Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
  • B65B43/46—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using grippers
  • B65B43/465—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using grippers for bags
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
  • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
  • B65B43/32—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by external pressure diagonally applied
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
  • B65B43/34—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by internal pressure
  • B65B43/36—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by internal pressure applied pneumatically
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/18—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements
  • B65B61/186—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements by applying or incorporating rigid fittings, e.g. discharge spouts

Definitions

• the present invention relates to preformed flexible pouch packaging filling and sealing systems and their uses.
• the flexible pouches filled by this system may be stand-up pouches or traditional flat pouches.
• the pouch may be constructed out of a wide range of materials including plastics, foils, and paper.
• the pouch shapes vary but they are all sealed on three of the four sides before being presented to the filling and sealing system, hi all cases the pouches are filled through an opening at the top of the pouch while the pouch is in an upright position.
• This invention utilizes remote pouch makers and eliminates the need for all manual or robotic transfers, carrier pucks, or chain clip pouch carrier systems by taking the pouches directly from the pouch former in a continuous motion servo drive 4-lane conveyor utilizing a filling/sealing swing jaw system, which maintains complete control of the pouches during the entire filling and sealing process.
• swing jaws present the pouches to the fillers, sealers, and fitment placement system in the proper orientation and alignment. They also bring the sides of the pouches closer together for proper opening in the filling and fitment placement processes and stretch the sides of the pouch taunt for proper sealing during the sealing and seal cooling processes.
• Figure 1 shows a flexible stand-up pouch with a flat base.
• Figure 2 shows a flexible stand-up pouch with a fin-sealed base.
• Figure 3 shows a flexible stand-up pouch with a fitment drink pour spout.
• Figure 4 shows an elevation view of the overall arrangement of the packaging system.
• Figure 5 shows a plan view of the overall arrangement of the packaging system.
• Figure 6 shows a plan view of the method the pouches are swept into the pouch clamps and rotated 90% from a flat position to a upright position.
• Figure 7 shows details of the pouch brush sweep system.
• Figure 8 shows a detail of the pouch brush sweep travel pattern.
• Figure 9 show the top view of a typical sweep jaw unit.
• Figure 10 shows details of the back side of a typical sweep jaw unit.
• Figure 11 shows the a perspective view of one of the sweep brush conveyors.
• Figure 12 shows details of one of the individual sweep brushes.
• Figure 13 shows details of the travel of the sweep jaws through the 90% tilt phase of the conveyor travel.
• Figure 14 shows the details of the fitment robotic placement system.
• container 1 is known as a flexible stand-up pouch and it includes vertical walls 5, flat base 8, vertical side seals 6 & 7 and open mouth 4.
• Figure 2 shows a container 2 with a standard flexible non-stand-up pouch, which is similar to container 1 with the exception that it has a fin-sealed bottom 68 instead of flat base 8, as the stand-up pouch bottom.
• Figure 3 shows container 3 as a stand-up pouch and is similar to container 1 except the open mouth 4 is replaced by closed mouth 64 and contains a fitment (drink/pour spout) 9.
• FIG 4 shows an elevation view and figure 5 shows a plan view of the packaging system's general arrangement.
• Pouches 100 are fabricated in a stand alone pouch former 10 preferably at a rate of between 800 and 1,200 pouches per minute. Completed pouches 100 are discharged from the pouch former 10 into 4 lanes in the arrangement shown in figure 6.
• Pouches 100 are guided by guide 12 into 4-lane continuous motion pouch clamp conveyors 11a, 1 Ib, l ie, 1 Id. To support the pouches until they are properly located and secured. Support bucket conveyors 15 and 16 have been inserted between the 4 lanes of the pouch clamp conveyors 11a, 1 Ib, l ie, 1 Id.
• pouches 100 After pouches 100 have been initially deposited onto conveyors 15 and 16 as shown in figure 6 the pouches 100 are swept into position by sweep brush conveyors 13 and 14. After the pouches are in position they are clamped by the 4 lines of pouch clamps 70 shown in figures 9 and 10. Conveyors 15 and 16 end and the pouch clamps 70 are tilted 90% to present the mouth 4 of the pouches 100 for the filling and sealing process. The pouches 100 then travel under sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24 for filling, fitment placement and sealing.
• Sections 17 through 24 are supported above the pouch clamp conveyors 1 Ia, 1 Ib, 1 Ic, 1 Id on an articulating beam system 72 which allows them to perform their tasks in synchronization with the pouch clamp conveyors 1 Ia, 1 Ib, 1 Ic, 1 Id.
• the pouch clamps 70 tilt the pouches 100 into the vertical position and the clamp jaws 25 and 26 are brought closer together, thus opening the mouth 4 of pouch 100.
• suction cups open the top pouch opening and an air blow inflates the pouch.
• Section 19 is the primary fill station.
• Section 20 is the secondary fill station.
• Section 21 is used for as a 3 rd filling station or a spare if a third fill station is not required,
• fitments are inserted in the top of the pouch, clamp jaws 25 and 26 move away from each other and a tack seal is applied to seal the mouth 4.
