U.S. patent application number 11/818958 was filed with the patent office on 2008-11-20 for apparatus and method for bagging particulate matter.
Invention is credited to Gint Federas.
Application Number | 20080282650 11/818958 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40026113 |
Filed Date | 2008-11-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080282650 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Federas; Gint |
November 20, 2008 |
Apparatus and method for bagging particulate matter
Abstract
A portable, automated bagging apparatus that includes a hopper
and a transportable frame supporting the hopper, and a bag
formation assembly disposed on the frame. The bag formation
assembly is adapted to prepare bag material held by the bag
formation assembly and fill the bag with a predetermined amount of
particulate matter from the hopper.
Inventors: |
Federas; Gint; (Lafayette,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VENABLE LLP
P.O. BOX 34385
WASHINGTON
DC
20043-9998
US
|
Family ID: |
40026113 |
Appl. No.: |
11/818958 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60680930 |
May 14, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/562 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 1/02 20130101; B65B
43/123 20130101; B65B 1/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/562 |
International
Class: |
B65B 43/02 20060101
B65B043/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a hopper having an open upper face and
bounded by a plurality of walls and an aperture disposed in a lower
portion of the hopper; a rotating volumetric dispensing device
disposed in the aperture of the hopper, operable to separate an
amount of particulate from particulate disposed in the hopper and
comprising an output aperture for dispensing the particulate
separated from the particulate in the interior of the hopper into
an environment external to the hopper; a bag formation mechanism
disposed on the frame, the bag formation mechanism comprising: a
bag material holder operable to hold a roll of material; a material
transport mechanism that pulls the roll of material; a material
sealing mechanism operable to seal an end of the material; a
material separation mechanism operable to separate an amount of the
material from the roll of material; wherein the material sealing
mechanism and the material separation mechanism operate to form an
open first bag; a bag placement mechanism, operable to place the
first bag into proximity to the output aperture; a bag opening
mechanism operable to open the bag to accept particulate from the
volumetric dispensing device; a bag closure mechanism operable to
seal the bag subsequent to the introduction of particulate into the
bag; an egress mechanism operable to transport the sealed bag off
the apparatus; a frame disposed in a substantially horizontal
plane, the hopper being disposed upon the frame; a plurality of
wheels attached to the frame to allow the frame, the hopper, and
the bag formation apparatus to be transported; an the apparatus
weighing less than 6500 pounds.
2. A portable, automated bagging apparatus, comprising: a hopper; a
transportable frame supporting the hopper; and a bag formation
assembly disposed on the frame, wherein the bag formation assembly
is adapted to prepare a bag from bag material held by the bag
formation assembly and fill the bag with a predetermined amount of
particulate matter from the hopper.
3. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising: a volumetric measuring apparatus located
proximate and below the hopper, the volumetric measuring apparatus
being supported by the frame, wherein the volumetric measuring
apparatus receives particulate matter from the hopper and separates
the particulate matter into a predetermined amount of particulate
matter and deposits the amount into the bag from the bag formation
assembly.
4. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
further comprising an exit assembly disposed proximate the bag
formation assembly, wherein the exit assembly has a structure and
arrangement to guide the filled bags away from the portable
automated bagging apparatus.
5. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the bag formation assembly comprises: a spool of bag
material held by the frame; a sealing mechanism attached to the
frame; a shearing mechanism attached to the frame; and a guide
mechanism attached to the frame to guide the bag material from the
spool to the shearing mechanism; wherein the sealing mechanism
seals the bag material and the shearing mechanism cuts the bag
material to form the bag.
6. The volumetric measuring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the
volumetric measuring apparatus is a rotating cylindrical mechanism
comprising: a cylindrical container with an open slot and a
predetermined volume; and a rotating mechanism, wherein the
particulate matter enters the open slot when the open slot is
disposed upwards towards the hopper and the rotating mechanism
circularly rotates the cylinder such that the particulate matter
will exit into the bag.
