the pine straw, and using the system to compress a mass of pine straw into a rectangular mass of pine straw and enclose the rectangular mass of pine straw within a flexible plastic sheet thereby forming a substantially rectangular packaged mass of compressed pine straw. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the packaged mass of compressed pine straw is about 24 inches long, about 18 inches wide and about 14 inches to about 16 inches high. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2 wherein the packaged mass of compressed pine straw weighs from 18 pounds to 25 pounds. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the mass of pine straw is compressed into the rectangular mass of pine straw using between 1750 psi to 2000 psi pf pressure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the mass of pine straw is compressed into the rectangular mass of pine straw using two horizontal compression rams and one vertical compression ram. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 including compressing the mass of pine straw into the rectangular mass of pine straw and enclosing the rectangular mass of pine straw within the plastic sheet using a bagger that is controlled by the system logic. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 including conveying pine straw on a belt conveyor system to the bagger, wherein the belt conveyor system fluffs the pine straw. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 including removing pine straw dust from the bagger using an aspiration system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the bagger weighs a mass of pine straw in a weighing chamber, compresses the mass of pine straw in a compression chamber and encloses the rectangular mass of pine straw within the flexible plastic sheet in a bagging area. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 including using an aspiration system to remove dust from the weighing chamber, the compression chamber and the bagging area. ### Claim 11 A pine straw packaging system comprising: a system logic configured for controlling conveying, fluffing, compressing and packaging of pine straw, a conveyor operatively coupled to the system logic, the conveyor having means for fluffing and cleaning the pine straw, and a bagger operatively coupled to the system logic, the bagger having means for weighing, compressing and packaging the pine straw. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A substantially rectangular packaged mass of compressed pine straw manufactured using the system of claim 11. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11 including an aspiration system operatively coupled to the system logic and the bagger, the aspiration system including one or more conduits operatively coupled to and between the bagger and a suction device. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13 wherein the one or more conduits are operatively coupled to and between the means for weighing, compressing and packaging the pine straw and the suction device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14 wherein the means for weighing, compressing and packaging the pine straw includes a pine straw weighing chamber, a compression chamber and packaging area. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more conduits include a first conduit arranged to remove pine straw dust from the weighing chamber, a second conduit arranged to remove pine straw dust from the compression chamber and a third conduit arranged to remove duct from the packaging area.