The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 22, 2011
Filed:
May. 30, 2008
Jeffrey R. Iocco, Greenville, SC (US);
Greg E. Mcdonald, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Max C. Painter, Spartanburg, SC (US);
Wayne T. Workman, Duncan, SC (US);
Jeffrey R. Iocco, Greenville, SC (US);
Greg E. McDonald, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Max C. Painter, Spartanburg, SC (US);
Wayne T. Workman, Duncan, SC (US);
Cryovac, Inc., Duncan, SC (US);
Abstract
A method of positioning a loaded bag in a vacuum chamber includes loading a bag by placing a product in the bag; placing the bag on an infeed conveyor that is transparent to IR; advancing the bag, on the conveyor, to a sensing apparatus including an infrared camera disposed above the conveyor, and a bank of LED's disposed below the conveyor; interrogating the loaded bag, using the sensing apparatus, with infrared radiation to detect the trailing edge of the product inside the bag; transmitting information acquired from the interrogating step to a PLC; advancing the interrogated loaded bag a distance, based in the information acquired from the interrogating step, to a vacuum chamber including a heat seal assembly; and heat sealing the loaded bag with the heat seal assembly to close the bag mouth.