Method of manufacturing an article
OwnerJohn T. Sullivaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A packaging method includes the steps of conveying a plurality of individual articles toward an assembly area at which the individual articles are formed into a group of articles which are then conveyed to a package area at which the group of articles can also be sized and packaged in a pouch. Preferably, the articles are balls of cotton candy, but individual articles can be similarly packaged.
Claims40
A method of packaging a plurality of individual articles in a container comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying a plurality of individual articles toward an assembly area;
- (b) assembling the conveyed articles into a group of articles at the assembly area and weighing the group of articles at the assembly area until a predetermine group weight of the group of articles is achieved;
- (c) conveying the weighed group of articles upon achieving the predetermined group weight thereof to a sizing area;
- (d) altering the size of the weighed group of articles at the sizing area;
- (e) conveying the weighed and sized group of articles to a packaging area;
- and
- (f) packaging the weighed and sized group of articles in a container at the packaging area.
A method of packaging a weighed and sized group of articles in a container comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying a plurality of individual articles substantially sequentially toward an assembly area under the influence of positive air pressure;
- (b) assembling the substantially sequentially conveyed articles into a group of articles at the assembly area while substantially continuously monitoring the weight thereof until a predetermined group weight of articles is achieved;
- (c) conveying the weighed group of articles uron achieving the predetermined group weight thereof to a sizing area;
- (d) altering the size of the weighed group of articles at the sizing area;
- (e) conveying the weighed and sized group of articles to a packaging area;
- and
- (f) packaging the weighed and sized group of articles in a container at the packaging area.
A method of packaging a plurality of individual articles in a container comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying a plurality of individual articles toward an assembly area;
- (b) assembling the conveyed articles into a group of articles at the assembly area;
- (c) conveying the group of articles to a sizing area;
- (d) altering the size of the group of articles at the sizing area;
- (e) conveying the sized group of articles to a packaging area;
- (f) packaging the sized group of articles in a container at the packaging area;
- (g) performing at least one of the steps (e) and (f) by utilizing a piston head movable against the group of articles while in a chamber;
- and
- (h) venting the chamber to atmosphere through the piston head.
A method of packaging a plurality of articles in a container comprising the steps of:
- (a) conveying the articles substantially sequentially to a weighing area;
- (b) continuously weighing the articles at the weighing area until a predetermined group weight of grouped articles is achieved;
- (c) conveying the grouped articles of predetermined group weight to a packaging area;
- (d) compressing the grouped articles in a chamber of the packaging area by moving a piston head against the grouped articles while simultaneously reducing the volume of the chamber;
- (e) venting air from the chamber during the performance of step (d) through the piston head to thereby prevent adverse vacuum or air pressure conditions in the chamber;
- and
- (f) packaging the grouped articles in a container after the venting thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.