U.S. patent application number 11/534435 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for filling system.
Invention is credited to Donald E. Carroll, Robert B. DeMatteis, Donald J. Pansier, James Scott.
Application Number | 20070289662 11/534435 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39230855 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289662 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DeMatteis; Robert B. ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
FILLING SYSTEM
Abstract
A filling system for filling plastic bags and containers in an
expedited and relatively dust-free manner. The filling system
includes a coaxial tube having a supply passage for supplying a
material and a return passage for drawing dust from the container
during filling. The coaxial tube includes at least one aperture
within the sidewall that extends into the return passage that forms
a vacuum suction force against a wall of film surrounding the
coaxial tube during filling of a container.
Inventors: |
DeMatteis; Robert B.; (Grass
Valley, CA) ; Carroll; Donald E.; (Auburn, CA)
; Pansier; Donald J.; (Green Bay, WI) ; Scott;
James; (Las Vegas, NV) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NEUSTEL LAW OFFICES, LTD.
2534 SOUTH UNIVERSITY DRIVE
SUITE 4
FARGO
ND
58103
US
|
Family ID: |
39230855 |
Appl. No.: |
11/534435 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60720329 |
Sep 22, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
141/59 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 1/28 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/059 |
International
Class: |
B65B 31/00 20060101
B65B031/00 |
Claims
1. A fill nozzle system for filling a container in a relatively
dust free manner, comprising: an inner tube; wherein said inner
tube is connected to a material filling system for providing a
volume of material to a container; an outer tube at least partially
surrounding said inner tube forming a return passage between said
inner tube and said outer tube; at least one aperture within a
sidewall of said outer tube fluidly connecting said return passage
externally of said outer tube, wherein said at least one aperture
is positioned in a forward location of said outer tube to form a
vacuum suction against a wall of film surrounding said outer tube;
wherein said outer tube is positionable within a fill opening of
said container; and wherein said return passage receives air and
dust emitted from said container during filling of said container
with said material.
2. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said outer tube is
tapered.
3. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said outer tube
surrounds a distal portion of said inner tube.
4. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said outer tube is
substantially concentric with respect to said inner tube.
5. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said return passage
completely surrounds a portion of said inner tube.
6. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said inner tube and
said outer tube each are comprised of substantially circular cross
sectional structures.
7. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said inner tube is
longer than said outer tube.
8. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said return passage
includes an intake opening positioned near a discharge end of said
inner tube.
9. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said return passage
includes an exit opening positioned opposite of a discharge end of
said inner tube.
10. The fill nozzle system of claim 9, including a vacuum unit
fluidly connected to said exit opening.
11. The fill nozzle system of claim 9, including a valve fluidly
connected to said exit opening.
12. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said fill opening of
said container is comprised of a valve.
13. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said container is
comprised of a bag.
14. The fill nozzle system of claim 1, wherein said return passage
is fluidly connected to a manifold.
15. A fill nozzle system for filling a container in a relatively
dust free manner, comprising: a coaxial tube positionable within a
fill opening of a container; wherein said coaxial tube includes a
supply passage and a return passage; wherein said supply passage is
connected to a material filling system for providing a volume of
material to said container; at least one aperture within a sidewall
of said coaxial tube fluidly connecting said return passage
externally of said coaxial tube, wherein said at least one aperture
is positioned in a forward location of said coaxial tube to form a
vacuum suction against a wall of film surrounding said coaxial
tube; wherein said return passage is fluidly connected to a
manifold; wherein said return passage receives air and dust emitted
from said container during filling of said container with said
material.
16. The fill nozzle system of claim 14, wherein said coaxial tube
is tapered.
17. The fill nozzle system of claim 14, including a vacuum unit
fluidly connected to said return passage for drawing air and dust
from said container during filling of said container with said
material.
18. The fill nozzle system of claim 14, wherein said fill opening
of said container is comprised of a valve.
19. The fill nozzle system of claim 14, wherein said container is
comprised of a bag.
