Modular cassette for a bagging machine

Abstract

A set of modules for a bagging machine that are assemblable to form a compression chamber for compressing at least one item prior to the at least one item being inserted into a bag. The compression chamber includes a first module and a second module that both have side plates that form the side walls of the compression chamber and transverse plates that form the transverse walls of the chamber. The modules are connected to actuators that impart movement to both the side plates and transverse plates in unison, such that the two modules move towards and away from each other. The set of modules can be connected to the bagging machine via quick-connect fasteners.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A module for forming at least a portion of a compression chamber for a bagging machine, the compression chamber being adapted for compressing at least one item prior to the at least one item being inserted into a bag, the compression chamber having a bottom transverse wall, a top transverse wall and first and second side walls opposing each other, the bagging machine including an actuator for displacing one of the first and second side walls of the compression chamber toward the other of the first and second side walls thereof to compress the at least one item in the compression chamber, said module comprising; 
 i) a side plate forming at least a portion of the first side wall of the chamber:    ii) a transverse plate connected to said side plate and projecting therefrom to form at least a portion of one of the transverse walls of the chamber;    iii) said module being suitable for connection to the at least one actuator such that the actuator can impart movement to said side plate and to said transverse plate in unison.    
     
     
         2 . A module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said module is releasably connectable to the actuator.  
     
     
         3 . A module as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said module is releasably connectable to the actuator via at least one quick-connect fastener.  
     
     
         4 . A module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said side plate of said module forms the first side wall of the chamber in its entirety.  
     
     
         5 . A module as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said transverse plate of said module forms a portion of the top transverse wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         6 . A set of modules assemblable to form at least a portion of a compression chamber for a bagging machine, the compression chamber being adapted for compressing at least one item prior to the at least one item being inserted into a bag, the compression chamber having a bottom transverse wall, a top transverse wall and first and second side walls opposing each other, the bagging machine including an actuator for displacing one of the first and second side walls of the compression chamber toward the other of the first and second side walls thereof to compress the at least one item in the compression chamber, said set of modules comprising; 
 a) a first module, having: 
 i) a side plate forming at least a portion of the first side wall of the chamber:  
 ii) a transverse plate connected to said side plate and projecting therefrom to form at least a portion of one of the transverse walls of the chamber;  
 iii) said module being suitable for connection to the at least one actuator such that the actuator can impart movement to said side plate and to said transverse plate in unison.  
   b) a second module having: 
 i) a side plate forming at least a portion of the second side wall of the chamber;  
 ii) a transverse plate connected to the side plate of said second module and projecting therefrom to form at least a portion of one of the transverse walls of the chamber.  
   
     
     
         7 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said first module is releasably connectable to a first actuator.  
     
     
         8 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said first module is releasably connectable to the first actuator via at least one quick-connect fastener.  
     
     
         9 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said second module is releasably connectable to the bagging machine.  
     
     
         10 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said second module is releasably connectable to a second actuator.  
     
     
         11 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said second module is releasably connectable to the second actuator via at least one quick-connect fastener.  
     
     
         12 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said side plate of said first module forms the first side wall of the chamber in its entirety.  
     
     
         13 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said side plate of said second module forms the second side wall of the chamber in its entirety.  
     
     
         14 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said transverse plate of said first module forms a portion of the top transverse wall of the chamber and said transverse plate of said second module forms a portion of the top transverse wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         15 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein in a combination of said transverse plate of said first module and said transverse plate of said second module form the top transverse wall of the chamber in its entirety.  
     
     
         16 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , comprising a transverse module that forms a portion of the top transverse wall and the bottom transverse wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         17 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said transverse module is releasably connectable to the bagging machine via at least one quick-connect fastener.  
     
     
         18 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , comprising a first segmented transverse module and a second segmented transverse module that form a portion of the top transverse wall and the bottom transverse wall of the chamber.  
     
     
         19 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said first segmented transverse module and said second segmented transverse module are releasably connectable to the bagging machine via at least one quick-connect fastener.  
     
     
         20 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said transverse plate of said first module and said transverse plate of said second module each have an entrance portion and an exit portion and wherein said entrance portion bends away from the transverse wall of the chamber that is opposite the transverse plate of the first module and the transverse plate of the second module.  
     
     
         21 . A set of modules as defined in  claim 20 , wherein said exit portion bends towards the transverse wall of the chamber that is opposite the transverse plate of the first module and the transverse plate of the second module.  
     
     
         22 . A bagging machine, comprising: 
 a) a chamber adapted to hold at least one item prior to the at least one item being inserted into a bag, said chamber having: 
 i) an interior surface;  
 ii) an exterior surface; and  
 iv) a releasable component defining at least a portion of said chamber;  
   b) said component being movably mounted to said bagging machine between a first position and a second position via a quick-connect fastener, said quick-connect fastener being operative to move between a release position and a lock position, wherein: 
 i) in said release position, said component is movable from said first position to said second position in order to expose at least a portion of said interior surface of said chamber;  
 ii) in said lock position, said component is prevented from moving to said second position;  
   c) a loader to drive the at least one item into said chamber;    d) an ejector to push the at least one item from said chamber into a bag.    
     
     
         23 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said at least one item is a sanitary napkin.  
     
     
         24 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said quick-connect fastener is operable by hand in angular movement in order to move between said release position and said lock position.  
     
     
         25 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said chamber includes a bottom transverse wall, a top transverse wall, and first and second side walls and wherein said component forms one of said side walls.  
     
     
         26 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said component forms at least a portion of said top transverse wall.  
     
     
         27 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 26 , comprising an actuator for imparting movement to said component and wherein said component is removably mounted to said actuator.  
     
     
         28 . A bagging machine, comprising: 
 a) a support structure including a first locating member;    b) a chamber adapted to hold at least one item prior to the at least one item being inserted into a bag, said chamber having: 
 i) an interior surface;  
 ii) an exterior surface; and  
 iii) a releasable component defining at least a portion of said chamber; 
 (1) said component being movably mounted to said bagging machine between a first position and a second position, wherein:  
 (2) in said first position, said releasable component forms at least a portion of said chamber;  
 (3) in said second position said releasable component exposes at least a portion of said interior surface of said chamber;  
 (4) said releasable component having a second locating member, said first and said second locating members being engageable in at least one predetermined position that determines a spatial position of said releasable component in said bagging machine when said releasable component is in said first position;  
 (5) when said releasable component is moved from said first position to said second position said first locating member and said second locating member are disengaged;  
 (6) when said releasable component is moved from said second position to said first position said first locating member and said second locating member are engaged such as to acquire said predetermined position;  
 (7) said first and second locating members being such that repeated movement of said releasable component from said second position to said first position places said releasable component consistently at said spatial position.  
 
   
     
     
         29 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said first and second locating members are engageable in a single position.  
     
     
         30 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 28 , wherein one of said first and second locating members includes a projection and the other of said first and second locating members includes a recess, said projection matingly engaging said recess when said first and second locating members are engaged.  
     
     
         31 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said recess includes a ledge.  
     
     
         32 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said releasable component is secured in said spatial position via a quick-connect fastener.  
     
     
         33 . A bagging machine as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said quick-connect fastener is operable by hand.