IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0605101
(2009-10-23)
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등록번호 |
US-8186134
(2012-05-29)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Shackelford, Daryl W.
- Bonneville, Craig R.
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Alkar-RapidPak-MP Equipment, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Andrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
2 인용 특허 :
36 |
초록
▼
Packaging machines are disclosed including a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations. Packaging apparatuses are disclosed including a forming station and a closing station, each having movable die mem
Packaging machines are disclosed including a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations. Packaging apparatuses are disclosed including a forming station and a closing station, each having movable die members that are counterbalanced. Methods of operating the packaging apparatus are disclosed.
대표청구항
▼
1. In an indexing-motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the web, (B) a loading station for pl
1. In an indexing-motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the web, (B) a loading station for placing food product in the pocket, and (C) a closing station for closing the pocket with another web of packaging material; a packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket;a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; andwherein the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member are counterbalanced by a lift and wherein one of the forming station and the closing station is underneath the other of the forming station and the closing station in the packaging machine. 2. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable forming die member is inverted with respect to the movable closing die member. 3. The packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the forming station and closing station are oriented such that the lower web enters the forming station from one direction and enters the closing station from another, opposite direction. 4. The packaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the movable forming die member comprises an inverted die box containing at least one form insert, and further comprising at least one latch releasably retaining the form insert in the inverted die box. 5. The packaging apparatus according to claim 4, comprising a locking pin operatively connected to the form insert and wherein the latch defines a keyhole for releasably engaging with the locking pin. 6. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein movement of one of the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards its closed position assists movement of the other one of the movable forming die member and movable closing die member towards its closed position and wherein movement of the one of the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards its open position assists movement of the other one of the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards its open position. 7. A method of operating the packaging apparatus of claim 1, comprising: moving the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards their respective closed positions and then moving the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards their open positions. 8. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the web transport conveyor, wherein the web transport conveyor comprises a pair of drive chains that together define a pitch line and wherein the web transport conveyor maintains the web of flexible packaging material substantially even with the pitch line to thereby allow travel of the web of flexible packaging material around a turret on the packaging machine without breaking the web and pockets formed therein. 9. The packaging apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the web transport conveyor comprises a plurality of clamps extending from the pair of drive chains, the clamps comprising jaw members that are substantially aligned on the pitch line. 10. In an indexing-motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the web, (B) a loading station for placing food product in the pocket, and (C) a closing station for closing the pocket with another web of packaging material; a packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket;a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; andwherein the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member are counterbalanced and wherein one of the forming station and the closing station is underneath the other of the forming station and the closing station in the packaging machine, andfurther comprising a lift operatively connected to and counterbalancing the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member; wherein movement of the lift moves the movable forming die member towards its closed position and the movable closing die member towards its closed position and wherein opposite movement of the lift moves the movable forming die member towards its open position and the movable closing die member towards its open position. 11. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the movable forming die member is inverted with respect to the movable closing die member and wherein the lift is disposed vertically higher than the forming station in the packaging apparatus and vertically lower than the closing station in the packaging apparatus. 12. The packaging apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the lift is disposed between the forming station and the closing station in the packaging apparatus. 13. The packaging apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the lift rotates in a first direction to move the movable forming die member towards its closed position and the movable closing die member towards its closed position and wherein the lift rotates in a second, opposite direction to move the movable forming die member towards its open position and the movable closing die member towards its open position. 14. The packaging apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the lift comprises at least one drive arm that rotates about a pivot axis and has a first end operatively connected to the movable closing die member and a second, opposite end operatively connected to the movable forming die member. 15. The packaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the lift further comprises a drive wheel operatively connected to the drive arm, wherein rotation of the drive wheel causes rotation of the drive arm about the pivot axis and thus causes movement of the movable closing die member and movement of the movable forming die member. 16. The packaging apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the lift further comprises a follower wheel operatively connected to the drive wheel so that rotation of the drive wheel causes rotation of the follower wheel, and further comprising a follower arm operatively connected to the follower wheel so that rotation of the follower wheel causes rotation of the follower arm, wherein the follower arm has a first end operatively connected to the movable closing die member and a second, opposite end operatively connected to the movable forming die member, wherein rotation of the follower arm causes movement of the movable closing die member and movement of the movable forming die member. 17. The packaging apparatus according to claim 16, comprising a belt that operatively connects the drive wheel to the follower wheel. 18. The packaging apparatus according to claim 14, wherein as the drive arm rotates about the pivot axis, the first end of the drive arm travels along a guide track operatively connected to the movable closing die member and the second end of the drive arm travels along a guide track operatively connected to the movable forming die member. 