20. A fill nozzle system for filling a bag in a relatively dust
free manner, comprising: an inner tube; wherein said inner tube is
connected to a material filling system for providing a volume of
material to a bag; an outer tube at least partially surrounding
said inner tube forming a return passage between said inner tube
and said outer tube; at least one aperture within a sidewall of
said outer tube fluidly connecting said return passage externally
of said outer tube, wherein said at least one aperture is
positioned in a forward location of said outer tube to form a
vacuum suction against a wall of film surrounding said outer tube;
wherein said inner tube and said outer tube each are comprised of
substantially circular cross sectional structures, wherein said
inner tube is longer than said outer tube; wherein said return
passage completely surrounds a portion of said inner tube; wherein
said return passage includes an intake opening positioned near a
discharge end of said inner tube and wherein said return passage
includes an exit opening positioned opposite of a discharge end of
said inner tube; wherein said return passage is fluidly connected
to a manifold; wherein said outer tube is tapered; wherein said
outer tube surrounds a distal portion of said inner tube; wherein
said outer tube is substantially concentric with respect to said
inner tube; wherein said outer tube is positionable within a fill
opening of said bag; wherein said return passage receives air and
dust emitted from said bag during filling of said bag with said
material; and a vacuum unit fluidly connected to said exit opening
for drawing air and dust emitted from said bag during filling of
said bag with said material.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code,
Section 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.
60/720,329 filed Sep. 22, 2005. The 60/720,329 application is
currently pending. The 60/720,329 application is hereby
incorporated by reference into this application.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable to this application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates to filling systems for plastic valve
bags and other types of containers typically used for filling
flowable materials such as concrete products, pet foods, foodstuffs
and other bulk products. It may also be used for other types of
products that may not be considered flowable such as any number of
hard and soft goods like briquettes, medical devices, and so on.
More specifically, this invention relates to filling these plastic
bags and containers in a unique method that provides a dust-control
filling environment and may speed up the filling process.
[0005] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0006] Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification
should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art
is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the
field.
[0007] Presently there are many types of heavy duty bags and
containers and several methods in which they are filled. These bags
and methods include paper and plastic valve bags filled on nozzles,
stitched bags, top load and seal, bags that are top filled and
glued closed, and an assortment of rigid containers that may accept
a fill nozzle type of system. Generally speaking, these bags are
put up in larger sizes to handle loads from a few pounds up to as
many as 100 pounds. Various forms of bags and containers may be
substantially more.
[0008] Most bags used with cement and concrete products and other
heavy flowable contents are paper valve bags like those commonly
seen palletized in home improvement centers throughout the U.S. and
contain products sold to consumers for use in home garden and yard
applications, such as 60# mortar and concrete mix and 94# cement
and concrete mix. The chief reason paper valve bags are used for
these applications is primarily due to per unit cost and
productivity factors. Paper valve bags cost more than standard,
top-loading plastic bags but the paper valve bags are faster to
fill thus they substantially improve productivity and output. There
has been some limited use of plastic valve bags made from a woven
polypropylene--especially in Europe--with similar productivity. In
the U.S. and other countries where paper is still relatively
inexpensive, the polypropylene valve bags cost 20% to 30% more than
paper. Another form of plastic valve bag is that cited in my
pending patent application US20040184680, which costs less than
both the paper and polypropylene valve bags and have many
advantages over the two. Various forms of containers may include
commonly used cardboard cartons, rigid plastic containers and even
forms of bottles, buckets and so on.
[0009] One significant problem associated with the filling of
flowable contents with the aforementioned bag and container types
and the aforementioned systems is the amount of dust that is
generated during the filling process. In any top loading system
fugitive dust tends to drift upwards, then float away and settle
nearby. The most commonly used valve bag filling system used today
is that of placing a valve bag on a nozzle whereas the valve is in
a horizontal disposition as illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,589,454,
which uses a conventional valve bag such as that of U.S. Pat. No.
