WO1999032360A1

WO1999032360A1 - Method and apparatus for positioning an article in a pouch

Info

Publication number: WO1999032360A1
Application number: PCT/IB1998/002045
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Thomas Boesken; Ralph Leslie Heaton, Jr.; Thomas Joseph Lott; Samuel James Morris, Iii; Alen David Streutker; David Wayne Whalen
Original assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Current assignee: Procter and Gamble Co
Priority date: 1997-12-19
Filing date: 1998-12-17
Publication date: 1999-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 2000-06-19
Also published as: JP2001526156A; BR9814307A; CA2314876A1; CN1110431C; CN1284923A

Abstract

An apparatus and method for positioning and orienting an article (14) near the center of a pouch (16) containing granules (18). Apparatus has a granules chute (20), article guide assembly (30), and a gate mechanism (40). The granules chute is substantially upright. A baffle plate is placed inside of the granules chute to provide a vent for air to escape from the pouch during filling of granules. The article guide assembly (30) is substantially upright and located inside of the granules chute (20), and it is substantially coaxial with the granules chute. Article guide assembly forms a chute for dropping an article (14) into the pouch (16). The article guide assembly has slotted openings (52) to allow granules (18) to enter it and surround the article prior to the exiting of the article from the article guide assembly. Surrounding the article with granules stabilizes its orientation and position within the pouch which will reduce the risk of the pouch being torn or punctured by rough edges of the article. The gate mechanism (40) controls the release of the article using a pre-determined time sequence in relation to delivery of the granules to the granules chute such that the article is positioned vertically near the center of the pouch as granules fill around the article.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING AN ARTICLE IN A POUCH

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for positioning an article near the center of a pouch containing granules such that the orientation and position of the article within the pouch will reduce the risk of the pouch being torn or punctured by rough edges of the article.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gravity-feed product delivery systems, commonly known as form-fill- seal systems, are used to pack coffee granules, laundry granules, and other free- flowing articles. Often these systems use a single chute in which the granules are fed from a hopper, through the single chute, and into a pouch. Some of these systems form the pouch around the chute from a roll of plastic film. The formed plastic pouch is filled with granules and then sealed. Other delivery systems use multiple, adjacent chutes to increase packing rate by delivering the articles from a specific chute while filling the other chutes in preparation for subsequent delivery. Other delivery systems place the main granule chute and flavor additive tubes inside a larger, outer chute to deliver the granules and the additives into a single pouch. This type of delivery system has an additional outer chute which increases construction cost and increases the amount of surface area needing to be cleaned and maintained. Other deliver systems utilize two coaxial tubes for delivering and later mixing of milk and air.

Also commonly known in the art is the method of delivering a scoop into a package adapted to contain both granules and a scoop. This method begins by placing the scoop into the bottom of the inverted package and then filling the package with the granules. Another known method of delivering a scoop into a package is accomplished by first filling the package with the granules and then placing the scoop on the top of the granules. Both of these methods for delivering a scoop result in the placement of the scoop against an interior wall of the package. When the scoop is placed against the interior wall of the formed plastic pouch, the pouch has a greater risk of being torn or punctured by the scoop. Simply half-way filling the pouch with the granules, placing the scoop inside the pouch, and then filling over the scoop does not reliably ensure proper placement of the scoop near the vertical and horizontal center of the pouch, which is desirable to reduce the risk of tearing and puncturing the pouch. In addition, this sequential method of delivery of granules and scoop decreases the rate of packing.

