This invention relates generally to packaging. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for packaging hamburger patties in a vacuum sealed pouch.
It is well known in the art to stack hamburger patties prior to packaging by hand. These hamburger stackers include a conveyor belt and stacker operable to sack and transport a sack of hamburger patties. However, during transportation or manipulation of the package containing the hamburger patties, it is common for the hamburger patties to become un-stacked within the package. Accordingly, there exists a need in the art to provide an apparatus and method for stacking hamburger patties and keeping the hamburger patties stacked during transportation and use by the consumer.
A method and apparatus for packaging patties or similar flat items such as food items, disc . . . etc. into a flexible pouch. The method comprising the steps of stacking a plurality of patties by a stacker, the patties stacked on top of one another, lowering the plurality of patties into a flexible pouch, vacuuming the air out of the flexible pouch to seal the pouch, the vacuum creating an air tight seal and forming a pair of frangible seals in the pouch, the frangible (or solid) seals positioned adjacent to the plurality of patties. The method further comprising the step of raising the patties from a first position to a second position before lowering the plurality of patties into the flexible pouch. The method further comprising the step of moving the patties to the stacker by means of a conveyor belt.
The apparatus for packaging patties into a flexible pouch, the apparatus comprising a stacker, the stacker having two side members operable to lift a plurality of patties received from a first conveyor. The apparatus further including a patty holder, the patty holder positioned adjacent to the stacker, the patty holder having two side members operable to lower the plurality of patties into a flexible pouch. A vacuum is further positioned adjacent to the patty holder, the vacuum operable to remove the air from the flexible pouch. A frangible seal creator is also provided operable to create a frangible seal on the flexible pouch. The stacker includes a biasing member extending between the pair of side members. The pair of side members each include a lower bracket to hold the plurality of patties. The vacuum includes a free end having an elongated rod having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with both the vacuum and the interior of the flexible pouch. A gripper is further provided to hold the flexible pouch in an open position.
The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for stacking, storing and sealing hamburger patties within a pouch. The apparatus for packaging patties into a flexible pouch, the apparatus comprising a stacker, the stacker having two side members operable to lift a plurality of patties received from a first conveyor. The apparatus further including a patty holder, the patty holder positioned adjacent to the stacker, the patty holder having two side members operable to lower the plurality of patties into a flexible pouch. A vacuum is further positioned adjacent to the patty holder, the vacuum operable to remove the air from the flexible pouch. A frangible seal creator is also provided operable to create a frangible seal on the flexible pouch. The stacker includes a biasing member extending between the pair of side members. The pair of side members each include a lower bracket to hold the plurality of patties. The vacuum includes a free end having an elongated rod having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with both the vacuum and the interior of the flexible pouch. A gripper is further provided to hold the flexible pouch in an open position.
The stacker 18 is operable to stack the hamburger patties 14 into a stacked position arranging the hamburger patties on top of one another into a stack of hamburger patties 14 of two to twenty patties. In the present embodiment, a stack 26 consists of eleven hamburger patties 14. The stacker 18 then moves the stack 26 to an upper platform 25. The stack is moved along the platform to the filling apparatus 12. The stack 26 is held by a hamburger patty holder 50. The hamburger patty holder 50 is operable to securely hold and transport the stack 26. The stacker 18 is operable to lift the patties and simultaneously stack as the patties 14 move along the conveyor belt 16.
The hamburger patty holder 50 further includes an inward protrusion 51 located at a lower end of hamburger patty holder 50.The hamburger patty holder 50 is made of two elongated rods operable to hold the stack 26 between the two rods. The rods, at a lower end, include the inward protrusions 51 which define supporting portions to prevent the stack 26 from falling out of the bottom between the two rods of the hamburger patty holder.
The pouch 20 is held in an open position by means of the grippers 40. The hamburger patty stacker 50 is inserted into the opening 34 of the pouch 20. The hamburger patty stacker 50 is lowered into the pouch 20 at the opening 30.
