Roger Michael Ruetten

US Patent:

20070163841, Jul 19, 2007

Filed:

Mar 9, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/684344

Inventors:

William Hatcher - Overland Park KS, US
Roger Ruetten - Stillwater MN, US

International Classification:

A63F 9/02

US Classification:

186066000

Abstract:

A bagging apparatus includes a bag support for thermoplastic merchandise bags in a bag pack, a bag opener holding open a bag mouth of the bags, a scale weighing items placed in the bag and a first indicator displaying information related to weight of items placed in the bag. The apparatus includes an item counter determining the number of items in the bag and a mechanism determining the volume of items in the bag. A second indicator signals when the counter reaches a predetermined item count. A third indicator signals when the mechanism indicates a predetermined volume is reached. A bag counter determines the number of bags removed from the apparatus. Circuitry transmits the weight-related, volume and item count information to a computer program for tracking the information for each bag filled. The circuitry also interfaces with a bag inventory system and generates bagger performance tracking information for each user.

US Patent:

20070186515, Aug 16, 2007

Filed:

Oct 5, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/543646

Inventors:

Roger M. Ruetten - Stillwater MN, US
Kendall Busch - New Auburn MN, US
Steve Tonkin - Eden Prairie MN, US
David L. Booher - Columbia SC, US
Leon Farahnik - Beverly Hills CA, US

International Classification:

B65B 1/32

US Classification:

53502, 211 8515, 248 95, 177 2513

Abstract:

An apparatus is provided for packaging items within a container. The container is supported adjacent an indicator which determines the addition of an individual item into the container. The number of items added to a container is accumulated and the accumulated data for each container during a given cycle is stored. The stored data is then communicated to a processing unit for analyzing and use as a management tool within the packaging operation.

US Patent:

20050239033, Oct 27, 2005

Filed:

Mar 31, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/815469

Inventors:

William Hatcher - Overland Park KS, US
Roger Ruetten - Stillwater MN, US

International Classification:

G09B003/00

US Classification:

434350000

Abstract:

A computer game paradigm is used to train trainees in the skill of packing shopping bags. A number of items appearing on a conveyor in the computer game are packed into one or more bags in accordance with user input gestures of the trainee using graphical user interface techniques. The trainee is able to rotate items to make them fit within a bag in relation to positions of other items already within the bag. In addition, the trainee is able to move items within the bag to occupy different positions within the lateral boundaries of the bag. The computer game can be served through a computer network, such as the Internet or a LAN, as an applet or otherwise active web page. Accordingly, the trainee can practice or completely self-teach the skills of bagging from the comfort and convenience of any computer connected to such a network.