Method for positioning a loaded bag in a vacuum chamber
US7891159B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 30, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 22, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 5, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65B57/00
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of positioning a loaded bag in a vacuum chamber includes loading a bag by placing a product in the bag; placing the bag on an infeed conveyor that is transparent to IR; advancing the bag, on the conveyor, to a sensing apparatus including an infrared camera disposed above the conveyor, and a bank of LED's disposed below the conveyor; interrogating the loaded bag, using the sensing apparatus, with infrared radiation to detect the trailing edge of the product inside the bag; transmitting information acquired from the interrogating step to a PLC; advancing the interrogated loaded bag a distance, based in the information acquired from the interrogating step, to a vacuum chamber including a heat seal assembly; and heat sealing the loaded bag with the heat seal assembly to close the bag mouth.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.