U.S. patent application number 09/844017 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-31 for method for inserting one or more canisters into a flexible pouch in a predetermined orientation.
This patent application is currently assigned to Eastman Kodak Company. Invention is credited to Depoint, John, Juskiewicz, Marion T., Merz, Gary E., Roy, James B..
Application Number | 20020157354 09/844017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25291562 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020157354 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roy, James B. ; et
al. |
October 31, 2002 |
Method for inserting one or more canisters into a flexible pouch in
a predetermined orientation
Abstract
A method for inserting one or more canisters into a flexible
pouch having a re-sealable end portion for permitting insertion of
the canisters, a collapsable and flexible floor portion on which
one or more of the canisters are positioned, and a side portion for
enclosing the canisters and connecting the end portion to the floor
portion, the method comprising the steps of positioning the
canisters into a position adjacent said pouch; attaching one or
more of the canisters to a mechanical arm for providing
transportation to said pouches; and placing the canisters through
the re-sealable open end and onto the collapsible and flexible
floor portion so that the floor portion forms a stable storage
platform for the canisters.
Inventors: |
Roy, James B.; (Ontario,
NY) ; Depoint, John; (Palmyra, NY) ; Merz,
Gary E.; (Rochester, NY) ; Juskiewicz, Marion T.;
(Webster, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas H. Close
Patent Legal Staff
Eastman Kodak Company
343 State Street
Rochester
NY
14650-2201
US
|
Assignee: |
Eastman Kodak Company
|
Family ID: |
25291562 |
Appl. No.: |
09/844017 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/443 ;
53/473 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 5/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/443 ;
53/473 |
International
Class: |
B65B 005/08; B65B
035/36 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for inserting one or more articles of manufacture into
a flexible pouch having either a one-time sealable or re-sealable
end portion for permitting insertion of the articles of
manufacture, a collapsible and flexible floor portion on which one
or more of the articles of manufacture are positioned, and a
flexible side portion for enclosing the articles of manufacture and
connecting the end portion to the floor portion, the method
comprising the steps of. (a) positioning the one or more articles
of manufacture in a predetermined orientation into a position
adjacent to said pouch; (b) attaching the one or more of articles
of manufacture to a mechanical arm for providing transportation to
said pouch; and (c) placing the one or more articles of manufacture
through the end portion and onto the collapsible and flexible floor
portion so that the floor portion forms a stable storage platform
for the articles of manufacture.
2. The method as in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes attaching
the arm to three canisters aligned substantially side-by-side.
3. The method as in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes attaching
the arm to two pairs of three canisters aligned substantially
side-by-side.
4. The method as in claim 1, wherein step (b) includes attaching
the arm to one pair of two canisters aligned side-by-side and one
pair of three canisters aligned substantially side-by-side.
5. The method as in claim 1, wherein step (a) includes positioning
the articles of manufacture in a predetermined orientation on a
conveyor belt for transporting the articles of manufacture toward
the pouch.
6. The method as in claim 5, wherein step (a) includes providing a
re-positioning arm for separating a predetermined number of the
articles of manufacture and urging the articles of manufacture
across the conveyor belt toward the pouch.
7. The method as in claim 6, wherein step (b) includes providing a
loading device for transporting the articles of manufacture into
the pouch.
8. The method as in claim 5 further comprising providing
notched-out portions in the re-positioning arm.
9. The method as in claim 1 further comprising providing canisters
as the articles of manufacture.
10. The method as in claim 1 further comprising separating motion
of the re-positioning arm from motion of the mechanical arm for
providing increased rate at which the pouches can be loaded.
11. The method as in claim 1 further comprising controlling
position and orientation of the articles of manufacture during
loading for providing a minimum pouch size.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to flexible, sealable and
re-sealable pouches and, more particularly, to a method for loading
canisters into the pouches.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Flexible, sealable and re-sealable pouches are commercially
used for storing liquids, powders or loose-fill goods such as, for
example, snack foods and liquid juices. One reason for using these
pouches for these types of items is that they are easily placed in
the pouches, with the quantity loaded controlled by either product
weight or volume. In other words, the sealable or re-sealable end
is simply opened and the liquid or snack foods are simply poured or
drop-feed into the pouches and then sealed. These pouches are not
used, however, for storing larger, solid items in which a
predetermined orientation, such as stacking, side-by-side placement
and the like, is needed because of the complexity in inserting
these items in the pouch. Such items would have to be manually
inserted into the pouches which is not economically feasible.
[0003] Although the presently known and utilized method and
apparatus for storing items in pouches are satisfactory, they
include drawbacks. Inserting solid objects into flexible pouches in
a predetermined orientation is difficult and not commercially
feasible.
[0004] Consequently, a need exists for a method and device for
inserting relatively large, solid objects into flexible
pouches.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to
one aspect of the present invention, the invention resides in a
method for inserting one or more articles of manufacture into a
flexible pouch having either a one-time sealable or re-sealable end
portion for permitting insertion of the articles of manufacture, a
collapsable and flexible floor portion on which one or more of the
articles of manufacture are positioned, and a flexible side portion
for enclosing the articles of manufacture and connecting the end
portion to the floor portion, the method comprising the steps of
(a) positioning the one or more articles of manufacture into a
position adjacent said pouch, (b) attaching the one or more of
articles of manufacture to a mechanical arm for providing
transportation to said pouch; and (c) placing the one or more
articles of manufacture through the end portion and onto the
collapsable and flexible floor portion so that the floor portion
forms a stable storage platform for the articles of
manufacture.
