Package making – Methods – Filling preformed receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-02-06
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Filling preformed receptacle
C053S260000, C053S241000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182424
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for packaging articles, and specifically relates to a method and apparatus for packaging flat articles such as tortillas and other flatbreads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a method for inserting an article into a package comprising first and second opposed panels and a mouth, the method comprising:
(a) moving the article forwardly in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis on an upper surface of a first conveyor;
(b) transferring the article from the end of the first conveyor to the upper surface of a loading plate moving forwardly in a plane below the upper surface of the first conveyor;
(c) moving the loading plate having the article on its upper surface into the mouth of the package until the article is completely received inside the package with the first panel overlying the article and the second panel underlying the loading plate;
(d) rotating the loading plate with the article and package received thereon about the longitudinal axis until the first panel of the package is received on an upper surface of a second conveyor with the article received on the first panel of the package; and
(e) moving the loading plate rearwardly out of the package.
In another aspect, the present invention provides an apparatus for inserting an article into a package comprising first and second opposed panels and a mouth, the apparatus comprising:
(a) an input conveyor adapted to move the article forwardly in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis;
(b) a packaging station adjacent a forward end of the input conveyor adapted to support the package with its mouth facing the forward end of the conveyor and the first face of the package facing upwardly;
(c) a loading plate having an upper surface adapted to support and receive the article from the forward end of the input conveyor;
(d) packing means adapted to forwardly move the loading plate with the article on its upper surface to a loaded position in which the loading plate extends into the mouth of the package and the article is received in the package;
(e) package inverting means adapted to rotate the loading plate and the associated package and article from the loaded position through an angle of about
180
degrees about the longitudinal axis;
(f) exit conveyor means positioned to receive the inverted loading plate and the associated package and article with the first face of the package received on the exit conveyor means and the second face of the package facing upwardly; and
(g) withdrawal means adapted to move the loading plate rearwardly in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis out of the package.
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patent: 5228275 (1993-07-01), Formo
patent: 5732536 (1998-03-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5778640 (1998-07-01), Prakken et al.
patent: 5810487 (1998-09-01), Kano et al.
Giesbrecht Kenneth P.
Mahood Michael A.
Paradiso John
Quest Packaging Inc.
Ridout & Maybee
Vo Peter
LandOfFree
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