Douglas Machine Inc.

Daniel Leonard Floding

Irvan Leo Pazdernik

Richard Jerome Schoeneck

Paul Howard Wagner

Thomas Harold Peterman

Ronald Matthew Gust

Richard Willard Lukanen, Jr

David Leon Anderson

Bruce Peterson

Christopher Todd Davis

Gene Allen Corle

Craig D Sholts

Chad W Hahn

Irvan Leo Pazdernick

Kyle Nelson

Dale E Haug

Bruce Malcolm Peterson

Jr Richard W Lukanen

A system for loading an accumulated article group into a case is provided. The system includes an article accumulation station, a grouped article loading station, and a pusher assembly. The accumulation station includes an article receiver assembly in furtherance of delimiting an accumulated article group, and a grouped article guide structure within which the accumulated article group is positionable by operation of the article receiver assembly. The grouped article loading station includes a gate assembly, having first and second operable configurations, and an actuatable gate through which the accumulated article group passes during loading of the group into a case presented for receipt of same. The pusher assembly includes an actuatable pusher for effectuating a transfer of the accumulated article group from the accumulation station to the loading station, flat packing operations effectuated via transfer of the grouped article guide structure over the actuatable gate of the first operably configured pivotable gate assembly by the pusher, vertical packing operations effectuated via transfer of the accumulated article group to the actuatable gate of the second operably configured pivotable gate assembly.

Intermittent case packer assembly and methods

A vacuum table () includes an introduction section () in fluid communication with a vacuum chamber () and a compartment () dividable by an adjustment partition () into primary and secondary vacuum chambers (). Adjustment plates () having adjustment apertures () are positionable over apertures () of the conveying surface () of the vacuum table () generally perpendicular to the conveying direction. Film () extends from between the nip of pinch rollers () to the conveying surface () and is tensioned therebetween to be cut in excess of 105 cuts per minute by a servo motor controlled rotary cutter () which stops after each cut. The shaft () of the rotary cutter () includes a bore () extending from the idle end to provide servo-control loop stability.

Apparatus and methods for producing shrink-wrap packaging

A wrapping apparatus, system, station and/or process is generally provided. As to the apparatus, it includes a wrap bar for engaging and directing a wrapper about the product, a wrap bar carrier from which the wrap bar extends, and a drive assembly operatively linked to the wrap bar carrier. The carrier block, which translatingly retains the carrier intermediate opposing end portions thereof, is adapted for driven rotation about a wrapping axis of the apparatus so as to thereby rotatingly drive the bar about the axis via rotation of the carrier. The drive assembly, which is operatively linked to the carrier, selectively translates the carrier in relation to the carrier block during driven rotation of the carrier such that a radial distance for the bar from the axis is thereby capable of selective establishment in furtherance of delimiting a wrap bar travel path commensurate with the product profile of the product.

Apparatus for adjustable wrapping

A cutting apparatus cuts shrink wrap film residing in a roll. The apparatus includes a first roller pair receiving the film from the roll and carrying the film away from the roll; and without the need for a second roller pair to receive the cut sheet of film. Film snap-back is prevented by cutting the film between a shear deck with teeth and a rotating blade with teeth intermeshing with the teeth of the shear deck. A method for cutting a sheet of shrink wrap film, includes: feeding the film into a first roller pair; and cutting the film between the first roller pair and the second roller pair using a rotating knife with a number of teeth intermeshing with a shear bar with teeth.

Film cutter

Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor () unto a transfer plate () and a transfer device (). The transfer device () is movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending over a sweep conveyor (). In a preferred form, the transfer device () is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material and is moved in the conveying direction from the retracted position to the extended position by engaging with the sweep conveyor () and is moved to the retracted position by being wrapped around a rotated roller (). Product is transferred from the transfer device () to the sweep conveyor () as the transfer device () moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar () which controls the product on the sweep conveyor () until the product group leaves the transfer device (). With nested product, the leading edge of the transfer device () is scalloped to represent the product bottom leading edge.

Retractable transfer device metering apparatus and methods

A method for enclosing articles in heat-shrink film and for perforating or slitting the heat shrink film.

Method for packaging articles using pre-perforated heat shrink film

Product is conveyed as a continuous stream by a meter conveyor () unto a transfer plate () and a transfer device (). The transfer device () is movable between a retracted position and an extended position extending over a sweep conveyor (). In a preferred form, the transfer device () is in the form of a thin piece of flexible material and is moved in the conveying direction from the retracted position to the extended position by engaging with the sweep conveyor () and is moved to the retracted position by being wrapped around a rotated roller (). Product is transferred from the transfer device () to the sweep conveyor () as the transfer device () moves from the extended position to the retracted position and is engaged by a metering bar () which controls the product acceleration on the sweep conveyor () to match the meter conveyor () until the product group leaves the transfer device (). With nested product, the leading edge of the transfer device () is scalloped to represent the product bottom leading edge.

Apparatus ( ) for packaging products (P) includes a mechanism ( ) for accumulating, metering, and creating an array of products (P) in a pack pattern. The array of products (P) in a conveying orientation is transferred to a tray ( ), and the tray ( ) and the entire pack pattern of products (P) supported thereon are rotated to a second arrangement where the products (P) in the conveying orientation in the tray ( ) are perpendicular to the conveying direction. The products (P) are pushed from the trays ( ) moving in the conveying direction into cartons (C) moving at the same speed as the trays ( ). In the preferred form, the trays ( ) are rotatably mounted to carriers ( ) moving along a path defined by roller chains ( ). A cam follower ( ) on a crank arm ( ) extending from a spindle ( ) rotatably mounting the tray ( ) to the carrier ( ) travels in a cam track ( ) to rotate the tray ( ) relative to the carrier ( ) between the first and second arrangements.

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Alexandria, MN, United States of America

Daniel Leonard Floding