# US 7,611,102 B2 · Holder with integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,611,102 B2 - Document ID: US7611102B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/736,224 - Filed: 2007-04-17 - Published: 2007-10-18 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-17 - Assignees: Pouch Pac Innovations, LLC - Inventors: R. C. Murray - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7611102B2 ## CPC - B65B 43/465: {for bags} - B65G 2201/0261: Puck as article support - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) ## Abstract A holder with an integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing is provided that includes a base plate, and a pair of opposed support members pivotally attached to the base plate. Each support member includes an upper leg member having a gripping means and a lower leg member. A moveable plate is parallel to and spaced apart from the base member by a spring member, and the moveable plate supports an outer end of the lower leg of the support member, so that walls of a flexible pouch are held in tension when the flexible pouch is supported by the gripping means. The walls of the flexible pouch are separated when the support members are pivoted inwardly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A holder with an integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing, said holder comprising: a base plate; a pair of opposed support members directly attached to the base plate and annularly pivotal inward and outward relative to the base plate, wherein each support member includes an upper leg member having a gripping means for gripping the pouch, and a lower leg member; a moveable plate that is parallel to and spaced apart from the base plate by a spring member, wherein the moveable plate supports an outer end of the lower leg of the support member, so that walls of the flexible pouch are held in tension when the flexible pouch is supported by the gripping means, and the walls of the flexible pouch are separated when the support members are pivoted inwardly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The pouch holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support members are spaced a predetermined distance apart so that the walls of the flexible pouch are initially held in tension. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The pouch holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gripping means is a guide channel formed in an inner surface of the upper leg member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The pouch holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the gripping means is a finger member integrally formed in an upper end of the upper leg, and having a guide channel disposed therein. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer end of the lower leg is supported by the movable plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein each end of the movable plate is supported by a spring member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The holder as set forth in claim 6 wherein said spring member is a compression spring. ### Claim 8 A holder with an integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing, said holder comprising: a base plate that is generally planar; a pair of opposed support members spaced a predetermined distance apart and directly attached to the base plate and angularly pivotal inward and outward relative to the base plate, wherein each support member includes an upper leg member having a guide channel formed in an inner surface of the upper leg member for gripping the pouch, and a lower leg member; a moveable plate that is parallel to and spaced apart from the base plate by a spring member, wherein the moveable plate supports an outer end of the lower leg of the support member, so that walls of the flexible pouch are held in tension when the flexible pouch is supported within the guide channel, and the walls of the flexible pouch are separated when the support members are pivoted inwardly. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The holder as set forth in claim 8 wherein the outer end of the lower leg is supported by the movable plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The holder as set forth in claim 8 wherein each end of the movable plate is supported by a spring member. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The holder as set forth in claim 8 wherein the spring member is a compression spring. ### Claim 12 A holder with an integral gripper for transporting a flexible pouch during manufacturing and shaping the pouch during filling, said holder comprising: a base plate; a pair of opposed support members directly attached to the base plate and annularly pivotal inward and outward relative to the base plate, the support members projecting upwardly from the base plate and spaced a predetermined distance apart, wherein each support member has a predetermined shape; a guide channel formed in an inner surface of the support member for gripping the flexible pouch, wherein opening the flexible pouch and filling the flexible pouch with a product increases a pressure within the flexible pouch, to push the walls of the pouch outwards around an inner surface of the support member, to form the predetermined shape of the pouch. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The pouch holder of claim 12 wherein the inner surface of the support member is arcuate in shape to form the flexible pouch that is cylindrical in shape. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The pouch holder of claim 12 wherein each support member has a predetermined shape and are positioned a predetermined distance apart, to form the shape of the pouch.