Graphic Packaging International, Inc.

Stone Container Corporation

R Phillip Vanausdal

Christopher S Wadium

Robert G Kelley

David Loyd Sorensen

Kenneth David Goodworth

Benjamin Bradly Petersen

Jeffrey Edward Kopish

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 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.

Two-stage auger system for filling commercial valve bags

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Salt Lake City, UT, United States of America

R Phillip Vanausdal