Patent Application
20200055627
The disclosure relates generally to a packaging and sealing apparatus and method. In particular, the disclosure relates to a bulk packaging and sealing apparatus and method that may improve food packaging and sealing efficiency.
Standard packaging and sealing equipment can require substantial space in manufacturing and production facilities. Standard equipment can also require a rate of sealing and separating per minute to package a product, such as buns, that may not provide the best efficiency.
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally provide a packaging and sealing apparatus that may include two variable-length conveyors that may be provided to transport a product. The apparatus may further provide at least one traveling sealing bar that may seal the product in a packaging while the product is being conveyed. A mechanical drive system may be arranged below the packaging and sealing apparatus to control movement of the at least one traveling sealing bar and the two variable-length conveyors. The two variable-length conveyors may be coupled and may provide a constant overall apparatus length. An open frame may be arranged to provide access to the packaging and sealing apparatus. A force-sensitive drive linkage may be arranged proximate to at least one sealing bar. A slicer may be provided to separate sealed product packages at a rate of up to approximately 50 packages per minute. A plurality of sealing bars and wheels may be provided to seal the product in the packaging according to user needs, and sealing may be provided across a width of the packaging and at various center positions of the packaging according to a product size, user-required product grouping, or a combination of the product size and the user-required product groupings. The two variable-length conveyors may provide a fixed overall apparatus length that may allow the sealing to occur while the product is conveyed during constant motion. The packaging and sealing apparatus may provide real-time feedback to a user or an operator.
A method of packaging and sealing a product may provide the steps of accumulating a product for processing, grouping the product into a quantity and an arrangement desired by a user, and slicing the product as desired by the user. Additionally, the method may provide the steps of finalizing a product grouping for packaging, wrapping the packaging around the product grouping, sealing the product into the packaging, and conveying a product packaging into at least one transport container and transporting to the at least one transport container to a storage location for shipping. The method of packaging and sealing a product may include the step of separating the product packaging as desired by the user. The method of packaging and sealing a product may include the step of sealing the product in the packaging which may be performed while the product is being continuously transported by the two variable-length conveyors within a fixed overall length of the apparatus. Transporting the product by two variable-length conveyors may allow package sealing around the product to be completed while the product undergoes a constant conveying motion that may increase apparatus packaging capacity while maintaining an overall fixed apparatus length. The method may provide the step of providing real-time feedback to a user or an operator. The method may provide coupling the two variable-length conveyors. The method may provide the step of separating the product packages at a rate of up to approximately 50 packages per minute.
Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following drawings, descriptions and claims.
For a more complete understanding of this disclosure and its features, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Embodiments of the present disclosure generally may provide a packaging and sealing apparatus and method. The apparatus and method may improve manufacturing efficiency by increasing the quantity of sealed packages per minute while reducing an equipment footprint for handling similar product volume with conventional packaging apparatuses.
Packaging and sealing apparatus 100A-100D may provide an increased quantity of packaged product compared to conventional food production or sealing equipment. Conventional food production or sealing equipment may provide approximately 30 packages per minute compared to approximately 50 packages per minute that may be provided by packaging and sealing apparatus 100A-100D in embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that rates of approximately 30 packages per minute may be achieved in packaging of standard 4-inch hamburger buns or buns for ¼ lb. hamburgers using conventional packaging equipment, which may be further increased to approximately 50 packages per minute using sealing apparatus 100A-100D in embodiments of the present disclosure. It should also be appreciated that rate may change depending on the type of products being packaged, including, but not limited to, hot dog buns, biscuits, and additional products without departing from the present disclosure. It should further be appreciated that the quantity of packages per minute also may vary depending on a size of a product undergoing packaging and sealing. It should be appreciated that packaging and sealing apparatus 100A-100D may provide more than approximately 50 packages per minute without departing from the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that a maximum number of packages per minute may be approximately 50 packages in embodiments of the present disclosure; however, fewer packages per minute may be provided without departing from the present disclosure. It should also be appreciated that packaging and sealing apparatus 100A-100D may provide approximately up to twice the number of packages per minute compared to conventional food production or sealing equipment in embodiments of the present disclosure.
Real-time feedback may be provided by packaging and sealing apparatus 100A-100D according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Real-time feedback may communicate information including, but not limited to, speed data, temperature data, humidity data, environmental data, pressure data, alerts to the operator, and additional types of data and alerts. Additionally, real-time feedback may be provided to alert the operator or user regarding whether an appropriate quantity of pressure required to effectively seal a product has been satisfied. It should be appreciated that real-time feedback may alert the operator or user when sealing bars and wheels should be replaced or repaired. However, other types of real-time feedback may be provided without departing from the present disclosure.
It should be appreciated that product may begin to be sealed across a width of a package of product according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that sealing the product across the width of the package may be rate-limiting. Packages of product may be sealed by splitting the packages across the center. For example, a package of 24 hamburger buns may be sealed and provide 12 hamburger buns in a first sealed portion and 12 hamburger buns in a second sealed portion. Packages of product may also be sealed by providing a tri-seal across packages. For example, 24 hamburger buns may be sealed and provide 8 hamburger buns in a first sealed portion, 8 hamburger buns in a second sealed portion, and 8 hamburger buns in a third sealed portion. Packages of product may be completely sealed after sealing sides of the packages.
It should be appreciated that a product may follow a production process and may be sealed prior to being transported by a conveyor according to embodiments of the present disclosure. A production process may include accumulating product by utilizing an accumulator. The process may provide grouping the product into a desired number of sections prior to packaging. Further, the process may provide slicing the product as required by the user. After the product is sliced, the process may provide regrouping the product into a desired pattern prior to packaging. The packaging process may include sealing the product into packages using sealing bars and wheels. After the product is sealed, a conveyor may transport the sealed product to a basket or container and may be stacked. The basket or container may be transported to a desired facility or location. It should be appreciated that basket or container conveyance may occur underneath packaging and sealing apparatus 100A-100D (
It should be appreciated that the packaging and sealing apparatus may be retrofit into other applications and/or equipment according to embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that the packaging and sealing apparatus may provide the advantage of a faster system that may more efficiently seal product compared to conventional equipment as the present disclosure sealing process is conducted during constant conveyed motion. It should further be appreciated that packaging and sealing apparatus may be sized depending on the application and may be utilized to seal product in bulk quantities in embodiments of the present disclosure. Bulk quantities may include packaging and sealing thousands of items per minute. For example, the packaging and sealing apparatus may be utilized to produce buns and biscuits for production use at a fast-food restaurant chain. It should be appreciated that product may still be further processed after being packaged and sealed.
It should be appreciated that the packaging and sealing apparatus may allow for product to flow from left to right according to embodiments of the present disclosure; however, it may flow in a different direction without departing from the present disclosure. It should also be appreciated that the packaging and sealing apparatus may provide valves for air systems and a control panel that may provide real-time feedback.
It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used in this patent document. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like.
While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/718,785 filed Aug. 14, 2018, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62718785 | Aug 2018 | US |
