Machine for conditioning product in a sealed bag
AssigneePrototype Equipment Corporation
InventorsJames A. Goodman, Fred A. Herdrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine for conditioning filled and sealed bags for testing, to assure that the bags are accurately tested without damaging the product contained in the bags, and for packaging the bags that have passed the test in cartons with the longitudinal axis of the bags arranged vertical.
Claims12
A method of dispersing product within a sealed bag that has been compacted or segregated which comprises the steps of:
- a) depositing the sealed bag on a continuously moving conveyor such that the bag moves with the conveyor;
- b) accelerating the speed of the continuously moving conveyor such that the bag accelerates along with the continuously moving conveyor but the product within the bag does not and consequently moves within the bag;
- c) decelerating the speed of the continuously moving conveyor such that the bag decelerates along with the continuously moving conveyor but the product within the bag does not and consequently moves within the bag.
In a machine for packaging bags, that have been filled with product, inflated and pneumatically sealed, in cartons such that the bags are vertically oriented in the carton comprising:
- means for conditioning the product including a conveyor upon which the bags are supported and move horizontally in longitudinal alignment, means for accelerating and decelerating the forward speed of said conveyor such that the bag carried thereby change speed with the conveyor and the product in the bag attempts to maintain its velocity resulting in relative movement between the bag and the product contained therein and causing clusters of product to be broken up and spread over an even horizontal layer.
In a product conditioning conveyor comprising:
- a conveyor having a surface upon which sealed bags having product therein are deposited,
- drive means for imparting a continuous movement in one direction to said conveyor,
- means for accelerating and decelerating the speed of said drive means
- said conveyor surface being formed from material that will result in sufficient friction force, between the conveyor surface and the bag, to cause the sealed bags to move along with said conveyor surface during acceleration, deceleration and constant movement of the conveyor,
- the friction force between the product within the bag and the inner surface of the bag being insufficient to cause the product to move with the bag during acceleration and deceleration of the conveyor such that the product is dispersed within the confines of the bag as the bag proceeds along the conveyor.
In a machine for conditioning product contained in a sealed bag comprising;
- a frame structure,
- a conveyor having a substantially horizontal conveying surface upon which the bags are deposited mounted on said frame structure,
- drive means for driving said conveyor at a constant rate of speed mounted on said frame structure,
- means for accelerating and decelerating the constant rate of speed that has been imparted to the conveyor by said drive means, mounted on said frame structure, such that bags carried by the conveyor change speed with the conveyor and the product in the bag attempts to maintain a constant velocity, resulting in relative movement between the bag and the product contained therein and causing any clusters of product to be broken up and the product spread over an even horizontal layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.