Apparatus for Compacting Product & High Speed Bagmaking

Abstract

A method for compacting and packaging a plurality of slugs of product and apparatus for accomplishing the same. The invention describes collecting weighed product in an intermediate settling device to form compact slugs of product. The device can comprise a single settling chamber for each slug of product or can comprise multiple settling chambers which are axially rotatable. The slugs can be compacted by jostling and/or vibrating the settling device. Thereafter, the slugs of product are discharged to a multiple bagmaking packaging apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for compacting and packaging a plurality of product slugs with an apparatus comprising a multiple bagmaker having a number of product delivery cylinders, said method comprising:
 a) weighing a plurality of product slugs in a weigher, wherein said weigher is divided into a number of sections equal to said number of product delivery cylinders, wherein the number of product delivery cylinders is at least two product delivery cylinders;   b) receiving said plurality of product slugs to a settling device comprising at least four rotating settling chambers and a gate, wherein a number of said settling chambers equal to said number of said product delivery cylinders are grouped together at a single position;   c) compacting said plurality of product slugs in said settling device to form compact slugs of product, wherein the settling chambers are axially rotatable within the settling device;   d) discharging said compact slugs of product to said number of product delivery cylinders, wherein each compact slug of product is discharged into a separate product delivery cylinder; and   e) depositing said slugs of product from said product delivery cylinders to packages,   wherein said settling device is located downstream from said weigher and upstream from said product delivery cylinder, and wherein said receiving step and said discharging step occur simultaneously.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving step comprises receiving product into at least four settling chambers, wherein a number of said settling chambers equal to said number of said product delivery cylinders are grouped together. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said compacting step comprises rotating said product in four settling chambers, wherein said settling chambers are axially rotatable within the settling device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said compacting step comprises vibrating said settling device. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said depositing step comprises depositing said slugs into a duplex vertical form, fill, and seal machine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said receiving step and said discharging step occur simultaneously. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said receiving step comprises receiving product into at least one settling chamber, and wherein said depositing step comprises depositing at least two slugs from at least one settling chambers into a package.