What has been missing is an apparatus and method for positioning and orienting an article near the center of a pouch containing granules which positions the article near the center and away from the interior walls of the pouch to reduce the risk of tearing and puncturing the pouch.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus and method for positioning and orienting an article near the center of a pouch containing granules, comprises a granules chute, article guide assembly, and a gate mechanism. The granules chute is substantially upright. A baffle plate is placed inside of the granules chute to provide a vent for air to escape from the pouch during the filling of granules. The article guide assembly is substantially upright and located inside of the granules chute, and it is substantially coaxial with the granules chute. The article guide assembly has a bottom end and a top end, and it forms a chute for an article. The top end of the article guide assembly is adapted to receive the article. The bottom end of the article guide assembly is adapted to deliver the article into the pouch. The article guide assembly has slotted openings to allow granules to enter the article guide assembly and surround the article prior to the exiting of the article from the article guide assembly. Surrounding the article with granules stabilizes the orientation and position of the article within the pouch to reduce the risk of the pouch being torn or punctured by rough edges of the article. The gate mechanism controls the release of the article using a pre-determined time sequence in relation to delivery of the granules to the granules chute such that the article is positioned vertically near the center of the pouch as granules fill around the article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

While the specification concludes with claims which particularly point out and distinctly claim the present invention, it is believed that the present invention will be better understood from the following description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals identify identical elements and wherein: FIG. 1 is a cross-sectioned schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing an article guide assembly inside a granules chute, wherein one step of the process is shown with the scoop being held by a gate and granules being initially discharged into the granules chute;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectioned schematic view thereof, wherein another step of the process is shown with the scoop being released by the gate mechanism, additional granules being discharged, and pouch air being displaced through a vent;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectioned schematic view thereof, wherein still another step of the process is shown with the scoop coming to rest on top of the granules while still inside the article guide assembly, additional granules being discharged, and additional air being displaced through the vent;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectioned schematic view thereof, wherein yet another step of the process is shown with the scoop exiting the guide assembly while surrounded by granules, additional granules being discharged, and additional air being displaced through the vent; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectioned schematic view thereof, showing an article guide assembly inside a granules chute, similar to FIG. 1, wherein the scoop is positioned inside the center of the formed pouch and oriented with the handle of the scoop aligned along the long axis of the pouch after the pouch is sealed and later separated from the web of flexible material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which provides an apparatus and method for positioning and orienting an article near the center of a pouch containing granules. The apparatus is generally indicated as 10. The primary object of this invention provides a reduction in the risk of pouch 16 being torn or punctured by rough edges of article 14 by orienting and positioning article 14 near the center of pouch 16. Another object of this invention provides proper positioning of article 14 near the center of pouch 16 away from interior walls of pouch 16 and proper orientation of article 14 with its longest axis parallel to a longest axis of pouch 16 by guiding article 14 during its fall into pouch 16. Still another object of this invention provides stabilization of the orientation and position of article 14 within pouch 16 by surrounding article 14 with granules 18 while article 14 is still being guided.

Apparatus 10 comprises a granules chute 20, an article guide assembly 30, and a gate mechanism 40 for controlling the release of article 14. Granules chute 20 is commonly known in the art as part of a typical form-fill-seal machine. Granules chute 20 is rectangular and positioned substantially upright with openings at its top and bottom ends. In an alternative design, Granules chute 20 is cylindrical or any other known workable shape for form-fill-seal machines. The opening at the top of granules chute 20 is divided into two portions by baffle plate 42. One portion is an entrance opening for filling granules 18 into granules chute 20. The other portion is a vent for displaced air 46. Displaced air 46 results from the filling of granules 18 in pouch 16. Granules 18 are fed from a hopper (not shown) into the entrance opening at the top end of granules chute 20. Article guide assembly 30 is substantially upright and located inside of granules chute 20. Article guide assembly 30 is substantially coaxial with granules chute 20. Article guide assembly 30 has a bottom end and a top end. Article guide assembly 30 forms a chute for dropping of article 14. The top end of article guide assembly 30 is adapted to receive article 14. The bottom end of article guide assembly 30 is adapted to deliver article 14 into pouch 16.

Prior to the feeding of granules 18 into granules chute 20, pouch 16 must be formed around the perimeter and bottom end of granules chute 20 from a web of flexible material such as a plastic film 48 supplied by a roll (not shown). The web of flexible material may also be paper and or a laminate or composite of paper and plastic film. The forming of plastic film 48 is performed by the use of folding board 49. The process of forming plastic film 48 around granules chute 20 is commonly known in the art. Once plastic film 48 is formed around the bottom end of granules chute 20, plastic film 48 is sealed by using sealers 50 resulting in the formation of a bottom end of pouch 16. Various types of sealers 50 may be used, such as hot bar sealers and ultrasonic sealers.

