Methods, systems, apparatus, devices and computer program products automatically package an object, such as, for example, whole muscle meat pieces, in a covering material. The devices include an automated compression assembly with an electric drive motor and a pusher assembly with an electric motor, preferably each electric motor is a servo motor. The systems/apparatus devices can include a programmably adjustable index and/or speed profile for the compression and/or pusher assembly.

Claims

18 · 2 independent · depth 6

18 granted claims

›1.independentA packaging system, comprising:na frame supported by a floor;a product chute attached to the frame;a lower breech chute member residing upstream of th…+12

›2.↳ 1The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor residing above the lower breech chute member is a servo motor in communication with an act…d2

›3.↳ 1The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the electric motor that resides above the lower breech chute member in communication with the upper breech ch…d2

›4.↳ 1The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising:na pair of scissor linkages with upper and lower linkages, the upper linkages having upper end por…d2

›5.↳ 1The packaging system of claim 1, further comprising at least one vertically extending rail residing above the lower breech chute member, and at least …d2+5

›11.↳ 1The packaging system of claim 1, wherein the upper breech chute member is releasably attached to a mounting plate.d2+2

›14.independentA method of packaging target product, comprising:ndirecting an electric drive motor to move an upper breech chute member vertically straight downward …+4

Classifications

16 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section B — Performing operations; transporting

B65B25/06
B65B9/15
B65B5/06
B65B57/00
B65B63/02
B65G27/32
B65B65/02
B65H67/04
B65B51/04

USPC · US Patent Classification

198/750.853/579198/74753/258414/19853/56753/530

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Pendency

1.8 y

644 days filing → grant

Office actions

non-final + final

Responses

no RCE

Examiner

Douglas Hess

art unit 3651 · TC 3600

Law firm

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Citations: 54 back · 0 forward

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Priority chain

2 priority documents

Priority

13 Jul 2011

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 2

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 61507208	13 Jul 2011
related publication	US 20130247521 A1	26 Sep 2013

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