US 2015/0307215 A1Published application

Material sorting and filling device and methodology for use with plastic bags incorporating interlocking strip fasteners

OwnerMartin Joseph Minasianinventor

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Abstract

An extensible device supporting a multidimensional sorting method for the concurrent sorting and filling of lightweight materials into plastic bags, with interlocking strip fasteners. The device comprising a planar array of at least one ribbed tubular insert, integrated vertically onto a thin plate, and supported above a work surface. Each ribbed tubular insert having an exterior surface comprising a plurality of ridges and grooves circumscribing the perimeter of the insert about its elongated axis, and containing a smooth-wall hollow core, with a top opening for loading, and a bottom opening for discharging at a distal end. The tongue and groove of the bag strip fastener securely engages with the insert ridges and grooves, thereby allowing the bags and associated fill material to be vertically suspended above the work surface. The array of inserts and bags are labeled similarly to associate the selected sorting criteria with the applicable bag contents.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A material sorting and filling device for use with at least one plastic bag, incorporating an interlocking strip fastener, comprising:

a. a sheet of rigid material, with said sheet having top and under sides,
b. at least one tubular insert of predetermined size and shape, each containing an exterior wall surface comprised of a plurality of alternating ridges and grooves circumscribing the perimeter of said insert about its elongated axis, and each insert containing an internal smooth-wall hollow core, with a top opening for loading at a proximate end, and a bottom opening for discharging at a distal end,
c. a plurality of support members,
d. said tubular inserts integrated into said sheet at predetermined locations to form an array of dimension of at least one, with the said insert elongated axis oriented perpendicular to the underside of said sheet, with the top end and associated opening of said insert resting flush with the top-side surface of said sheet, and passing through said sheet, and projecting through the underside a predetermined length, with distal end of said insert projecting away from the underside of said sheet,
e. a means for joining said support members to said sheet at spaced locations so as to be able to support said sheet horizontally above a working surface, and without interfering with said insert projections,
whereby one can concurrently sort and fill materials into a plurality of plastic bags in an efficient manner.

3 more elements

A method for sorting and filling materials with a plurality of differentiating criteria into a plurality of plastic bags incorporating interlocking strip fasteners, comprising:

a. providing at least one sorting and filling device comprising a plurality of ribbed tubular inserts, vertically integrated as a planar array in a horizontal plate, with each said insert containing an internal smooth-wall hollow core, with a top opening for loading at a proximate end, and a bottom opening for discharging at a distal end, with said plate and inserts elevated above a working surface by support members,
b. labeling said array of inserts by the desired sorting criteria and similarly labeling each said bag to identify and correlate said bag contents to said inserts and sorting criteria,
c. attaching said labeled bags to said labeled device inserts in a predetermined way,
d. sorting and filling said plastic bags, by placing said material into the appropriate labeled insert according to said material sorting criteria,
whereby one can utilize said methodology to fill materials into a plurality of plastic bags in an organized and efficient manner.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/685,822Filed 14 Apr 2015
Priority: 23 Apr 2014
Published: 29 Oct 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

B65C 5/00
Labelling fabrics or comparable materials or articles with deformable surface
B65B 5/101
Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles: by gravity
B65B 5/103
By gravity: for packaging pills or tablets
B65B 39/06
Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers: adapted to support containers or wrappers