Pouch Loading System

Abstract

A pouch closing station is provided for mechanically closing a pouch having a pressure activated closure system located adjacent a central opening in the pouch. The station has a housing that is open in the front and back ends of the housing. The housing has a slot centrally located across the top of the housing for the passage of a filled open flexible pouch that has been filled with a preselected content. The pouch has an upper portion that is unfilled. The pouch closure system is a pressure activated closure system. A closure guide is located within the housing, below the slot to apply pressure to the pressure activated pouch closure system to close opening in the pouch as the pouch passes along the slot from the pouch entry end to the pouch exit end of the slot in the housing.

1 . A pouch closing station comprising:
 a) a housing having an open front end and an open back end for receipt of a filled open flexible pouch that has been filled with a preselected content; said pouch having an upper portion that is not filled with said content;   b) a central slot at the top of said housing to the allow the passage of the upper unfilled portion of said pouch through said slot; said slot having an entry end and an exit end;   c) said pouch having a pressure activated pouch closure system along the upper portion of said pouch ;   d) a closure guide located within said housing, below said slot to apply pressure to said closure system to close said pouch as said pouch passes along said slot from the slot entry end to the slot exit end.   
     
     
         2 . A pouch closing station further comprising;
 f) platform located at the bottom of said housing for supporting a filled pouch.   
     
     
         3 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 2  wherein said platform is vertically adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 3  further comprising;
 g) a removable magazine for dispensing empty pouches having a mating track or tape protected adhesive closure system for loading with a preselected content selected from fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, or fresh herbs; 
 h) said magazine located adjacent said first end of said housing; 
 i) said station being a pouch loading station and pouch closing station. 
 
     
     
         5 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 4  further comprising a clip attached to said magazine for securing said pouch to said magazine during loading. 
     
     
         6 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 1  wherein said closure guide is a plurality of spaced rods located below said slot on both sides of said slot so that the upper portion of said pouch adjacent said pouch closure system contacts said rods .as it passes through said closing station, said pouches flexes and travels in a serpentine path around each rod to ensure pressure engagement of said closure system. 
     
     
         7 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 6  wherein said pouch closure system is a zipper closure system. 
     
     
         8 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 7  wherein the number of rods on one side of said slot is different that that on the opposite side. 
     
     
         9 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 8  wherein three spaced rods are provided on one side of said slot and two spaced rods are provided on the opposite side of said slot said two rods facing said three rods on opposite sides of said slot. 
     
     
         10 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 1  wherein said pouch closure system is a tape protected adhesive closure system; said closure guide includes a first and second opposed closure guides located below said slot and extending downward from opposed sidewalls of said slot; said pouch closure system attached to the side of said pouch at a preselected location on a side wall of said pouch. 
     
     
         11 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 10  further comprising;
 said first closure guide having an increasing height from the front end of said slot to a maximum height at the back end of said slot. 
 
     
     
         12 . A pouch closing station according to  claim 10  further comprising:
 said first closure guide having a height sufficient to contact said pouch closure system attached to the side wall of said pouch. 
 
     
     
         13 . A method of loading and closing a flexible plastic pouch comprising;
 a) accessing a flexible plastic pouch having an opening for loading preselected product therein from a magazine dispenser containing a plurality of said pouches;   b) said pouch having a mating track or tape protected adhesive pouch closure mechanism for securely closing said opening;   c) releaseably attaching said pouch to said magazine;   d) resting said pouch on a platform to hold said pouch at a preselected height;   e) loading said preselected product into said pouch through said opening;   f) releasing said loaded pouch from said magazine;   g) pulling said loaded pouch through a narrow linear channel to contact the sides of said pouch to engage the closure mechanism.   
     
     
         14 . The method of loading and closing a flexible pouch according to  claim 13  wherein said narrow linear channel is formed by a first and second spaced top horizontal plate to provide a narrow linear channel and a first and second engagement guide located below said first and second spaced top horizontal plates adjacent to said slot to provide a lower width for contacting the pouch at a point adjacent to said pouch closure mechanism to engage said closure mechanism. 
     
     
         15 . The method of loading and closing a flexible pouch according to  claim 13  wherein said narrow linear channel is formed by a first and second spaced top horizontal plate to provide a narrow linear channel and a plurality of spaced rods extending downward from both sides of said slot so that the upper portion of said pouch travels in a serpentine path around each rod to ensure pressure engagement of said closure system. 
     
     
         16 . The method of loading and closing a flexible pouch according to  claim 13  wherein said preselected product is fresh fruit, fresh vegetables or fresh herbs.