# US 2013/0152509 A1 · Apparatus for Compacting Product & High Speed Bagmaking > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0152509 A1 - Document ID: US20130152509A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/764,133 - Filed: 2013-02-11 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2009-10-23 - Assignees: Frito-Lay North America, Inc. - Inventors: Patrick J. BIERSCHENK - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130152509A1 ## CPC - B65B 1/22: by vibration - B65B 1/00: Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars - B65B 1/32: by weighing (check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46) - B65B 9/20: the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles - B65B 37/18: by weighing {(devices or methods for controlling the quantity of material or liquid fed or filled into a container by weighing B65B1/32, B65B3/28)} - B65B 63/02: for compressing or compacting articles or materials prior to wrapping or insertion in containers or receptacles - B65B 65/006: {Multiple parallel packaging lines} - B65B 2210/02: Plurality of alternative input or output lines or plurality of alternative packaging units on the same packaging line for improving machine flexibility - 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 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weigher is divided into a number of sections equal to said number of product delivery cylinders. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said multiple bagmaker comprises a duplex vertical form, fill, and seal machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device comprises at least two settling chambers. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said settling chambers comprise a cross-sectional shape substantially similar to the desired shape of the product slug. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said settling chambers comprise a substantially oval cross-section. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said settling chambers comprise a top end and a bottom end, and wherein said bottom end comprises a larger opening than said top end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device further comprises a gate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling devices comprise at least four settling chambers and at least one gate, wherein said settling chambers are axially rotatable within the settling device, and wherein a number of said settling chambers equal to said number of said product delivery cylinders are grouped at a single position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a stationary turret table, wherein said stationary turret table is located below said settling chambers. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said stationary turret table comprises an opening located above said gate. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a stationary table located above said at least four rotating settling chambers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said settling device further comprises a vibrator. ### Claim 14 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. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said receiving step comprises receiving product into at least four settling chambers, wherein a number of said settling chambers equal to said number of said product delivery cylinders are grouped together. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said compacting step comprises rotating said product in four settling chambers, wherein said settling chambers are axially rotatable within the settling device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said compacting step comprises vibrating said settling device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said depositing step comprises depositing said slugs into a duplex vertical form, fill, and seal machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said receiving step and said discharging step occur simultaneously. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14 wherein said receiving step comprises receiving product into at least one settling chamber, and wherein said depositing step comprises depositing at least two slugs from at least one settling chambers into a package.