Wayne A Workman

US Patent:

7891159, Feb 22, 2011

Filed:

May 30, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/156137

Inventors:

Jeffrey R. Iocco - Greenville SC, US
Greg E. McDonald - Simpsonville SC, US
Max C. Painter - Spartanburg SC, US
Wayne T. Workman - Duncan SC, US

Assignee:

Cryovac, Inc. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

B65B 57/12

US Classification:

53504, 53 52, 53 66, 53 55, 53450, 53493, 53432

Abstract:

A method of positioning a loaded bag in a vacuum chamber includes loading a bag by placing a product in the bag; placing the bag on an infeed conveyor that is transparent to IR; advancing the bag, on the conveyor, to a sensing apparatus including an infrared camera disposed above the conveyor, and a bank of LED's disposed below the conveyor; interrogating the loaded bag, using the sensing apparatus, with infrared radiation to detect the trailing edge of the product inside the bag; transmitting information acquired from the interrogating step to a PLC; advancing the interrogated loaded bag a distance, based in the information acquired from the interrogating step, to a vacuum chamber including a heat seal assembly; and heat sealing the loaded bag with the heat seal assembly to close the bag mouth.

US Patent:

8157141, Apr 17, 2012

Filed:

Jun 14, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/452667

Inventors:

Greg McDonald - Simpsonville SC, US
Darren Mungo - Greer SC, US
Wayne Workman - Duncan SC, US

Assignee:

Cryovac, Inc. - Duncan SC

International Classification:

B26F 3/02

US Classification:

225100, 83371

Abstract:

A system for detecting and registering serrated bags includes a web including a plurality of bags connected in an end-to-end arrangement, each bag including a first and second side, a first and second longitudinal end, a transverse seal, a serration disposed transversely across the bag, and a tab integrally connected to the bag at a portion of but less than the entire extent of the tab; a device for projecting a stream of air on each bag as the web passes a predetermined location; and a first and a second pair of nip rolls, each disposed downstream of the device, and adapted to accommodate the web, and to drive at different speeds such that a lead bag is separated from the web.