Package making – Methods – Group forming of contents into a unit
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-19
2001-02-06
Johnson, Linda (Department: 3721)
Package making
Methods
Group forming of contents into a unit
C053S459000, C053S469000, C053S501000, C053S248000, C053S255000, C053S284700, C053S570000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182423
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to packaging systems, and in particular to a system for dispensing and packaging wire ties directly from a wire tie forming machine. While the prior art contemplates dispensing wire ties along first and second flexible strings or wires to form a coil of ties having the first and second strings or wires passing through first and second eyelets, respectively, formed in the ties, the present invention teaches first and second, rigid rods emanating from the first and second tying anvils on the tie forming machine, which rods are configured to slide each formed tie away from the tie forming machine, wherein the ties are counted via electric eye or the like and selectively dispensed into a package via computer controlled actuator. Bagging a quantity of the ties in this fashion provides an automated, dependable, economical system for packaging the specified quantity of ties, and is particularly useful for smaller lots of ties, for example, 500 ties or less.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Wire tie forming machines have been utilized in various forms to facilitate various configurations of wire ties such as, for example, bale wire ties, re-bar (reinforcement bar) ties as utilized in reinforcing poured concrete, packaging ties and the like. However, it is believed that there has not been provided to facilitate a cost effective and reliable system for packaging smaller selected quantities of ties.
The known prior art has contemplated, for example, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 1,162,675 to Bates, a “Wire Tie Forming Machine” dated Nov. 30, 1915 wherein the ties have formed at first and second ends eyelets about first and second strings, which strings support the ties and allow same to gather together, such that the gathered ties and strings are rolled into a coil.
The coil is then ready for sale to a customer, who removes the ties from the coil as needed. This method of packaging is still utilized to today, and is fine for large quantities of thousands of ties, as may be used in construction of roads, bridges, concrete structures, or the like, but is not cost effective or an efficient means of packaging smaller quantities of ties, for example, 500 ties or less at a time, as may be purchased by a handyman or gardener for use around the house or garden.
GENERAL SUMMARY DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a system for the packaging and distribution of wire ties which is more cost effective, more efficient to store and utilize, and easier b maintain and implement when compared to prior art systems, particularly with regard to packaging relatively small amounts of wire ties or the like for retail sale.
The present invention requires the modification of existing machinery, the combination of machinery which has heretofore not been offered in combination, and the implementation of off the shelf technologies including sensors, actuators, computers, and the like in a manner which is believed to be unobvious, novel, and functional in light of the prior art.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention utilizes a wire tire machine having a general working design similar to that contemplated in Bates
1
,
162
,
675
patent but modified such that, instead of first and second strings being dispensed from the first and second tie anvils for the wire tie process, first and second, rigid rods have been provided, which rods are spaced in parallel in downwardly sloping fashion from the anvils, such that the tied first and second loops or eyelets formed at approaching ends of each tie pass about each of the first and second rods, respectively, so as to allow each tie to slide down the first and second rods via the first and second eyelets formed therein, away from the tying apparatus.
As each tie slides along about midway down the rods, the ties pass between a light sensor and light source, or other sensor, which records the ties presence. The ties then are blocked from further passage along the rods via a stop member inserted between the rods, which stop member is controlled by a solenoid or actuator controlled via a CPU, which monitors the sensor for the appropriate number of ties passing thereunder.
When the appropriate number of ties have traversed under the sensor, the actuator is energized to lift the stop member for a period of time to allow the gathered ties to slide down the ends of the rods into a dispensed bag positioned thereunder, after which the actuator resets the stop member between the rods, the CPU resets the counter, the filled bag is automatically sealed by the bag machine, the bag is released and a new open bag placed into position by the bag machine, at which time the process repeats, and so on.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tie packaging system which may be utilized with a variety of wire tieing machines.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire tie packaging system which facilitates more efficient packaging of wire ties to the conventional systems, which systems have been in use for over 50 years.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire tie packaging system which is cost effective to operate, easy to implement, and low in maintenance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wire tie packaging system which may be utilized to package other products, and not particularly limited to wire ties.
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and system for providing an accurate count of wire ties in a bag for retail sale in a cost effective, fast manner, and with nominal manual labor intervention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1162675 (1915-11-01), Bates
patent: 1333994 (1920-03-01), Page
patent: 3956866 (1976-05-01), Lattur
patent: 4338714 (1982-07-01), Powderly
patent: 5709069 (1998-01-01), Cronauer
Johnson Linda
Joseph T. Regard Ltd.
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