7. The volumetric measuring apparatus of claim 3, wherein the
volumetric measuring apparatus is a gate mechanism comprising: a
top gate located under the hopper; a particulate matter container
mounted under the top gate; a bottom gate positioned under the
particulate matter container, wherein the volumetric measuring
apparatus is constructed so that particulate matter enters the
particulate matter container when the top gate is open and the
bottom gate is closed and the particulate matter exits the
container into a bag when the top gate is closed and the bottom
gate is open.
8. The guide mechanism of claim 5, further comprising pincers to
grasp an edge of the bag material and to move the bag material
along a lengthwise axis of the frame toward a bottom face of the
hopper.
9. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the apparatus with the particulate matter is less than 7500
pounds.
10. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the exit assembly is operable to deposit filled bags of
particulate matter while the apparatus is being towed.
11. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the bag formation assembly seals the bag such that the
filled bag exits the bagging apparatus with the predetermined
amount of particulate matter.
12. The portable, automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the bag formation assembly further comprises a heat seal
device.
13. The portable automated bagging apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the apparatus is less than 6500 pounds.
14. A method of bagging particulate matter, comprising: providing a
portable bagging apparatus that is of a size and weight and having
a suitable structure to be towed by a one-half ton truck; loading
particulate matter into said portable bagging apparatus; and
filling a plurality of bags with a predetermined volume of said
particulate matter.
15. A method of bagging particulate matter according to claim 14,
further comprising forming said plurality of bags with said
portable bagging apparatus in conjunction with said filling said
plurality of bags.
16. A method of bagging particulate matter according to claim 14,
where said filling a plurality of bags is performed while said
portable bagging apparatus is being towed by said one-half ton
truck.
17. A method of bagging particulate matter according to claim 16,
wherein said plurality of bags filled are dispensed while said
portable bagging apparatus is being towed by said one-half ton
truck.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. provisional
application No. 60/680930, filed May 14, 2005.
FIELD
[0002] This application is directed to an apparatus for bagging
particulate matter.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In many cases, bags may need to be filled with material at a
particular site. However, in many cases, the labor in moving the
filled bags from the locus of the filling at the particular site to
the place that they may be needed can be tremendous. In the
situation of flooding, for example, an on-site bagging apparatus
can be critical to attenuating the destructive power of rising
water. However, many typical bagging machines cannot perform this
function as efficiently as needed. For example, many typical
bagging solutions involve a machine bagging fill material into an
empty bag and disgorging the bag to a common area. The bags are
then transported to the ultimate site where they need to be laid to
combat rising waters through a human-chain.
[0004] Other typical bagging machines are monstrous, simply being
adapted from such bulk packaging industries, such as the dog food
or fertilizer industries. One typical solution is to haul a unit
that is 24 feet in length and weighing over 10,000 pounds to the
general area of the site, and run the machine from a centralized
spot. The bags are then relayed to the point that they are needed
by other transport. Needless to say, the costs of this type of
behemoth run to the extremes where a municipality cannot afford
them. Further the completed product still needs to be placed at the
point of use, requiring additional support crew far in excess of
the operators themselves. Finally, these typical units are not
necessarily cost effective, running in the tens of thousands of
dollars (if not more), and requiring heavy haul apparatus to place
at the general point of use.
[0005] Finally, these heavy filling machines typically require
specialized pre-made bags to operate. In one case, the bags are
interconnected within a web, and the machinery relies upon the
specialized interconnected bagging to operate correctly. In times
of emergency, supplies of these specialized parts and accessories
may be highly problematic.
[0006] Additionally, many typical solutions discriminate the amount
of particulate placed in the bag based upon weight. However, in
bagging operations involving sand bags, the particulate used can be
wet or dry, may be rocks, sand, gravel, or a mixture thereof.
First, wet particulate is typically far denser than dry
particulate. In the case of sand, typical wet fill sand can have
anywhere from 1.2 to 1.5 times more weight than that of dry.
Correspondingly, any system that requires weight to be considered
in the filling of sand bags will be more inefficient, and result in
wide ranges of particulate to be placed into the bags.
