Packaging method and apparatus
AssigneeUnion Carbide Corporation
InventorJoseph A. Nausedas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Flexible packaging bags are sequentially air-opened one at a time at a packaging station and filled with an article to be packaged while resting on top of a packaging table, which is removable so as to expose an area beneath the table in which a stacked and wicket held supply of the packaging bags is stored for use in the packaging operation, a selected number of the bags being periodically removed from the stacked supply of bags and transferred to the packaging station while still held by the wicket.
Claims27
A packaging apparatus for sequentially opening and filling flattened flexible packaging bags one at a time at a packaging station from a stacked supply of bags, each bag having wicket holes provided in a portion thereof adjacent to its open end, the stacked supply of packaging bags being held together by a wicket extending through the wicket holes provided in each bag, which apparatus comprises, in combination:
- (a) an apparatus frame having an aft and a fore end;
- (b) a packaging table mounted on said apparatus frame and adapted to be at least partially removed therefrom, said packaging table having a substantially flat, horizontal surface for holding a plurality of said packaging bags in a substantially flatwise manner adjacent to said packaging station;
- (c) means provided on said apparatus frame for storing a stacked and wicket held supply of packaging bags in an area beneath said packaging table;
- (d) means for positioning said wicket adjacent to said packaging station, thereby enabling a number of said packaging bags to be periodically selected and removed from the top of the stacked and wicket held supply of bags and placed on top of said packaging table for use in the packaging operation while still held on said wicket;
- and
- (e) an air blower mounted on the aft end of said frame, said blower having a discharge nozzle for directing a stream of air towards the packaging bags placed on top of said packaging table, the air stream inflating and opening the topmost bag.
A method for sequentially opening flattened, flexible packaging bags one at a time at a packaging station and then filling each open bag with an article to be packaged, each bag having wicket holes provided in a portion adjacent to its open end, comprising:
- (a) providing a plurality of the packaging bags arranged in a flatwise contiguous manner one on top of the other forming a stacked supply of packaging bags, each bag having wicket holes maintained in substantial registration with the wicket holes in adjacent bags, said stacked supply of packaging bags being held together by a wicket including an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said wicket being contiguous with said upper portion and extending through said wicket holes provided in each bag, and said upper portion of said wicket extending outwardly beyond said stacked supply of bags;
- (b) placing said stacked and wicket held supply of packaging bags within a storage area located beneath said packaging station;
- (c) selecting a number of said packaging bags from the top of said stacked supply of bags and removing the same from said storage area while still held on said wicket;
- (d) guiding the selected packaging bags along the upper portion of said wicket;
- (e) placing said upper portion of said wicket in a substantially vertical position adjacent to said packaging station;
- (f) holding said selected packaging bags at a location adjacent to said packaging station while at the same time placing a substantially flat, horizontal surface underneath said bags, said substantially flat, horizontal surface overlying the remainder of said stacked supply of bags held within said storage area;
- (g) retaining said upper portion of said wicket in place at said packaging station;
- (h) placing said selected packaging bags down on top of said substantially flat, horizontal surface with the open end of said bags disposed adjacent to said packaging station;
- (i) directing a stream of air toward the open end of said bags so as to inflate and open the topmost bag and then filling the inflated open bag with an article to be packaged;
- (j) removing the article filled bag from said wicket and exposing the next topmost bag to said air stream;
- and
- (k) repeating steps (c) through (j) after the last of said selected bags has been inflated and filled with an article to be packaged.
A system for holding a substantially rigid wicket having elongated leg portions comprising, in combination:
- a wicket holder block having open grooves provided in the side wall thereof for receiving and holding said elongated leg portions of said rigid wicket and a removeable wicket retainer adapted to engage with said wicket holder block for retaining said rigid wicket inside said open grooves.
A method for opening flattened flexible packaging bags one at a time at a packaging station and then filling each open bag with an article to be packaged, the packaging bags being arranged in a flatwise contiguous manner one on top of the other forming a stacked supply of packaging bags, each bag having wicket holes maintained in substantial registration with the wicket holes in adjacent bags, said stacked supply of packaging bags being held together by a wicket including an upper portion and a lower portion, said lower portion of said wicket being contiguous with said upper portion and extending through said wicket holes provided in each bag, and said upper portion of said wicket extending outwardly beyond said stacked supply of bags;
- said method comprising:
- (a) placing said stacked and wicket held supply of packaging bags within a storage area located beneath said packaging station;
- (b) selecting one or more of said packaging bags from the top of said stacked supply of bags and removing the same from said storage area while still held on said wicket;
- (c) guiding the selected packaging bags along the upper portion of said wicket;
- (d) holding said upper portion of said wicket at a location above said stacked supply of packaging bags;
- (e) placing a substantially flat, horizontal surface underneath said bags, said substantially flat, horizontal surface overlying the remainder of said stacked supply of bags held within said storage area;
- (f) retaining said upper portion of said wicket in place at said packaging station;
- (g) placing said selected packaging bags on top of said substantially flat, horizontal surface with the open end of said bags disposed adjacent to said packaging station;
- and
- (h) directing a stream of air toward the open end of said bags so as to inflate and open each bag and then filling the inflated open bag with an article to be packaged.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.