4,759,641. When a valve bag is filled according to this
methodology, fugitive dust escapes from the bag and filling system
in three ways. First, during the fill process, it escapes from vent
holes in the bags. Since current filling methods use injected air
or are air assisted, they require bags to have vent holes in order
to allow the injected air to escape. The injected air (which may
also be referred to as trapped air in the case of a gravity feed
system) contains the fugitive dust. This dust is emitted directly
into the environment where the bag filling operator works. Second,
once the bag has been filled to the designated weight, the bag is
ejected from the nozzle and a "puff of fugitive dust" is emitted
from the nozzle. Obviously this puff of dust drifts outward, and
again, into the environment where the operator works. Third, after
the bag is filled and ejected from the nozzle, the valves on prior
art paper and plastic bags tends to remain partially open and
during its drop to the conveyor belt system below and
transportation away from the fill station additional fugitive dust
is emitted. The exception to this rule is the valve bag of the US
'680 application that provides a relatively leak proof seal once
the bag has been filled with its contents.
[0010] In addition, fugitive dust leaks out of prior art paper and
polypropylene valve bags and stitched bags after they are filled.
During the palletizing process and through subsequent handling,
dust continues to escape from the leaky valves, vent holes, and
through the porous paper material. All told, bag packing facilities
using existing bag filling technologies are notoriously dusty
environments. This stray dust is also a problem for distributors
and retailers, as may be seen at any home improvement center
selling concrete products.
[0011] Perhaps what is of most concern with the fugitive dust
associated with materials such as concrete is its toxicity. The
dust associated with concrete products contains lime and federal
law requires companies to print warning labels on bags. Other
toxins in other forms of flowable filling applications may include
herbicides, fungicides, carbon black, drug-related chemicals and so
on. Due to this inherent danger, most bag packaging facilities (and
state or federal laws), require employees operating the filling
systems to wear dust-control masks to help screen out the fine
particles. Presently this relatively dusty filling environment is
considered the best available technology otherwise it would
probably be illegal to subject employees to such a large volume of
potentially harmful toxins.
[0012] The only system that partially addresses the serious issues
previously described is that of U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,820, Lepisto,
and its related issued patents. It discloses a means of using
blasts of high and low pressure air and subsequently a vacuum to
remove dribblings that may be suspended in a valve sleeve. However,
it does not prevent the overall loss of fugitive dust through vent
holes or leaky valves during or after the fill process. Furthermore
the system of the '820 patent negatively affects productivity as
additional time is required to clear the nozzle with the blast of
high pressure air then a second blast of low pressure air to
suspend the dust particulate (suspended dribblings) and
subsequently, the employment of a vacuum in order to remove the
suspended dribblings. Another problem with this rather elaborate
system would be the cost to replace the fill nozzle. Since they
commonly wear out rather quickly, in a matter of weeks even, the
expense to replace the sophisticated fill nozzles would be
virtually cost-prohibitive, thus allowing cheaper competition to
thrive.
[0013] When filling rigid containers similar dust control problems
are generated. Whether the rigid container is a 55-gallon drum, a
cardboard carton or some form of plastic container, the emission of
dust can be a troubling problem. This type of problem is evident in
medical clean room operations and any number of chemical plant
operations.
[0014] A filling system that can reduce or eliminate the fugitive
dust during the filling process would be desirable. Furthermore, if
the system also had a means to control the air and its fugitive
dust after it was filled, it too would be highly desirable.
Ideally, the system would not have a negative effect on
productivity. Such a system may also eliminate the need for vent
holes in bags and allow the use of the more desirable valve bag as
described in the US '680 application. It would also allow for the
use of rigid containers that would be constructed with similar air
tight qualities.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The dust control problems associated with prior art are
substantially reduced and may be eliminated with the present
invention. The solution to dust control is through containment. The
filling system of the present invention accomplishes that by using
a method to mount a valve bag onto a fill nozzle that has a second
internal chamber suitable to neutralize any air that may be
injected during the fill process. It may also be accomplished by
inserting the nozzle into a bag or container. Thus, once a bag is
mounted or a nozzle is inserted into a container, the neutralized
air with its inherent dust content may be extracted and disposed of
as desired. The result of such a system may eliminate the
requirement for vent holes and may also eliminate the "puff of
dust" that is emitted from the nozzle after filling.
[0016] In the present invention, we accomplish these objectives by
using a fill nozzle that allows a valve bag or other form of
aperture to firmly affix itself. The fill nozzle also uses a
narrowed tip to allow for easier mounting of a bag valve or
insertion of the nozzle. Last it may incorporate an air control
system that in combination with the other attributes to be
revealed, creates not only a dust free filling environment, but
uses both negative and positive air to control the resident air and
its inherent fugitive dust, and direct it elsewhere for future
use.
