US 11,918,032 B2
Packer station of a packaging apparatus and system
Mark W. Holderman, Spokane, WA (US); and Gregory A. Russell, Spokane, WA (US)
Filed by MPI, LLC, Las Vegas, NV (US)
Filed on Apr. 10, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/380,167.
Application 16/380,167 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/026711, filed on Apr. 10, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/783,394, filed on Dec. 21, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/662,918, filed on Apr. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2019/0328033 A1, Oct. 31, 2019
Int. Cl. A24C 5/06 (2006.01); B65B 1/32 (2006.01); B65B 1/06 (2006.01); A24C 5/39 (2006.01); A24C 5/34 (2006.01); B65B 1/26 (2006.01); B31B 50/00 (2017.01); B31B 50/36 (2017.01); B31B 50/04 (2017.01); B31B 50/52 (2017.01); B65D 3/06 (2006.01); B31B 110/10 (2017.01)
CPC A24C 5/06 (2013.01) [A24C 5/3424 (2013.01); A24C 5/397 (2013.01); A24C 5/399 (2013.01); B31B 50/005 (2017.08); B31B 50/006 (2017.08); B31B 50/04 (2017.08); B31B 50/36 (2017.08); B31B 50/52 (2017.08); B65B 1/06 (2013.01); B65B 1/26 (2013.01); B65B 1/32 (2013.01); B65D 3/06 (2013.01); B31B 2110/10 (2017.08)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A packer station comprising:
a weigh station, a chute, a packer head having an exit hole, a packing rod, and a packing rod actuator;
said weigh station including at least one sensor adapted to sense a product held by the weigh station, an inlet through which the product may be placed within the weigh station, an outlet, at least one outlet door, and an actuator operatively connected to the at least one outlet door to open and close the at least one outlet door;
wherein said outlet of the weigh station is positioned upstream from said chute such that product exiting the outlet of the weigh station may be directed into the chute;
wherein the chute is connected to the packer head and directs product to the packer head;
wherein a portion of the packing rod has an external circumference that is less than a circumference of the exit hole such that the packing rod may extend into the exit hole; and
wherein said packing rod actuator is operably connected to said packing rod to slide the packing rod within said packer head and into and out of the exit hole to selectively plug and unplug the exit hole.