Patent · US Expired

System and methods for mechanically processing bags

US6094888A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
8References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 4, 1998
Grant dateAug 1, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 4, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01M3/36
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A system (10) for processing pliable, sealed bags (16) includes an inlet section (176) for transferring the bags (16) onto a lower conveyor (152) with the lower end being downstream of the bag upper end and allowing product not contained by the bags (16) to fall through the inlet section (176). The bags (16) on the lower conveyor (152) pass beneath an overhead conveyor (194), with product being dispersed inside of the bag (16) as the result of the rotation of a conditioning roller (168) engaging and flexing the belting (158) of the lower conveyor (152). The endless carrier of the overhead conveyor (194) is deflected by first and second support plates (216, 220) slideably received in flexible guides (212). The first support plates (216) places pressure on the bags (16) to force air out of improperly sealed bags (16) while the movement of the second support plates (220) is detected to determine whether the bags (16) are within a tolerable thickness.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.