Additionally, other typical systems make "guesstimates" of the
amount of particulate delivered based upon the time a door is
opened, or require as a prerequisite that the particular amount of
particulate is delivered. Other solutions require an operator to
actuate when to pour and/or when to cease pouring the fill material
into the bag. Again, these systems require quite a bit of operator
attention.
[0007] Also, most typical solutions are tied to specific sizes of
bags. Almost all the typical solutions are tied to specific bags or
complicated interlocking systems of bags. Thus, if differing sizes
of bags are required for different purposes, the typical system
cannot even begin to address this issue.
[0008] Finally, the filling and placing of large numbers of bags
around an area requires effort in: filling the bags with
particulate (including the proper amount of particulate), sealing
the bags, and transporting the bags to their ultimate placement
spot. The typical solutions do not typically offer efficiencies in
the three aforementioned categories as a whole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more
embodiments of the invention. Together with the explanation of the
invention, they serve to detail and explain implementations and
principles of the invention. The drawings include:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a view of an apparatus for particulate matter in
accordance with this application.
[0011] FIGS. 2A and 2B are cut-away views of an exemplary
dispensing mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of
FIG. 1.
[0012] FIGS. 3A and 3B are cut-away views of an alternative
exemplary dispensing mechanism that could be employed with the
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0013] FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C are side views of an exemplary bagging
material dispensing and forming mechanism that could be employed
with the apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0014] FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C are views of an exemplary bagging
material handling mechanism that could be employed with the
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C are cut-away side views of an exemplary
dispensing operation that could be employed with the apparatus of
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C are side views of an exemplary bagged
matter dispensing mechanisms that could be employed with the
apparatus of FIG. 1.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a side cut-away view of an exemplary dispensing
bagging mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of FIG.
1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in
the context of an apparatus for and methods of bagging particulate
matter. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the
following detailed description of the present invention is
illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.
Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest
themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this
disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations
of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the
drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the
same or like parts.
[0019] In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features
of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It
will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such
actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions
must be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals,
such as compliance with application- and business-related
constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one
implementation to another and from one developer to another.
Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort
might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a
routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in
the art having the benefit of this disclosure.
[0020] In accordance with the present invention, the components,
process steps, and/or structures may be implemented using various
alternative constructs. Those of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize such alternative constructs may be used without departing
from the scope and spirit of the inventive concepts disclosed
herein.
[0021] FIG. 1 is a view of one embodiment of the bagging device
shown from the front and side, slightly elevated. The bagging
device 10 has a hopper 12 into which particular matter can be
disposed. The dimensions of the 12 hopper are typically such that
an ordinary front end loader and/or light duty mover can empty
particulate matter into the interior of the hopper. In a more
robust version, the height is such that only larger front-end
loaders can dispose such matter in the interior of the hopper 12.
In one embodiment, the volume of the hopper is limited by the
maximum weight that can be safely towed by a 1/2 ton pickup truck.
The volume held by the hopper can vary based on need.
[0022] In this instance, the hopper 12 can have inclined interior
sides, so that bottom dimensions of the hopper 12 are smaller than
the upper dimensions. In the instance pictured in FIG. 1, gravity
pulls the particulate matter residing in the interior of the hopper
12 to a dispersal mechanism disposed at the bottom of the hopper
12. Accordingly, as particulate matter leaves the hopper 12 through
the bottom portion of the hopper 12, the particulate matter is
remaining settles downwards to replace it.
[0023] A frame 14 supports the hopper and the weight of the
particulate matter within it. In the instance shown, the frame is
separate from the device, but as will be described later, other
hopper architectures need not have the frame members 14a-d (14d not
shown) extending the height of the hopper 12.
[0024] The frame, and correspondingly the hopper and it contents,
are coupled to a vertical frame 16. Such a frame may have cross
braces running in the vertical plane both lengthwise and/or
widthwise to provide additional support for the device. A towing
hook 18 is coupled at a front end of the frame 16, to allow the
entire apparatus to be towed by a vehicle. Additionally, wheels 20
are attached to the vertical frame 16 to allow overland travel by
the entire unit. Accordingly, to move the bagger 10, one need only
attach the towing hook 18 to a vehicle, and drive the vehicle. In
this manner the entire device 10 may be easily transported across a
vicinity.