[0017] The objectives of the present invention include: 1) a method
of preventing fugitive dust from escaping into the work environment
during the bag or container filling process; 2) a method of
handling resident air that contains potential fugitive dust that is
inherent to filling a bag or container with flowable contents; 3) a
method of capturing the fugitive dust contained in the resident
air; 4) a method of storing the fugitive dust for later use and
applications; 5) a method of using air control to maintain a valve
bag in position while being filled on a nozzle; 6) a method of
releasing the valve bag after it has been filled; 7) a nozzle that
helps prevents fugitive air from escaping; 8) a nozzle and system
that provides for escape and/or control of resident air and
fugitive dust; 9) a nozzle with replaceable inner feed tubes; 10) a
nozzle with replaceable outer sleeves; 11) a method of controlling
the displacement of air that may otherwise be captured inside a bag
or container; 12) a method to recapture the dust contained in the
"puff of dust" emitted during the fill process, and; 13) a method
of utilizing positive and negative air in the bag or container
filling process.
[0018] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects
and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
[0019] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become fully appreciated as the same
becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate
the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and
wherein:
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fill nozzle and system of
the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a valve bag as described in
my pending US '680 application.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bag in FIG. 2 mounted on
the fill nozzle and system of FIG. 1 whereby positive and negative
air is being used to control air, dust, retention and release of
the bag.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a valve bag being released
from the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a nozzle of the present
invention being used to fill a rigid container.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the nozzle of
the present invention cut in half and illustrating the replaceable
outer sleeve and replaceable inner feed tube.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] In FIG. 1 fill system 10 consists of fill nozzle 12, which
has an internal hollow feed tube 14 where a flowable material (not
shown) may enter at rear entry point 16 and be fed into the bag or
container out of the forward most point 18 as illustrated in FIG.
3. Nozzle 12 has an outer sleeve 20 with its forward most point 22
being a generally pointed tip and is smaller than rear portion 24,
thereby forward most point 22 is suitable for insertion into a
valve or container (or having a bag or container mounted thereon).
Between hollow feed tube 14 and outer sleeve 20 is air space 26
whereas air flow will be utilized to control various aspects of the
present invention, to be described later. In sleeve 20 in a
generally forward location that would be placed inside a bag or its
valve (once the nozzle is inserted as in FIG. 3) or inside the fill
aperture of a container (FIG. 5) are communication apertures 28a,
28b, 28c and 28d (not shown) allowing for air flow between air
space 26 and the inside of the bag or container or at times vacuum
suction against a wall of film. Air space 26 flows into manifold
30, which is located rearward and has an exit port 32. Downstream
from exit port 32 in pipe assembly 33 is valve 34 where positive
air P may enter and a second valve 36 where negative air N may exit
as illustrated by the corresponding arrows indicating the
directional flow). The feed tube 14 on this type of nozzle would
typically be anywhere from 1''-3.5'' ID depending on whether it is
filling a small quantity of finer granules or bulkier items such as
charcoal briquettes or even larger, bulkier items. The outer sleeve
20 would be a suitable dimension larger than inner feed tube 14
sufficient to create air space 26. The intention of the present
invention is not to restrict the size or type of contents being
filled, but to control the air flow and resident dust. Air space 26
may also be suitable for use of controlling other forms of gases in
addition to air containing dust, for example gases used in food
processing or other applications using gas for preservation or
moisture control purposes, but not limited to these. Fill nozzles,
sleeves and feed tubes are usually made of steal, but may be made
of other types of material such as plastic or aluminum that can be
formed into the desired tubular shape, round or otherwise.
