# US 11,440,691 B2 · Funnels and lances for package filling

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- Number: US 11,440,691 B2
- Document ID: US11440691B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/371,753
- Filed: 2021-07-09
- Published: 2022-06-02
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2020-11-30
- Assignees: Sargento Foods Inc.
- Applicants: Sargento Foods Inc.
- Inventors: James Abston; Tim Veldman; Jon Sommer; Aaron Strand
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11440691B2

## CPC

- B65B 31/044: {the nozzles being combined with a filling device (B65B31/043 takes precedence)}
- B65B 39/007: {Guides or funnels for introducing articles into containers or wrappers}
- 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

Funnels and gas lances are disclosed for use with filling packages with bulk product.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An assembly for transferring products to a package comprising:
a funnel having an exit end where products enter a package; and
a lance having an exit end where gas enters the package, wherein the funnel and the lance share a common wall.

### Claim 2

A method for blowing gas into a package filled with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel having a geometry and having an exit end where products enter a package;
providing a lance for blowing a gas into the package, the lance having an exit end where the gas enters the package;
blowing gas into the package; and
changing the blowing gas from turbulent flow to laminar flow using the geometry of the funnel.

### Claim 3

A method for blowing gas into a package being filled with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel having an exit end where products enter a package;
providing a lance for blowing a gas into the package, the lance having an exit end where the gas enters the package;
blowing gas into the package; and
decreasing the velocity of the gas as it enters the package to reduce the amount of product being blown out of the package.

### Claim 4

A method for filling a package with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel with an exit end;
providing a lance with an exit end, wherein the funnel and the lance share a common wall;
moving the funnel and the lance into a package with the common wall being the first parts of the funnel and the lance to enter the package.

### Claim 5

A method for filling a package with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel with an exit end;
providing a lance with an exit end;
moving the funnel and the lance into the package so that the exit end of the funnel and the lance are inside the package;
transferring products into the funnel so that the products travels through the funnel, out the exit end of the funnel and into the package; and
blowing a gas through the lance, out the exit end and into the package to displace oxygen in the package to under 2%.

### Claim 6

A method for blowing gas into a package filled with products comprising the steps:
providing a funnel having an exit end where products enter a package;
providing a lance for blowing a gas into the package, the lance having an exit end where the gas enters the package; and
blowing gas into the package such that the gas flows out of the exit end in a direction that is not substantially parallel to the flow of the products entering the package.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein gas flows out of the exit end in a direction approximately perpendicular to the flow of products entering the package.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6 wherein gas flows out of the exit end in a direction approximately at a 45 degree angle to the flow of products entering the package.