Package making – Methods – Forming or partial forming a receptacle and subsequent filling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-18
2003-07-29
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Package making
Methods
Forming or partial forming a receptacle and subsequent filling
C053S451000, C141S114000, C141S166000, C141S313000, C383S037000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598374
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatuses for filling bulk particulate into flexible receptacles such as bags or the like, and more particularly to an automated system for dispensing bulk sand into a plurality of flexible receptacles which may be used, for example, to erect barriers to control flood waters.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a number of circumstances, it is desirable to produce large quantities of particulate filled flexible receptacles or bags for distribution or placement as desired. For example, large numbers of sandbags are used each year to protect real and personal property from the harmful and erosive effects of flooding occurring in and around our oceans, lakes, rivers, and other waterways.
Most commonly, sand bags are prepared by manually filling each bag using a shovel or other manual device. Typically, each bag is then manually closed using drawstrings, manual ties, or by twisting or tying the top material of the bag. Examples of manual filling apparatuses for filling bags with sand are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,845,685; 5,802,807; and 5,687,781. Such manual devices are quite slow and labor intensive, typically requiring a large number of workers to produce a relatively modest number of filled sandbags.
It is most often the case, however, that the exigent circumstances precipitated by rising flood waters leave insufficient time to manually produce the number of filled sand bags that will be required to erect the necessary temporary dams or barriers to control or divert the flooding waters. Further complications arise from the reality that, for a given localized community under floodwater conditions, sand bags may be required at a number of different locations. There is a need, therefore, for transportable sand bag filling systems capable of rapidly producing a large quantity of sand bags at a desired emergency site with minimal manual labor requirements.
Semi-automated sand bagging systems which help to reduce the amount of time and labor required to produce filled sand bags are known in the art. Most often, these semi-automated sand bagging systems require one or more operators to manually present and hold or secure the bags, either individually or in groups, in position with respect to some sort of mechanized filling apparatus. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,044,921; 4,184,522; 5,873,396; and 5,806,576.
Other sand bagging systems having somewhat higher degrees of automation have been disclosed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,260 discloses a sand bag filling apparatus which automatically excavates, forms, fills and discharges sandbags. The sand bags are formed and sealed during the filling process at the point of fill material introduction from bag material which is stored on two continuous roll fed webs. The apparatus disclosed in the '260 patent requires operator directed excavation from a source of fill material and does not disclose provisions for the use of pre-formed sand bags of simple construction.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,771,665 discloses a sand bagging system which fills bags extracted from a specially prepared cassette. The cassette apparatus generally includes a set of rails which support a plurality of sand bags held on the rails by tabs which are in turn attached to ribbons. The bag cassettes are manually loaded onto the rails of the filling system and the ribbons fed through tensioning rollers. The bags, supported on the rails by the tabs are then withdrawn from the cassette by the ribbons, filled, and then severed from the rails to be sewn shut and discharged from the system.
The cassettes required by the apparatus disclosed in the '665 patent, however, require relatively complex and specially manufactured bags having tabs, ribbons, and rails adding considerable difficulty to the manufacture and storage of the bags and cassettes. Further, since an automatic sand bagging machine may consume over 100,000 bags over the course of a single day of full-time operation, any extra features, hardware, or like complexities which add cost to the bag will result in considerable aggregate expense as great numbers of bags are rapidly consumed. This is especially true as flooding emergencies may require several days of continuous operation.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to have a sand bag filling apparatus or system that is capable of filling a large number of bags or receptacles in a short amount of time with minimal operator intervention. It would be further desirable to have a sand bag filling apparatus which is capable of running continuously for an extended period of time without operator assistance and which is portable or mobile to allow deployment to a desired location. It would also be desirable to have a sand bag that is of simple construction, allows efficient storage of a large number of pre-manufactured bags, and facilitates automatic loading and filling by a suitably constructed sand bag filling apparatus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will be generally described with respect to preparing filled sand bags for use in erecting flood barriers, but the invention is not limited thereto, and is contemplated to be useful for filling various flexible receptacles or bags with a wide range of bulk materials.
The present invention involves various aspects of an automated bag filling system or apparatus for filling flexible receptacles or bags with a bulk material, such as sand. The filling systems or apparatuses of the present invention facilitate the filling of large numbers of bags with the desired material with little or no operator intervention. In certain preferred embodiments, the automatic sand bag filling system operates to deposit a desired amount of bulk material in each bag, closes or seals shut the filled bag, and releases the bag from the filling system for placement in service according to its intended use.
One aspect of the present invention involves a sand bag filling machine for filling a bag with sand which may include a fill channel having an open end and an interior sized to hold a predetermined amount of sand. The fill channel may be moveable along a fixed path from a first position exterior of the bag to a second position wherein at least a portion of the fill channel is positioned within the interior of the bag. In one embodiment, the sand bag filling machine includes a lift assembly for controllably moving the fill channel between the first and second position.
The sand bag filling machine may include a metering device adapted to deposit the predetermined amount of sand through the open end of the fill channel and into the interior of the fill channel. According to one aspect of the present invention, the metering device comprises a moveable tray having a bottom member. The bottom member may have at least one opening and a plate member substantially covering the opening when the moveable tray is in a first position. The moveable tray may be moveable relative to the plate member to a second position in which the opening is positioned at least partially over the open end of the fill channel and at least a portion of the opening is no longer covered by the plate member. As the plate member is removed or cleared from the opening, the sand is allowed to fall into the open end. In a preferred embodiment, the plate member moves in with the bottom member for a portion of the stroke of the bottom member so that the opening is positioned further out over the open end before sand is released.
In one embodiment, the bottom member includes a contiguous bottom portion adjacent the opening and the moveable tray further includes an input opening for receiving a substantially continuous supply of sand. The supply of sand is directed onto the plate member when said moveable tray is in a first position and onto the contiguous bottom portion when the moveable tray is in the second position. This arrangement effectively converts a continuous flow of sand into charges of sand at desired intervals.
The sand bag filling m
Ensor Equipment, Inc.
Guernsey Larry B.
IPLO -Intellectual Property Law Offices
Jacyna J. Casimer
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