Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Flexible or collapsible receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-26
2001-07-03
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means
Flexible or collapsible receiver
C141S313000, C141S010000, C141S114000, C410S119000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253806
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a system and method for inflating inflatable packing material, in particular dunnage air bags.
Dunnage air bags are typically used to fill void regions in containers carrying articles for shipment. When the bag is inflated, the article is wedged between the bag and the walls of the container or between portions of the bag. Thus the article is prevented from moving around in the container while being shipped. The bag is usually made from a puncture resistant material to ensure that the bag remains inflated during the shipment of the article.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In general, in one aspect, the invention is a method of inflating a dunnage bag in a box. The method includes the steps of inflating the dunnage bag; with one or more sensors, monitoring deflection of at least two surfaces of the box while inflating the dunnage bag; upon detecting through monitoring that deflection of either of the at least two surfaces reaches a corresponding preseleted threshold, automatically terminating inflating of the box.
In preferred embodiments, the at least two surfaces include the top of the box and one side of the box.
In general, in another aspect, the invention is an inflation system for inflating a dunnage bag in a box, wherein the dunnage bag has a valve mounted in the side of the box. The system includes a conveyor which moves the box through the system; an inflation nozzle; an alignment guide which is attached to the inflation nozzle and which has at least two alignment surfaces, each for a corresponding different surface of the box; and a positioning mechanism which controls movement of the alignment guide and which during operaton automatically moves the alignment guide into contact with the box so that the at least two alignment surfaces are in contact with their corresponding surfaces of the box thereby aligning the inflation nozzle with the valve in the box.
Preferred embodiments include the following features. The alignment guide is a L-shaped member having a first arm defining one of the at least two alignment surfaces and a second arm defining another one of the at least two alignment surfaces.
In general, in still another aspect, the invention is an automatic inflation system for inflating a dunnage bag in a box, wherein the dunnage bag has a valve mounted in the side of the box. The system includes an inflation nozzle through which gas is flowed into the dunnage bag through the valve; a controller which controls the inflation process; a vertical bulge detector which during operation generates a first signal that provides a measure of bulge of the top of the box; and a horizontal bulge detector which during operation generates a second signal that provides a measure of bulge of a side of the box; wherein the controller receives signals from the vertical and horizontal bulge detectors and is programmed to control the inflation process in response thereto.
Also, in preferred embodiments, the controller stores a first threshold and a second threshold and is programmed to perform the operations of: comparing the measure of the bulge of the top surface to the first threshold; comparing the measure of the bulge of the the side surface to the second threshold; and if the either measure of bulge becomes at least as large as the corresponding threshold, terminating the inflation process. Alternatively, the controller stores a first threshold, a second threshold and a third threshold and is programmed to perform the operations of: comparing the measure of the bulge of the top surface to the first threshold; comparing the measure of the bulge of the side surface to the second threshold; combining the measures of bulge of the top and side surfaces to generate a combined measure of bulge; and if any of the measures of bulge becomes at least as large as the corresponding threshold, terminating the inflation process.
In preferred embodiments the controller stores a table mapping box sizes to first and second threshold values, and wherein the controller is further programmed to perform the operations of: from the signals of at least one of the horizontal and vertical bulge detectors, determine a box size; and selecting values for the first and second thresholds from the table based on the box size.
In general, in still yet another aspect, the invention is a method of inflating a dunnage bag in a box. The method includes inflating the dunnage bag; monitoring deflection of the top of the box while inflating the dunnage bag; upon detecting through monitoring that deflection of the top surface reaches a preseleted threshold, automatically terminating inflating of the box.
Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the claims.
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Drake Jesse S.
Sperry Laurence B.
Douglas Steven O.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Sealed Air Corporation
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