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US 12,577,001 B2Granted
Apparatuses and methods for loading containers with products
AssigneeAltria Client Services LLC
InventorsTravis Martin Garthaffner, Tamika Murrell, Ahmet Ercelebi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
At least one example embodiment relates to a system for filling a plurality of containers with oral products. The system comprises a container station and a shuttle assembly. The container station is configured to provide a plurality of containers. The shuttle assembly is configured to move between a first shuttle position to receive a plurality of oral products and a second shuttle position to deposit the oral products into the containers. At least one example embodiment relates to a method of filling a plurality of containers with oral products.
Claims20
A system for a filling a plurality of containers with products, the system comprising:
- a shuttle assembly configured to move between a first location to receive a plurality of products and a second location to release the plurality of products into the containers, the shuttle assembly including,
- a body defining a plurality of apertures,
- a plurality of air-permeable gates configured to move with respect to the body between a first gate position and a second gate position, and
- a gate bar, the plurality of air-permeable gates extending from the gate bar,
- in the first gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates extends transversely across a respective one of the plurality of apertures so as to retain the products within the plurality of apertures, and
- in the second gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates is at least partially outside of the respective one of the plurality of apertures so as to no longer retain the products within the apertures.
3 more elements
A system for filling a plurality of containers with products, the system comprising:
- a container station configured to provide a plurality of containers to a container loading station, the container station including,
- a nest configured to individually and sequentially receive each of a plurality of containers, and
- a pair of pinchers configured to deform opposing sides of each of the plurality of containers in the nest, each of the pair of pinchers coupled to a respective piston;
- and
- a shuttle assembly configured to receive a plurality of products in a first shuttle position and move to a second shuttle position to deposit the plurality of products in the plurality of containers at the container loading station.
2 more elements
A system for filling a plurality of containers with products, the system comprising:
- a product metering station including,
- a plurality of lanes, each of the plurality of lanes including,
- an upper passage,
- a lower passage, and
- a first gate between the upper passage and the lower passage, the first gate configured to move between a first gate position in which the first gate extends transversely across the lane so as to retain products within the lane, and a second gate position in which the first gate is at least partially outside of the lane so as to permit the products to move through the lane;
- a shuttle assembly configured to move between the product metering station to receive a plurality of products;
- and
- a container loading station to deposit the plurality of products into containers, the container loading station including,
- a vacuum configured to engage lids of the containers to retain the containers in an open position.
6 more elements
A system for a filling a plurality of containers with products, the system comprising:
- a shuttle assembly configured to move a plurality of products between a first location to receive the plurality of products and a second location to release the plurality of products into the containers, the shuttle assembly including,
- a body defining a plurality of apertures,
- a plurality of air-permeable gates configured to move with respect to the body between a first gate position and a second gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates including,
- a plurality of tines spaced apart from one another to define a plurality of gaps,
- in the first gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates extends transversely across a respective one of the plurality of apertures so as to retain the products within the plurality of apertures, and
- in the second gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates is at least partially outside of the respective one of the plurality of apertures so as to no longer retain the products within the apertures.
3 more elements
A system for a filling a plurality of containers with products, the system comprising:
- a shuttle assembly configured to move a plurality of products between a first location to receive the plurality of products and a second location to release the plurality of products into the containers, the shuttle assembly including,
- a body defining a plurality of apertures,
- a plurality of air-permeable gates configured to move with respect to the body between a first gate position and a second gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates defining a partially circular distal edge
- in the first gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates extends transversely across a respective one of the plurality of apertures so as to retain the products within the plurality of apertures, and
- in the second gate position, each of the plurality of air-permeable gates is at least partially outside of the respective one of the plurality of apertures so as to no longer retain the products within the apertures.
2 more elements
A system for filling a plurality of containers with products, the system comprising:
- a product metering station including,
- a plurality of lanes, each of the plurality of lanes including,
- an upper passage,
- a lower passage, and
- a first gate between the upper passage and the lower passage, the first gate configured to move between a first gate position in which the first gate extends transversely across the lane so as to retain products within the lane, and a second gate position in which the first gate is at least partially outside of the lane so as to permit the products to move through the lane;
- a shuttle assembly configured to move between the product metering station to receive a plurality of products;
- and
- a container loading station to deposit the plurality of products into containers the container loading station including,
- a plurality of tampers configured to move between a first tamper position spaced apart from the containers and a second tamper position at least partially within interior regions of the containers, and
- a guide block configured to direct the products from the shuttle assembly to the containers, and to move between a first guide block position spaced apart from the containers to a second guide block position to engage lids of the containers and close the containers the guide block defining a plurality of apertures through which the plurality of products pass.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.