[0025] In one embodiment, a bag material support 18 (and 19a-b) is
attached to the frame 16. The bag material support 18 supports a
spool of bag material 22, which is unwound as the device operates.
In FIG. 1, side by side deployment of bag making is pictured,
although the principles can be extended to many more parallel
flows, or condensed into a single flow.
[0026] The bag material is unwound in a direction substantially
parallel to the frame 16, where ultimately an open end is placed in
conjunction with a particulate dispensing aperture in the hopper.
At a predetermined length, the material is separated from the roll
and sealed, thus forming an empty bag with one open face, i.e. that
face nearest the particulate dispensing aperture. The bag is opened
and the particulate matter is dispensed into the bag and filling it
with the particulate matter. The bag is then sealed, and directed
to the rear of the device, where it is either unloaded by hand or
directed off the device through physical or mechanical means. In
one embodiment, the bag advances a pre-determined distance past a
cutting/sealing strip to form an appropriate length bag, which can
then be filled and sealed as the process continues. In this
embodiment, the first seal forms the bottom of the bag. As the
mechanism operates, a bag is cut below the seal, simultaneously
separating the bag to be filled while opening an aperture to
another bag to be sealed. After filling, the bag is sealed, and is
advanced to the discharge area.
[0027] Thus, as the device is towed, bags can be unwound and
separated from a roll of material, directed to a particulate
dispensing aperture, filled with particulate matter, and directed
off the device. Accordingly, the device can make and drop filled
bags as the device is being towed.
[0028] FIGS. 2a-b are possible designs of a particulate dispensing
mechanism that premeasures and dispenses a set volume of
particulate. A hopper has a hopper bottom 24 where particulate
matter is directed by gravity. A rotating cylindrical mechanism 26
is located at the hopper bottom 22. The rotating cylindrical
mechanism has an open aperture on one face. As shown in FIG. 2a,
when the aperture is disposed upwards, the particulate matter will
fall into the volume defined by the cylindrical mechanism 26. As
the cylindrical mechanism 26 rotates, the particulate matter within
the volume of the cylindrical mechanism is separated from that
residing within the hopper. When the aperture is directed
downwards, the particulate matter drops out and into a waiting bag.
In this manner a set volume of particulate matter can be dispensed
for each bag.
[0029] FIGS. 3a and 3b detail alternative designs of volumetric
distribution that can be used in the device. The upper and lower
plates 28a-b open and close in opposing cycles. Thus, in one cycle
particulate matter falls into the volume, and in the other the
particulate matter is dispensed outwards. FIGS. 2 and 3 can be
employed to create alternative volumes. In FIG. 2 a differing
volume hopper can be employed, while in FIG. 3 the separation
between the upper and lower plates and/or separation between side
portions can be varied to accommodate differing volumes.
[0030] FIG. 4 details the process of bag creation by the device. As
the device is operated, a mechanism applies force to a front end of
the bag material roll disposed on a support. Such force can be that
of opposing rollers, like 30a-b. As the rollers 30a-b are actuated,
or for that matter a single roller by itself, the material 32 is
propelled along.
[0031] After a predetermined amount of material 32 is pulled along,
a sealing mechanism 38 can then bind the back end of a portion of
the roll, forming an empty bag. A separation mechanism 34 can then
separate the roll, freeing a roll segment 36. A sealing mechanism
can then bind the back end of the roll, forming an empty bag. In
one case, an electric sensor can detect markings or other indicia
on the roll, thus indicating when the separation and melding should
take place. In one embodiment, the cutting mechanism can be one the
burns through the material, or one that cuts or shears it.
[0032] As for the melding of the bottom end of the bag, in one
example a meltable material is used for the bag. After the bag is
separated from the roll, a heating mechanism melds the material
together.
[0033] FIG. 4 shows other rollers along the path of the bag
material. These rollers can also have force applied to them, or may
be free spinning and acting in reaction to the force placed
elsewhere. In this exemplary embodiment, the rollers help guide the
bag material roll.