19. The packaging apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the guide track operatively connected to the movable closing die member and the guide track operatively connected to the movable forming die member each comprise first and second rails, and further comprising a bearing operatively connected to the first end of the drive arm and disposed between and configured to ride along the first and second rails of the guide track operatively connected to the movable closing die member, and further comprising and a bearing operatively connected to the second end of the drive arm and disposed between and configured to ride along the first and second rails of the guide track operatively connected to the movable forming die member. 20. The packaging apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising at least one servo motor operatively connected to the lift to move the lift. 21. An indexing-motion packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket;a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; andmeans for counterbalancing the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member so that movement of one of the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards its closed position assists movement of the other one of the movable forming die member and movable closing die member towards its closed position and so that movement of the one of the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards its open position assists movement of the other one of the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member towards its open position; andwherein one of the forming station and the closing station is underneath the other of the forming station and the closing station. 22. An indexing-motion packaging machine comprising: a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the web, (B) a loading station for placing food product in the pocket, and (C) a closing station for closing the pocket with an another web of packaging material;wherein the forming station comprises first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket;wherein the closing station comprises first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; anda lift operatively connected to and counterbalancing the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member; wherein movement of the lift moves the movable forming die member towards its closed position and the movable closing die member towards its closed position and wherein opposite movement of the lift moves the movable forming die member towards its open position and the movable closing die member towards its open position; andwherein one of the forming station and closing station is located underneath the other of the forming station and closing station. 23. The machine according to claim 22, wherein the lift rotates in a first direction to move the movable forming die member towards its closed position and the movable closing die member towards its closed position and wherein the lift rotates in a second, opposite direction to move the movable forming die member towards its open position and the movable closing die member towards its open position. 24. The packaging apparatus according to claim 22, comprising a detent for statically positioning the forming station and closing station along the length of the frame. 25. In an indexing-motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material along a direction of travel from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the lower web, (B) a loading station for placing food product in the pocket, and (C) a closing station for closing the pocket with another web of packaging material; a packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket;a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; anda frame movably supporting the forming station and closing station so that the forming station and closing station are movable together with respect to the machine in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the web. 26. The packaging apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of rails upon which the forming station and closing station are supported. 27. The packaging apparatus according to claim 26, comprising a plurality of rollers configured to ride on the rails of the frame and movably support the forming station and closing station. 28. The packaging apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the movable forming die member is inverted with respect to the movable closing die member. 29. The packaging apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the forming station is below the closing station in the packaging machine. 30. The packaging apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the forming station and closing station are oriented such that the lower web enters the forming station from one direction and the closing station from another, opposite direction. 31. The packaging apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the movable forming die member comprises an inverted die box containing at least one form insert, and further comprising at least one latch releasably retaining the form insert in the inverted die box. 32. The packaging apparatus according to claim 31, comprising a locking pin coupled to the form insert and wherein the latch defines a keyhole for releasably engaging with the locking pin. 33. A method of operating the packaging apparatus of claim 25, comprising the steps of: movably positioning the forming station and the closing station along the frame. 34. In an indexing-motion packaging machine comprising a web transport conveyor transporting a web of flexible packaging material along a direction of travel from upstream to downstream locations through a series of stations including (A) a forming station for forming at least one pocket in the lower web, (B) a loading station for placing food product in the pocket, and (C) a closing station for closing the pocket with another web of packaging material; a packaging apparatus comprising: a forming station comprising first and second forming die members, at least one of the first and second forming die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to form the pocket;a closing station comprising first and second closing die members, at least one of the first and second closing die members being movable between open and closed positions relative to the other one of the first and second forming die members to close the pocket; anda frame movably supporting the forming station and closing station so that the forming station and closing station are movable together with respect to the machine in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of travel of the web;a lift operatively connected to and counterbalancing the movable forming die member and the movable closing die member; wherein movement of the lift moves the movable forming die member towards its closed position and the movable closing die member towards its closed position and wherein opposite movement of the lift moves the movable forming die member towards its open position and the movable closing die member towards its open position. 35. The packaging apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the movable forming die member is inverted with respect to the movable closing die member and the lift is disposed between the forming station and the closing station 36. The packaging apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a servo motor operatively connected to the lift to move the lift.
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