Likewise, the outer sleeve and the inner fill tube may be made so
that they are easily replaceable in any number of existing
methodologies, such as being secured by screws, using a keyed twist
and turn locking means, affixing them in place with a collar, and
so on. There is no requirement that the fill nozzle is tapered or
which portion may be tapered, only that it is preferable to have it
tapered along a front, mid or rear portion in order to effect a
snug fit. The tapered nozzle provides a simple method to achieve an
air tight seal between the fill system and the valve or container
being filled, however, this may also be accomplished with a
non-tapered fill nozzle system and with a valve that is tapered
instead. Likewise, both the nozzle and the valve may be tapered to
improve the air tight seal. There is also no requirement that the
outer sleeve and inner feed tube be two separate components, they
may be manufactured or assembled to be one and the same, with a
built-in air space that communicates with the rest of the system.
In such a system, it would function substantially the same as
described herein.
[0028] In FIG. 2 prior art valve bag 40 has a top 42, a bottom 44,
left and right side gussets 46 and 46' respectively, with left and
right side center gusset creases 48 and 48' respectively. Both bag
top 42 and bottom 44 are sealed. Extending inwards from left side
center gusset crease 48 are internal flaps 50 and 52 (not shown as
it lies directly underneath internal flaps 50). Internal lap sealed
portion 54 (shaded line) is a narrow sealed strip that lies
adjacent left side center gusset crease 48 and runs continuously
from bag bottom 44 upward then turns inward at point 56 and
stopping at point 57. Valve opening 58 is the unsealed portion that
lies along left side center gusset crease 48 in between point 56
and bag top 42, and is suitable to allow entry of the fill nozzle
described in FIG. 1. Typically, internal flap portions 50 and 52
extend inward, inside bag 40 about 2'' to 3'' from center gusset
crease 48, depending upon bag size, but could certainly be more or
less. Seal portion 60 begins at point 56 and runs approximately
horizontal, but may taper upward slightly upward into internal flap
portions 50 and 52. The area between horizontal seal 60 and sealed
bag top 42 forms a tapered valve sleeve 62, which sleeve along with
valve opening 58 will fit snugly about a nozzle such as that of
sleeve 20 of fill nozzle 12 in FIG. 1. This tapered fit helps keep
air and its accompanying flowable material dust particles from
escaping, such as that which accompanies cement and concrete
byproducts. A tapered valve as described herein works best in
combination with the tapered fill nozzle of FIG. 1, as it will seat
itself along the entire valve surface to the tapered nozzle surface
however, it is not absolutely essential. This is one form of bag
that may be used on the fill system of the present invention albeit
there are other types of prior art valve bags suitable for use on
the system as well.
[0029] In FIG. 3 the system described in FIG. 1 is in operation.
The nozzle 12 has been inserted into bag valve opening 58 of bag 40
and seating valve sleeve 56 firmly against and around nozzle sleeve
20. Flowable material F (the many pellets illustrated) was
processed through feed tube 14 as it entered feed tube 14 at rear
entry point 16 and exited at forward most point 18, thereby being
delivered into bag 40. This process may come from any number of
methods, for example a auger feed, gravity feed, air assisted and
so on. It is noted that bag 40 is being retained firmly in position
on nozzle 12 by the a vacuum created at communication apertures 28a
and 28b, a result of the negative air flow inside air space 26 and
throughout the system of the present invention. This negative air
flow was created by the use of positive air entering valve 34 and
exiting from valve 36 as previously described. The suction at
communication apertures 28a and 28b against film wall surfaces 29a
and 29b which lie generally above and adjacent said apertures,
affixing and retaining bag 40 firmly on nozzle 12 while it is being
filled with contents. Apertures 28a and 28b may also be placed
further rearward so that the lie under valve sleeve 56 with
substantially the same effect of retaining the bag on the fill
nozzle. The ease of mounting a bag and having it be rapidly affixed
on a nozzle also saves valuable time, improving output and
productivity. It makes an easy task for an operator to quickly slip
a bag on a nozzle having the suction promptly retain it to the
nozzle and then quickly move to the next nozzle in line and mount a
valve bag on it. As previously described in FIG. 1 and herein in
FIG. 3, additional resident air accompanies the flowable contents
filling the bag either by being an inherent part of the contents
thereof or being a part of an air-assist or air-injection filling
process. This resident air enters at point 16 of feed tube 14 and
exits into the bag at point 18. During this filling process, the
excess resident air that accompanies the flowable contents or is
being injected along with it, is being neutralized by the negative
air system as it enters communication apertures 28c and 28d (not
shown), then moves rearward through air space 26 into manifold 30
and last, exits out exit port 32 and past valve 36. Excess air,
with its dust content, is extracted in the direction indicated of
arrow N (negative air flow) and sent to another station (not shown)
for further processing. By properly neutralizing the amount of
resident air in the contents during the fill process, bag 40 does
not balloon up, nor are any vent holes in the bag required to allow
the excess resident air to escape. The amount of negative air
pressure in the system of present invention is directly related to
the amount of excess resident air in the contents being filled or
being injected. Thus, the filling process may be relatively air
tight with excess resident air and its inherent dust being
transferred out of exit port 32, through tube 37 and subsequently
contained or recycled. This containment may be in the form of a bag
house, fill hopper, silo and so on. It may also be fed directly
back into the fill system itself. The simplicity of the system of
the present invention provides high volume productivity since the
negative air adjustment may be easily adjusted or even automated
through any number of existing mechanical, computer,
microcontroller methodologies, and so on.