Prior to feeding granules 18 into granules chute 20, article 14 must be staged into the top end of article guide assembly 30. The staging of article 14 is performed by first closing gate mechanism 40 so that it obstructs the falling of article 14 within article guide assembly 30. Next, article 14 is placed into the top opening of article guide assembly 30 by use of a conveyor system (not shown). Article 14 falls inside of article guide assembly 30 until it reaches gate mechanism 40 where it is then obstructed from further falling, as shown in FIG. 1.

Granules 18 are then fed from a hopper (not shown) into the entrance opening at the top end of granules chute 20. Granules 18 fall within granules chute 20 towards pouch 16 once the bottom of pouch 16 has been sealed closed. Some of the falling granules 18 enter slotted openings 52 which are formed in article guide assembly 30. Slotted openings 52 allow granules 18 to enter article guide assembly 30 and later surround article 14 prior to the exiting of article 14 from article guide assembly 30. Surrounding article 14 with granules 18 stabilizes the orientation and position of article 14 within pouch 16 which will reduce the risk of pouch 16 being torn or punctured by rough edges of article 14. At a pre-determined time, gate mechanism 40 is opened to allow article 14 to fall within article guide assembly 30. Article 14 comes to rest on top of the resting granules 18. By releasing article 14 at a pre-determined time, article 14 is positioned vertically near the center of the pouch as granules 18 fill around the article, as shown in FIG. 2.

Additional granules 18 are fed into the top end of granules chute 20 and surround article 14. Gate mechanism 40 is returned to a closed position in order to obstruct the next article 56 to be staged for the next pouch, as shown in FIG. 3.

As the remaining amount of granules 18 surround article 14, article 14 exits the article guide assembly 30 where it becomes stabilized by the surrounding granules 18 near the center of pouch 16. The weight of granules 18 and article 14 causes pouch 16 to fall away from granules chute 20 and article guide assembly 30, as shown in FIG. 4. Once the top end of pouch 16 falls below sealers 50, sealers 50 seal the top end of pouch 16. The resulting package 54 contains granules 18 with article 14 positioned near the center of pouch 16. Article 14 is oriented with its longest axis substantially parallel to a longest axis of pouch 16 in order to reduce the risk of pouch 16 being torn or punctured by rough edges of article 14.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, article 14 is a plastic scoop and granules 18 are laundry granules. The scoop has a handle and a cup portion. The cup portion is about 5.5 centimeters deep, the scoop is about 11.7 centimeters tall including its handle and about 6.2 centimeters wide. The edges of the scoop are sharp enough to cause punctures in pouch 16 when in contact therewith. The laundry granules' particle size ranges from about 5 microns to about 500 microns. The plastic film of pouch 16 is preferably made from a linear low density/high density polyethylene laminate and its thickness is about 4.25 mil to 5.50 mil. Preferably, the resulting package holds either 4 liters, 8 liters, or 12 liters of laundry granules. The 4 liter package is about 14.5 centimeters tall, 18.5 centimeters wide, and 14.5 centimeters deep The 8 liter package is about 19.0 centimeters tall, 15.3 centimeters wide, and 15.2 centimeters deep. The 12 liter package is about 34.0 centimeters tall, 21.5 centimeters wide, and 14.5 centimeters deep.