The next process in the assembly is vacuum sealing of the pouch 20.
The frangible seal 80 prevents movement of the stack after the user has broken the vacuum seal. The frangible seal, by nature, may also be broken if the user chooses. The frangible seal 80 is created by an apparatus similar to the one as shown in
As previously described, the present apparatus packages patties into a flexible pouch, the apparatus including a stacker, the stacker having two side members operable to lift a plurality of patties received from a first conveyor. The apparatus further including a patty holder, the patty holder positioned adjacent to the stacker, the patty holder having two side members operable to lower the plurality of patties into a flexible pouch. A vacuum is further positioned adjacent to the patty holder, the vacuum operable to remove the air from the flexible pouch. A frangible seal creator is also provided operable to create a frangible seal on the flexible pouch. The stacker includes a biasing member extending between the pair of side members. The pair of side members each include a lower bracket to hold the plurality of patties. The vacuum includes a free end having an elongated rod having a plurality of apertures in fluid communication with both the vacuum and the interior of the flexible pouch. A gripper is further provided to hold the flexible pouch in an open position.
The invention is not restricted to the illustrated examples and embodiments as described above and are not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. The methods, apparatus, compositions, and the like described herein are exemplary and not intended as limitations on the scope of the invention. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art.
This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/751,427 filed Jan. 11, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in the entirety.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
1915489 | Gere | Jun 1933 | A |
2736477 | Krebs | Feb 1956 | A |
3022620 | Gallet | Feb 1962 | A |
3675389 | Uline | Jul 1972 | A |
3866741 | Carbon | Feb 1975 | A |
3927508 | Campbell, III | Dec 1975 | A |
3959951 | Paules | Jun 1976 | A |
3968629 | Gidewall | Jul 1976 | A |
4035982 | Paules | Jul 1977 | A |
4048784 | Toby | Sep 1977 | A |
4086745 | Caudle | May 1978 | A |
4112124 | Jarvis | Sep 1978 | A |
4159761 | Egee | Jul 1979 | A |
4364467 | Blakelock | Dec 1982 | A |
4405186 | Sandberg | Sep 1983 | A |
4421222 | Stuermer | Dec 1983 | A |
4627215 | Walz | Dec 1986 | A |
4955794 | Fluck | Sep 1990 | A |
5095684 | Walker | Mar 1992 | A |
5279096 | Mims | Jan 1994 | A |
5310306 | Lunghi | May 1994 | A |
5398479 | Diete | Mar 1995 | A |
5675963 | Nicholson | Oct 1997 | A |
5809745 | Reinert | Sep 1998 | A |
6231905 | DelDuca | May 2001 | B1 |
6434912 | Walz | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6438925 | Straub | Aug 2002 | B1 |
6543989 | Derenthal | Apr 2003 | B1 |
6606841 | Germunson | Aug 2003 | B1 |
6845860 | Walker | Jan 2005 | B1 |
6868651 | Sorensen | Mar 2005 | B1 |
7591124 | Ruz | Sep 2009 | B2 |
8407973 | Finkowski | Apr 2013 | B2 |
8931240 | Lindee | Jan 2015 | B2 |
9421693 | Baechtold | Aug 2016 | B2 |
20020148203 | Waddell, II | Oct 2002 | A1 |
20020182050 | Hart | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20040182469 | Concetti | Sep 2004 | A1 |
20050262815 | Kuss | Dec 2005 | A1 |
20070090590 | Doery | Apr 2007 | A1 |
20070119125 | Stenbom | May 2007 | A1 |
20070241151 | Murray | Oct 2007 | A1 |
20070251193 | Van Ballegooijen | Nov 2007 | A1 |
20080110723 | Yan Ruz | May 2008 | A1 |
20120279180 | Crawford | Nov 2012 | A1 |
20140053511 | Malenke | Feb 2014 | A1 |
20140196408 | Murray | Jul 2014 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20140196408 A1 | Jul 2014 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61751427 | Jan 2013 | US |