US 6,584,753 B2Granted

System and method for including inserts with goods during automated packaging

AssigneeDSD Communications, Inc.

InventorsFatehali T. Dharssi, Dale Lee Klinefelter, Brian Marshall, Raymond E. Noel, Jr.

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

The invention comprises an insert delivery system for use with an automated packaging machine. Preferably, the system is used to include coupons and the like with products being automatically packaged, such as sliced loaf bread. The system may comprise an insert delivery tray, card conveyor, or carousel and magazine combination, a feeder mechanism, and an insert placer configured to select an insert from the tray, conveyor, or magazine. Preferably, the insert placer includes a vacuum system and moves linearly. Additionally, the feeder mechanism may be positioned either perpendicularly, or parallel, to the scoop assembly, so as to feed an insert onto the scoop assembly at various points along the path of the scoop. The invention also comprises methods of using the system.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method of including an insert with a product being automatically packaged, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an automated packaging machine having an infeed conveyor and a scoop assembly, said scoop assembly being adapted to cycle between a retracted position and a forward position and including:
a lower bread scoop comprising a horizontal surface having a longitudinal slit thereon, said lower bread scoop configured to receive said product to be packaged;
and
a lower compartment disposed underneath said horizontal surface to receive said insert;
(b) providing an insert delivery system having:
an insert placer having a holder thereon;
a first vertical magazine configured to present a first insert to said insert placer;
and
a feeder mechanism to receive said first insert from said insert placer;
wherein the insert delivery system is configured so that the feeder mechanism delivers the insert onto the scoop assembly;
(c) advancing a product along the infeed conveyor;
(d) operating said holder on the insert placer to secure the insert from the magazine;
(e) moving the insert placer so that the holder is adjacent the feeder mechanism;
(f) releasing the insert from the holder so that the insert is deposited on the feeder mechanism;
(g) operating the feeder mechanism to deliver the insert onto said lower compartment when the scoop assembly is in said retracted position;
(h) receiving the product on the scoop assembly;
(i) lowering a stop bar through said slit so as to urge said insert out of a distal end of the lower compartment;
(j) packaging the product and the insert together.

15 more elements

A method of including an insert with a loaf of bread being automatically packaged, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an insert delivery system having a carousel equipped with at least one magazine configured to present a first insert to an insert placer, wherein the insert delivery system is configured so that the insert placer delivers the insert onto a feeder mechanism;
(b) providing an automated packaging machine having an infeed conveyor and a bread receiving scoop assembly that is adapted to cycle between a retracted position and a forward position, said scoop assembly comprising a lower bread scoop having a horizontal surface and a lower compartment disposed underneath said horizontal surface, wherein said horizontal surface includes a slit through the longitudinal axis thereof, and said lower compartment is configured to receive said insert;
(c) advancing the bread loaf along the infeed conveyor;
(d) operating a holder on the insert placer to secure the insert from the magazine;
(e) moving the insert placer so that the holder is adjacent the feeder mechanism;
(f) releasing the insert from the holder so that file insert is deposited on the feeder mechanism;
(g) delivering the insert from the feeder mechanism to the lower compartment;
(h) advancing the scoop assembly into said forward position;
(i) depositing the bread loaf into the lower bread scoop with the insert in the lower compartment;
(j) operating a stop bar that is slidably coupled to the lower bread scoop so as to urge said insert out of a distal end of the lower compartment;
(k) depositing the bread loaf on top of the insert;
and
(J) pulling a wrapper over the bread loaf and the insert.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/928,936Filed 13 Aug 2001 · continuation in part
Priority: 7 Aug 2000
Published: US 2002/0014054 A17 Feb 2002
Granted: 1 Jul 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B65B 5/045
Packaging single articles: in bags
B65B 25/16
Packaging other articles presenting special problems: packaging bread or like bakery products, e.g. unsliced loaves
B65B 57/00
Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
B65B 61/20
Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages: for adding cards,…

Family

Application09/632,900Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 Aug 2000
Application09/780,950Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 Feb 2001
US 2002/0014054 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Feb 2002
US 2002/0017079 A1Published application
US 6,662,525 B2Related patent
US 6,584,753 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.