The preferred material of construction for granules chute 20 and article guide assembly 30 is stainless steel. Granules chute 20 is about 100 centimeters tall, 12 centimeters wide, and 18 centimeters deep. Article guide assembly 30 is about 70.5 centimeters tall, 9.0 centimeters wide, and 6.5 centimeters deep. The length and width of article guide assembly 30 is important because they define a chute of a particular size that properly surrounds and guides the scoop during its fall thereby establishing its position and orientation in pouch 16. The bottom of article guide assembly 30 is about 4.2 centimeters above the bottom of granules chute 20. This dimension determines the point at which the scoop is no longer held by article guide assembly 30 and requires that the scoop be securely surrounded by granules in order to maintain its orientation and position. Slotted openings 52 are about 36.8 centimeters tall, 2.5 centimeters wide, and are located about 3.2 centimeters from the bottom of article guide assembly 30. These dimensions determine the amount of granules 18 that can enter article guide assembly 30 in order to sufficiently surround and stabilize the scoop. In an alternative design, article guide assembly 30 is constructed from stainless steel rods rather than walls with slotted openings 52. Gate mechanism 40 is located about 28.7 centimeters from the bottom of article guide assembly 30. The pre-determined time from the release of granules 18 into granules chute 20 to the dropping of the scoop from gate mechanism 40 is 0J5 second for the 4 liter package. The pre-determined time from the release of granules 18 into granules chute 20 to the dropping of the scoop from gate mechanism 40 is 0.45 second for the 8 liter package. The pre-determined time from the release of granules 18 into granules chute 20 to the dropping of the scoop from gate mechanism 40 is 0.85 second for the 12 liter resulting package. The height of gate mechanism 40 in conjunction with the pre-determined release time is critical because it determines the vertical position of the scoop within pouch 16.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications that are within the scope of the invention.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for positioning and orienting an article near the center of a pouch containing granules, characterized by: a) a substantially upright outer granules chute; b) a substantially upright article guide assembly, said article guide assembly being located inside of said granules chute, said article guide assembly being substantially coaxial with said granules chute, said article guide assembly having a bottom end and a top end, said article guide assembly forming a chute for dropping an article, said top end adapted to receive the article, said bottom end adapted to deliver the article into a pouch formed around said granules chute; c) a gate mechanism for controlling the release of the article using a predetermined time sequence in relation to delivery of granules to said granules chute such that the article is positioned vertically near the center of the pouch as granules fill around the article.

2. A method for positioning and orienting an article near the center of a pouch containing granules, said method characterized by the steps of: a) Forming a web of flexible material into a pouch around a granules chute, said pouch having a top end and a bottom end; b) Sealing said bottom end of said pouch; c) Discharging granules through said granules chute into said bottom end of said pouch and venting displaced pouch air through a portion of said granules chute; d) Releasing an article into an article guide assembly centered in said granules chute, wherein the article is released at a pre-determined time sequence in relation to discharging of the granules such that the article is positioned vertically near the center of the pouch as granules fill around the article; e) Continuing to discharge granules through said granules chute, such that the granules continue filling the pouch in order to surround and stabilize the article with granules; and f) Sealing said top end of said pouch.

3. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said article guide assembly is 9.0 centimeters wide and 6.5 centimeters deep and forms a chute of that particular size which properly surrounds and guides the article during its fill.

4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height of said gate mechanism in conjunction with a pre-determined release time from the release of the granules into said granules chute to the dropping of the article from gate mechanism determines the vertical position of the article within the pouch.

5. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the height of said gate mechanism is located 28.7 centimeters from the bottom of article guide assembly.

6. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said article guide assembly has slotted openings to allow granules to enter said article guide assembly and surround the article prior to the exiting of the article from said article guide assembly, wherein surrounding the article with granules stabilizes the orientation and position of the article within the pouch to reduce the risk of the pouch being torn or punctured by rough edges of the article.

7. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said slotted openings are 36.8 centimeters tall, 2.5 centimeters wide, and are located 3.2 centimeters from the bottom of article guide assembly to determine the point and amount in which the granules enter said article guide assembly

8. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the bottom of said article guide assembly is a dimension of 4.2 centimeters above the bottom of said granules chute, said dimension determining the point at which the article is no longer held by said article guide assembly.

9. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a baffle plate provides a vent for air to escape from the pouch during filling of granules, said baffle plate being placed within the granules chute.

10. The apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the article is a scoop oriented by said article guide assembly such that a longest axis of said scoop is substantially parallel to a longest axis of the pouch.

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further characterized by the step of separating said pouch from said web of flexible material.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the article is a scoop oriented by said article guide assembly such that a longest axis of said scoop is substantially parallel to a longest axis of said pouch.