[0034] FIGS. 5a-c detail an alternative embodiment of creating the
bag from the bag material. A grasping mechanism such as pincers 40
can grasp the edge of the material and be moved along the
lengthwise axis of the frame 16, thus pulling the material along.
In this embodiment, the arm length of the mechanism pulling the
pincers 40 determines the bag length, and sensing devices need not
be used to determine the length. As the material is pulled along, a
clamping device (such as rollers) can be actuated around the
material roll below the cut line, thus keeping the tension in the
remaining roll material subsequent to it being cut. The cutting
mechanism 34 and the sealing mechanisms 38 work much as described
before to complete the open bag.
[0035] The formed bag is then placed into a position to accept the
particulate matter from the hopper. After the formed bag is
partially formed, the open end of the now-formed bag is directed to
the particulate dispensing aperture in the hopper. An embodiment
applies a force to the bag to open the bag to accept particulate.
Such mechanisms as pneumatic means in the form of a blower,
mechanical means such as an insert support, or vacuum pressure
applied to the sides, or combinations thereof, can be used to fully
open the bag. Once opened, the opening of the bag is placed against
the aperture where particulate can be dispensed into it.
[0036] FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C detail the placement of a bag sealing
mechanism near the open mouth of the filled bag. Subsequent to the
placement of the particulate matter into the bag 42, another
sealing mechanism 44 can be used to seal the top end of the bag.
This can employ mechanical means or heating means to accomplish
this task. In the case where the meltable material is used, heating
elements can be applied to the bag near its top end to fuse the
faces together. At this point, a sand bag has been manufactured,
directed to a position, filled with particulate matter, and sealed.
This is all accomplished while being disposed on a movable frame,
so that the entire sand bagging mechanism can take place as the
device is being transported about an area.
[0037] FIGS. 7A and 7B detail disposal mechanism for the device. In
FIG. 7A, the formed sand bag is directed towards an inclined plane
46 situated towards one end of the assembly. The bag then slides
down this plane 46 and off the mechanism. Thus, bags can be made
and dropped at the points that they are needed. In another
embodiment, the bags can be directed to a conveyor belt that
directs them off the device. In the case of the conveyor system,
the plane need not be angled as shown, but can be oriented in any
direction. Again, the formed bags can be placed in close proximity
to their ultimate usage site without any human power or the use of
heavy machinery to transport.
[0038] The dimensions and materials that make up the unit can be
such that the total weight of the device filled with particulate
matter is no more than 7500 pounds. This allows a one-half ton
pickup truck to move the device around an area, which makes it very
convenient and easy for municipalities to justify. Of course, other
weights can be considered for the device, since other heavier lift
vehicles could be used to move the unit about. In one case, the
assembly weighs less than 6000 pounds, to allow 1500 pounds of
particulate to be placed into the hopper. Of course, other
combinations of weights of particulate and weights of assembly can
be imagined.
[0039] FIG. 8 is an alternative embodiment of hopper geometry and
particulate dispensing mechanism placement that can be used within
the context of the device. The side walls are straight, but the
bottom portions of the hopper are inclined inwards. Other
geometries that allow for the placing of the particulate dispensing
mechanism at a point in the hopper that captures the advantages of
gravity are possible, and should be considered within the context
of this disclosure.
[0040] Many of the features of the device can be used singly or in
combination with one another. The features as described should not
be taken as exclusively existing in conjunction with one another
unless explicitly mentioned as such.
[0041] Thus, an apparatus for performing and coordinating data
storage functions is described and illustrated. Those skilled in
the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of
the present invention are possible without departing from the
invention. Of course, the various features depicted in each of the
figures and the accompanying text may be combined together.
Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present
invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features
specifically described and illustrated in the drawings, but the
concept of the present invention is to be measured by the scope of
the appended claims. It should be understood that various changes,
substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described
by the appended claims that follow.
[0042] While embodiments and applications of this invention have
been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in
the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more
modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing
from the inventive concepts herein. Further, many of the different
embodiments may be combined with one another. Accordingly, the
invention is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the
appended claims.
* * * * *