[0006] These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will be more clearly understood and
appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of
the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pouch of the present
invention with a portion cutaway for showing film canisters stored
therein;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a loading mechanism for inserting the canisters
into the pouch; and
[0009] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate alternative orientations and
positions of the film canisters in the pouch.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In the following description, like reference characters
designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views
of the drawings. Also in the following description, it is to be
understood that such terms as "forward," "rearward," "left,"
"right," "upwardly," "downwardly," and the like are words of
convenience and are not to be constructed as limiting terms.
[0011] Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a flexible, one-time
sealable pouch 10 or a flexible re-sealable pouch 10 for storing
film canisters 20 therein, preferably three side-by-side canisters.
The canisters 20 are preferably Advance Photo System (APS)
canisters, and include APS film (not shown) therein for capturing
images thereon when operated with an APS camera. The pouch 10
includes a one-time sealable or re-sealable end portion 30 having a
zip type seal 40 which permits opening and sealing, and re-sealing
of the end portion 30 in the case of a re-sealable end portion 30,
for permitting insertion and retrieval of the film canisters. The
zip type seal 40 includes mechanically interlocking portions on
opposite sides of the end portion 30 for opening, sealing and
re-sealing, each method is well known in the art. The pouch 10
includes a collapsible, flexible bottom-portion 50 which, when the
canisters 20 are contained therein, forms a stable platform on
which the canisters 20 rest. The bottom portion 50 is collapsible
so that, when canisters 20 are not contained therein, it may be
collapsed into a more compact configuration. The pouch 10 further
includes flexible side portions 60 (the front portion is cutaway
for clarity) that attach the bottom portion 50 and end portion 30
together for forming an enclosure for enclosing the canisters 20
therein. The side portions 60 are pushed outwardly into its
expanded position when the canisters 20 are inserted therein.
[0012] Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a loading mechanism 70
for inserting the canisters 20 into the pouch 10. The loading
mechanism 70 includes a conveyor belt 80 for transporting the
canisters 20 into a position adjacent and upwardly over the pouch
10. The canisters 20 are transported a substantially three
side-by-side configuration which, in the present invention, matches
the capacity of the bottom portion 50 of the pouch 10. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations are
also possible given different canister and pouch size. Two rails 75
are positioned upwardly adjacent the conveyor belt for assisting in
guiding the canisters 20 along the conveyor belt 80. The rail 75a
directly upwardly over the pouch 10 does not extend over the pouch
10 to permit positioning the canisters close to the pouch 10, as
will become apparent from the discussion below.
[0013] The conveyor belt 80 delivers the canisters 20 in a suitable
position upwardly and over the pouch 10. With the conveyor belt 80
continuing to move, a movable vacuum device 90 having three
arcuate-shaped, cutaway portions 100, into which the canisters mate
and respectively fit, moves the canisters 20 across the conveyor
belt 80. The movable vacuum device 90 by vacuum force sucks the
three side-by-side canisters 20 respectively and matingly into
three recessed portions 100. When the canisters 20 are in a
position over the pouch 10, a second movable device 110 grips the
canisters 20 by well-known means (not shown) by their covers 120.
The vacuum is then turned off on the first movable vacuum device
90, releasing the canisters 20 to the second movable device 110
which lowers them into the pouch 10 and onto the bottom portion
50.
[0014] Those skilled in the art will recognize that separating the
motions of the moveable arm 90 and the vacuum device 110 increases
the rate at which the pouches can be loaded.
[0015] The vacuum force can be further optimized using either
vacuum cups or a vacuum platen. Those skilled in the art will
recognize that there are other methods for attaching the canisters
to the arm such as by mechanical grippers or magnetism (for ferrous
metal parts) and the like. It will also be readily apparent to
those skilled in the art that other devices other than canisters
may be used in the present invention, such as any article of
manufacture as commonly understood in the intellectual property
field.
[0016] According to the capacity of the pouch 10, this process may
be repeated for subsequent pairs of three canisters that are placed
upwardly and atop the previous three canisters inserted therein, as
shown in FIG. 3a.
[0017] Those skilled in the art will readily recognize that other
orientations may be achieved by tooling modification that will be
known by those skilled in the art, for example by modifying movable
device 110. In FIG. 3b, the loading mechanism attaches by vacuum to
one pair of two side-by-side canisters. The two side-by-side
canisters are placed in a substantially horizontal position on or
above the three side-by-side canisters, which are placed in
substantially vertical positions. By controlling the positions and
orientation of the canister 20 during loading, the size of the
pouch can be minimized.
[0018] The end portion 30 of the pouch 10 is then closed by a
squeezing or tamping motion, both well known in the art.
[0019] The invention has been described in detail with particular
reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be
understood that variations and modifications can be effected within
the spirit and scope of the invention.
PARTS LIST
[0020] 10 flexible, one-time sealable or re-sealable pouch
[0021] 20 film canisters
[0022] 30 one-time sealable or re-sealable end portion
[0023] 40 ziplock seal
[0024] 50 flexible bottom-portion
[0025] 60 flexible side portions
[0026] 70 loading mechanism
[0027] 75a rail
[0028] 75b rail
[0029] 80 conveyor belt
[0030] 90 movable vacuum device
[0031] 100 arcuate-shaped cutaway portions
[0032] 110 second movable device
[0033] 120 covers
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