Apparatus for Compacting Product & High Speed Bagmaking
AssigneeFrito-Lay North America, Inc.
InventorPatrick J. BIERSCHENK
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Abstract
A method for compacting and packaging a plurality of slugs of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form compact slugs of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber for each slug of product or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slugs can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the slugs of product are discharged to a multiple bagmaking packaging apparatus.
Claims20
An apparatus for compacting and packaging a plurality of product slugs simultaneously, said apparatus comprising:
- a multiple bagmaker, said bagmaker having a number of product delivery cylinders;
- a weigher;
- and
- a settling device;
- wherein said settling device is located between said weigher and said product delivery cylinder.
A method for compacting and packaging a plurality of product slugs with an apparatus comprising a multiple bagmaker having a number of product delivery cylinders, said method comprising:
- a) weighing a plurality of product slugs in a weigher, wherein said weigher is divided into a number of sections equal to said number of product delivery cylinders;
- b) receiving said plurality of product slugs to a settling device;
- c) compacting said plurality of product slugs in said settling device to form compact slugs of product;
- d) discharging said compact slugs of product to said number of product delivery cylinders, wherein each compact slug of product is discharged into a separate product delivery cylinder;
- and
- e) depositing said slugs of product from said product delivery cylinders to packages,
- wherein said settling device is located downstream from said weigher and upstream from said product delivery cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.