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US 2010/0300042 A1Published application
Breech loader packaging systems and associated methods
AssigneeTipper Tie, Inc.
InventorsDennis J. May, Samuel D. Griggs, Matthew Lowder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems for enclosing at least one target product in a covering material, include an elongate product chute having an outer surface and opposing receiving and discharge end portions with an interior cavity extending therethrough and an elongate breech loading chute alignably positioned generally above the product chute, the elongate loading chute configured to direct at least one target product into the product chute.
Claims10
A method of packaging objects, comprising:
- temporarily holding at least one target object in a forward portion of an elongate loading chute using an automated stop member, the elongate loading chute having a primary body that is oriented in a non-vertical angle of inclination such that it angles generally downwardly with a substantially constant slope in a direction of product travel;
- then
- electronically directing the automated stop member to release the at least one target object from the loading chute;
- advancing the at least one target object through a product chute after the at least one target object is released from the loading chute using an automated pusher mechanism;
- and
- automatically clipping the at least one target object in covering material held on the product chute when the at least one target object exits the product chute to package the at least one target object,
- wherein the holding, directing, advancing and clipping steps are successively repeated a plurality of times to package a series of the at least one target object.
4 more elements
A packaging system, comprising:
- an automated clipper mechanism;
- a product chute residing upstream of the clipper mechanism in cooperating alignment therewith;
- an elongate loading chute having a primary body with opposing first and second ends that is oriented in a non-vertical angle of inclination such that it angles generally downwardly with a substantially constant slope in a direction of product travel with the first end residing further away from the clipper mechanism at a greater height than the second end which is lower than the first end and resides closer to the clipper mechanism, and wherein the loading chute is cooperating alignment with the product chute but is in an unsealed arrangement therewith;
- an automated stop member in the loading chute for successively holding objects in the loading chute;
- an automated product pusher mechanism residing upstream of the product chute and being configured to travel through the product chute;
- and
- a controller in communication with the stop member and the product pusher mechanism configured to synchronize release of a target object from the loading chute with operation of the product pusher mechanism.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.