# US 8,464,762 B2 · Straw packaging machine

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- Number: US 8,464,762 B2
- Document ID: US8464762B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/677,002
- Filed: 2008-09-04
- Published: 2010-08-12
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2007-09-07
- Assignees: Imv Technologies
- Applicants: Claude Toujas; Christian Beau
- Inventors: Claude Toujas; Christian Beau
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464762B2

## CPC

- A61D 19/024: {Tube-like containers, e.g. straws}
- A61D: VETERINARY INSTRUMENTS, IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, OR METHODS

## Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for conditioning chaff (11) of predetermined diameter, that comprises a filling unit (3) for said chaff (11), including n filling stations (4), and a conveying device (2) for said chaff, said device (2) including at least one conveying member (5) provided with a succession of receiving housings (15) for said chaff (11) arranged along a predetermined pitch (E), said conveying member (5) further including, in addition to said succession of receiving housings (15) for said chaff (11) or first housings, a succession of receiving housings (16) or second housings for the chaff having another predetermined diameter, said second housings (16) being arranged along said pitch (E), and each of said second receiving housings (16) being provided between two first receiving housings (15).

## Claims

### Claim 1

Machine for packaging straws (11) of a predetermined diameter including a filling unit (3) for said straws (11) including n filling stations (4), n being an integer number equal to at least 1, and a conveyor device (2) for said straws for disposing n straws (11) each in line with one of said filling stations (4), said device (2) having at least one conveyor element (5; 105) provided with a succession of receiving housings (15; 115) for said straws (11) disposed according to a predetermined pitch (E), said conveyor element being adapted to be moved, after each filling of n straws, a distance equal to n times said predetermined pitch (E) to dispose n new straws next to the preceding n straws, each in line with one of said filling stations (4), wherein said conveyor element (5; 105) includes, in addition to said succession of receiving housings (15; 115) for said straws (11), referred to as first housings, a succession of receiving housings (16; 116) for straws (12) of another predetermined diameter, referred to as second housings, said second housings (16; 116) being disposed according to said pitch (E), each of said second receiving housings (16, 116) being disposed between two of said first receiving housings (15; 115).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Machine according to claim 1, wherein if n is equal to at least 2, with said filling stations (4) that are disposed side-by-side with a predetermined gap, said predetermined pitch (E) of said conveyor element (5; 105) is equal to said predetermined gap.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Machine according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor element (5) includes a belt (8) in which are provided first gutters (18) of predetermined diameter forming said first housings (15) and second gutters (19) of another predetermined diameter forming said second housings (16).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Machine according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor element (105) includes a first belt (109) and a second belt (110) disposed side-by-side, said first housings (115) belonging to said first belt (109), said second housings (116) belonging to said second belt (110).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

Machine according to claim 4, wherein said first belt (109) is offset by half said pitch (E) relative to said second belt (110) and in that there are provided in said first belt (109), between said first housings (115), grooves (121) situated in line with said second housings (116) of said second belt (110) and in that there are provided in said second belt (110), between said second housings (116), grooves (122) situated in line with said first housings (115) of said first belt (109).

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Machine according to claim 5, wherein said grooves (121, 122) are crenellated grooves.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Machine according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor element (5; 105) has on the side opposite said housings (15, 16; 115, 116) a succession of teeth (13; 113).

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Machine according to claim 1, wherein said device includes, in addition to said conveyor element (5; 105), referred to as the first element, a second conveyor element (5; 105) identical to and parallel to said first conveyor element (5; 105) and spaced from said first conveyor element by a distance less than the length of said straws (11, 12) to be packaged.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Machine according to claim 1, wherein each filling station (4) includes, on respective opposite sides of the conveyor device (2), a suction nozzle (6) and a filling nozzle (7) for the liquid to be introduced into said straws (11, 12).