• the final top seal is applied in section 22.
• a cooling seal bar (not shown) is applied to the top seal.
• the filled and sealed pouches are transferred from the pouch clamp conveyor 1 Ia, 1 Ib, 1 Ic, 1 Id to top chain conveyors (not shown) that takes the pouches through cooling (if needed), integrity testing and straw application (if needed) into case packaging.
• the pouch former 10 preferably produces pouches at 800 to 1,200 pouches/minute in 4 rows of 2 pairs each. Each pair has their mouths 4 adjacent to each other and their bases 8 remote from one another as shown in figure 6. All 4 rows are produced with little clearance between each row as shown in figure 6.
• the finished pouches 100 are discharged from the pouch former 10 on a flat belt through pouch guide 12 into four rows on the pouch clamp conveyors 1 Ia, 1 Ib, 1 Ic, 1 Id and support bucket conveyors 15 and 16.
• the pouch guide 12 is a slanted metal guide that insures the pouches 100 from the pouch former 10 are deposited into the pouch clamp conveyers 11a, 1 Ib, 1 Ic, 1 Id and support bucket conveys 15 and 16 properly. Without this guide the pouches 100 may float in the air and over shoot the proper bucket location.
• Figures 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12 show the details of how the sweep brush conveyors 13 and 14 and the support bucket conveyors 15 and 16 configure and align the pouches 100 in the pouch clamp conveyers 11a, 1 Ib, lie, 1 Id and the pouch clamp 70.
• the pouches 100 are deposited from the pouch former 10 on to the pouch clamp conveyor lanes 1 IA, 1 IB, HC, & 1 ID and bucket support conveyors 15 and 16 as shown in figure 6 they are sweep into guides and stops located in the pouch clamps 70 of the pouch clamp conveyors lanes HA, HB, llC, and HD.
• the sweep brash conveyors 13 and 14 are servo drive and move thin flexible brashes 49 along with the pouches 100 in the same direction of flow.
• the metal guide 27 ensures that none of the brash bristles inadvertently get under the pouches or knock the pouches 100 out of alignment as they are being transferred on the sweep jaw conveyor 11.
• the pouches 100 are in the correct alignment in the pouch clamp conveyers l la, 1 Ib, 1 Ic, 1 Id clamp jaws 25 and 26 clamp the pouches into place.
• the pouches 100 are secure the pouches are conveyed past support bucket conveyors 15 and 16 the sweep jaws rotate 90% to present the pouches in a vertical position with their mouths 4 up as showed in figures 6 and 13.
• the clamp jaws 25 and 26 are detailed in figure 9, 10 and 13. These clamp jaws 25 and 26 are horizontally opposed on conveyor lane l la, 1 Ib, l ie and 1 Id. As clamp jaws 25 and 26 are affixed to pouch clamp conveyers l la, 1 Ib, l ie, 1 Id drive chains and are moved in the direction of flow by a continuous motion servo drive motor (not shown). As the clamp jaws 25 and 26 move along in the horizontal position, pouch cam 48 will open spring loaded clamp jaws 25 and 26 by pushing up cam followers 36 and 37. After the clamps are open, pouches 100 are inserted into the jaws. Pouch cam 48 then relieves the upward pressure on cam followers 36 and 37 and clamp jaws 25 and 26 secure the pouches.
• the pouch clamps 70 travel forward and are tilted 90% into the upright position by guide rails 45. As the pouch clamps 70 travel further cam 46 pushes cam follower 35 upward decreasing the distance between clamp jaws 25 and 26, which allow pouches 100 to be opened for filling. Later in the operation cam 46 relieves the pressure on cam follower 35 allowing the pouch mouth 4 to be stretched for proper sealing. Cam 48 also pushes cam followers 36 and 37 forward opening clamp jaws 25 & 26 allowing the filled and sealed pouches to be removed.
• the fitment placement system is shown in figure 14. Bulk fitments 9 are placed into vibratory feed hopper 54. The fitments 9 are fed into the vibratory feeder chute 55. The fitments are taken from the feeder chute 55 by rotary spacer 56 and then transferred to feeder transfer belt 57.
• Robotic picking fingers 59 take the fitments 9 from the feeder transfer belt 57. After the robotic picking fingers 59 have secured the fitments 9 the robotic arm arrangement 58 transfers them into the open mouth 4 of the pouches 100. The robotic arm arrangement 58 holds the fitments 9 in place while traveling with the continuous motion clamp conveyers l la, 1 Ib, l ie, 1 Id until the sealing jaws 60 complete a tack seal. After the fitments and pouch openings are tack sealed they proceed through the rest of the operation and receive a final seal, a seal cooling plate, and finally are discharged into an overhead conveyor for cooling and casing.
• Figure 14 shows one typical line out of the 4 that make up the entire system.
• the system preferably is a 4 line system.
• the filling is completed by unique positive displacement bottom up fillers (not shown).
• the pouch opening sealing is referred to as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or any other method of sealing, can be used with this system.

Priority Applications (6)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=36992017

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2006
  • 2006-03-08 ZA ZA200707964A patent/ZA200707964B/xx unknown
  • 2006-03-08 WO PCT/US2006/008158 patent/WO2006098964A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2006-03-08 CA CA002599902A patent/CA2599902A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-03-08 CN CNB2006800153602A patent/CN100542898C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2006-03-08 AU AU2006223464A patent/AU2006223464A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-03-08 JP JP2008500854A patent/JP2008532862A/ja active Pending
  • 2006-03-08 EP EP06737339A patent/EP1855948A4/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-03-08 MX MX2007010861A patent/MX2007010861A/es not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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