Stone Container Corporation

Graphic Packaging International, Inc.

Christopher S Wadium

Robert G Kelley

Don G Giles

Michael R Avila

Robert F Kendall

Thomas L Myers

Mark D Belser

John P Fuller

Michael D Abar

David Loyd Sorensen

R Phillip Vanausdal

Kenneth David Goodworth

Benjamin Bradly Petersen

Jeffrey Edward Kopish

Daren Kay Searle

Apparatus for delivering a plurality of containers to a plurality of filling machines for filling of the containers with a substance. The apparatus includes a feeding assembly including a first staging area aligned with a first filling machine of the plurality of filling machines for facilitating delivery of containers of the plurality of containers from the first staging area to the first filling machine, a second staging area aligned with a second filling machine of the plurality of filling machines for facilitating delivery of containers of the plurality of containers from the second staging area to the second filling machine, and a receiving area adjacent a supply of the plurality of containers. The feeding assembly is configured to move containers of the plurality of containers from the receiving area to the first staging area and to move containers of the plurality of containers from the receiving area to the second staging area. Each of the first and second staging areas is configured to receive containers of the plurality of containers from the receiving area.

Method and apparatus for facilitating filling a container

A method and apparatus for filling and sealing of containers, such as sealable valved bags are provided. A sealable valved bag is placed in an upright, erect position, with its sealable valve structure presented to the apparatus, in a slightly open position, amenable to receipt of a filling nozzle of a filling tube. A bag sealing apparatus is placed at the same position along a processing path as a filling apparatus. The filling apparatus and the sealing apparatus are both configured for reciprocable movement into and out of engagement with successive ones of the bags, to enable filling, and subsequent sealing of each of such bags, without intermediate indexing of bags from a filling station to a sealing station.

Apparatus and method for filling and sealing valved bags

A valve bag is provided having a self-closing feature to preclude sifting losses after filling, but before the bag is fully sealed, while enabling the facilitated final secure closure of the bag.

Self-closing sealable valve bag

A valve bag is provided having a self-closing feature, to preclude sifting losses after filling, but before the bag is fully sealed, while enabling the facilitated final secure closure of the bag.

A multi-station filling apparatus and process for filling bulk containers while simultaneously enabling the deployment and staging of at least one empty container while at least one other container is being filled. The apparatus includes a container filling station operably positioned adjacent a substantially elevated filling chute, a container deployment station, a rotatable carriage and an automatic apparatus controller. The container deployment station is spaced apart from the container filling station so that an operator can attach an empty container thereat either prior to, or during, filling of another container at the container filling station--while avoiding physical exposure to any mechanisms, such as conveyors, associated with the container filling station. The rotatable carriage, which automatically rotates an empty container from the container deployment station toward and into the empty container filling station, includes an outer frame member and displaceable inner frame members. The inner frame members are displaceable from the outer frame members at the container filling station toward operable cooperation with the elevated filling chute, as well as for transferring of the weight of the inner frame member and attached container onto an elevated weight scale mechanism.

Multi-station filling apparatus and process for filling bulk containers

An ultrasonic anvil cartridge for use in association with ultrasonic apparatuses for sealing at least two layers of ultrasonic reactive material. The ultrasonic anvil cartridge cooperates with an anvil housing and an ultrasonic wave generator towards maintaining a substantially even pressure across at least two layers of ultrasonic reactive material such that a substantially even and tight seal can be formed across at least two layers of ultrasonic reactive material. The ultrasonic anvil cartridge includes a plurality of substantially C-shaped support members which are operably and successively aligned so as to be positioned one adjacent another. This plurality of substantially C-shaped members is further encapsulated in substantially elastomeric encapsulating material which is operably positioned within the collective concave surface of the plurality of substantially C-shaped support members to form a unitary cartridge having a substantially convex exterior surface.

Ultrasonic anvil cartridge

A two-stage auger system for filling a valve bag with a particulate material, such as dry powdered or granular material, from a hopper through a valved opening in the bag. The auger system includes a first hollow shaft carrying flights dimensioned and pitched for low speed movement of the particulate material out of the hopper and a second shaft extending through and protruding from the first shaft carrying flights on its protruding portion dimensioned and pitched for higher speed movement of the particulate material from the first mentioned flights. A filling tube is provided to cooperate with the second shaft for higher speed discharge of the particulate material through the filling tube into the bag through the valved opening. Bearings are provided to rotationally seat the second shaft member within the first shaft member on opposite ends of the first shaft member so that the second shaft member can rotate within the first shaft member. A sealing member is provided for sealing the bearings to prevent material from reaching the bearings as well as a drive member for rotating the two shafts. Variably dimensioned and pitched flights are also positioned between the flights of the first and second shafts on the second shaft to carry material between the flights of the first and second shafts, scrape material from the inner wall of the hopper, and direct material away from the sealing means.

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

Christopher S Wadium