[0030] In FIG. 4 the present invention is communicating with a
means (not shown) of releasing or dispensing the filled bag from
the nozzle by providing temporary stoppage of the negative air
flow, thereby ceasing the vacuum at communication apertures 28a and
28b, which allows bag 40 to slide off, or removed from, nozzle 72.
In this example nozzle 72 is tilted downward at a 15 degree angle
as illustrated and upon cessation of the negative air flow, gravity
causes bag 40 to simply slide off. Upon release from nozzle 72,
valve sleeve 56 of bag 40 flattens out, thus closing off the valve
opening. As the case may be, it may be advantageous to mount nozzle
12 slightly downward at a 12 degree to 18 degree angle or, the
release process may be effectuated by manual removal from a
horizontally mounted nozzle or by a mechanical tilting downward of
a horizontally mounted nozzle. Even if the nozzle were to be
inserted into a valve bag directly downward, cessation of the
negative air and releasing a valve from a nozzle may be
accomplished in much the same manner. Regardless of the methodology
used, regardless of the angle, or lack of angle of a fill nozzle,
the effect is substantially the same. The stoppage of negative air
may be effected by an number of means such as mechanical, computer,
microcontroller methodologies and so on. Any number of events may
trigger the release of a bag, but the most common one would be
initiation by a bag reaching a predetermined weight.
[0031] In FIG. 5 rigid container 60 has four sides 62a, 62b, 62c
(not shown) and 62d (not shown), a top 64, a bottom 66 (not shown)
and a receiving aperture 68. Nozzle 82 is shown inserted into
receiving aperture 68 whereas the filling process is much like that
of the preceding bags. Upon filling the container with its
contents, nozzle 82 will be extracted, receiving aperture 68 will
close, much like that in the preceding bag, and container 60 will
be further processed for shipping.
[0032] In the cross-sectional view in FIG. 6, which cuts vertically
down the middle of nozzle 92 thereby cutting the nozzle in half
lengthwise, outer sleeve 100 is attached by screws 140 and 140' to
manifold 130 at flange 138, thus making outer sleeve 100
replaceable. Inner feed tube 94 is also made replaceable by a
key-lock method inserting groove 142 into locking pin 144 and
twisting clockwise until secured in place. The method of securing a
replaceable outer sleeve or inner feed tube to the system may be
accomplished in any number of ways and the present invention is not
intended to be restricted to only those shown herein. Likewise, the
out sleeve and inner feed tube may be one and the same and together
they may be replaceable as well.
[0033] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and
operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent
from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion
relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
[0034] With respect to the above descriptions then, it is to be
realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts
of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
[0035] Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only
of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in
the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact
construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly,
all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to,
falling within the scope of the invention.
[0036] What has been described and illustrated herein is a
preferred embodiment of the invention along with some of its
variations. The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set
forth by way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are
possible within the spirit and scope of the invention, which is
intended to be defined by the following claims (and their
equivalents) in which all terms are meant in their broadest
reasonable sense unless otherwise indicated. Any headings utilized
within the description are for convenience only and have no legal
or limiting effect.
* * * * *