Wickets, Wicketting Machines and Methods of Binding Packaging Bags

• US 20110283898A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Marc Dufault
• Original Assignee: Marc Dufault
• Inventors: Dufault, Marc
• Application Number:
  US13/110,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20110283898A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 100/2
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 50/00 Making rigid or semi-rigid containers, e.g. boxes or cartons
• CPC Class Codes: B31B 70/984 Stacking bags on wicket pins

Abstract

The present invention provides improved wickets, wicketting machines and methods for the binding of packaging bags. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an apparatus for binding packaging bags. The apparatus includes a first tubular member and a second tubular member. The apparatus further includes a first bracket plate defining a first opening for receiving the first tubular member and a second opening for receiving the second tubular member. The apparatus further includes a second bracket plate defining a first opening for receiving the first tubular member and a second opening for receiving the second tubular member. The second bracket plate includes a first engagement feature for engagement with the first tubular member and a second engagement feature for engagement with the second tubular member, the first and second engagement features being configured to resist movement of the second bracket plate with respect to the first bracket plate.

Claims

1. An apparatus for binding packaging bags, comprising:

a first tubular member extending between a first end and a second end;

a second tubular member extending between a first end and a second end;

a first bracket plate defining a first opening for receiving the first tubular member and a second opening for receiving the second tubular member, the first bracket plate being disposed proximate the first end of the first and second tubular members; and

a second bracket plate defining a first opening for receiving the first tubular member and a second opening for receiving the second tubular member, the second bracket plate being disposed from the first bracket plate, wherein the second bracket plate includes a first engagement feature for engagement with the first tubular member and a second engagement feature for engagement with the second tubular member, the first and second engagement features being configured to resist movement of the second bracket plate with respect to the first bracket plate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first engagement feature comprises a friction fit formed between an outer portion of the first tubular member and an inner portion of the first opening of the second bracket plate and the second engagement feature comprises a friction fit formed between an outer portion of the second tubular member and an inner portion of the second opening of the second bracket plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bracket plate includes a first engagement feature for engagement with the first tubular member and a second engagement feature for engagement with the second tubular member, the first and second engagement features of the first bracket plate being configured to resist movement of the first bracket plate with respect to the first and second tubular member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first engagement feature of the first bracket plate comprises a friction fit formed between an outer portion of the first tubular member and an inner portion of the first opening of the first bracket plate and the second engagement feature of the first bracket plate comprises a friction fit formed between an outer portion of the second tubular member and an inner portion of the second opening of the first bracket plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tubular member includes an opening disposed at the first end of the first tubular member that leads to a cavity that extends between the first end and the second end of the first tubular member, and wherein the second tubular member includes an opening disposed at the first end of the second tubular member that leads to a cavity that extends between the first end and the second end of the second tubular member.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the first tubular member includes an outwardly extending annular lip and the first end of the second tubular member includes an outwardly extending annular lip, the first and second outwardly extending annular lip includes a diameter that is greater than an inner diameter of the first and second opening of the first bracket plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first bracket plate includes a first recess disposed about the first opening of the first bracket plate and a second recess disposed about the second opening of the first bracket plate, the first and second recess being configured to receive the first and second annular lip, respectively.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first tubular member includes a first diameter disposed proximate the first end and a second diameter disposed between the first and second end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter, and wherein the second tubular member includes a first diameter disposed proximate the first end and a second diameter disposed between the first and the second end, the first diameter being greater than the second diameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bracket plate includes a plurality of resilient flexible members disposed about the first opening and the second opening to form a friction fit with the first tubular member and the second tubular member, respectively.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first bracket plate includes a reinforcement rib or locating member extending between a first end and a second end of the first bracket plate, and wherein the second bracket plate includes a reinforcement rib or locating member extending between a first end and a second end of the second bracket plate.

11. A method of binding packaging bags, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a wicketting machine including a indexing belt and a rotary hub, the indexing belt includes a plurality of collectors each including a first spindle and a second spindle, wherein the rotary hub is configured to mount a plurality of packaging bags to the first and second spindle;

placing a first hollow tubular member over the first spindle and a second hollow tubular member over the second spindle;

connecting a first bracket plate to the first hollow tubular member and the second hollow tubular member;

mounting a plurality of packaging bags to the first hollow tubular member and the second hollow tubular member through the rotary hub; and

connecting a second bracket plate to the first hollow tubular member and the second hollow tubular member, wherein the plurality of packaging bags are bound between the first and second bracket plate.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second hollow tubular members are manually placed over the first spindle and second spindle, respectively.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first and second hollow tubular members are placed over the first spindle and second spindle through a robotic mechanism.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first bracket plate includes a first opening for receiving the first hollow tubular member and a second opening for receiving the second hollow tubular member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein connection of the first bracket plate to the first and second hollow tubular member is achieved through a robotic mechanism configured to align the first and second openings of the first bracket plate over the first and second hollow tubular members, respectively, and lower the first bracket plate to seat the first bracket plate to a base of the first and second hollow tubular members.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein upon seating a friction fit is formed between the first bracket plate and the first and second hollow tubular members.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the robotic mechanism is configured to selectively couple to a bracket plate from a bracket plate supply.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first hollow tubular member includes an annular lip extending outward from a base of the first hollow tubular member and the second hollow tubular member includes an annular lip extending outward from a base of the second hollow tubular member, and wherein the first bracket plate further includes a first recess for receiving the first annular lip and a second recess for receiving the second annular lip.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second bracket plate includes a first opening for receiving the first hollow tubular member and a second opening for receiving the second hollow tubular member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a friction fit is formed between the second bracket plate and the first and second hollow tubular members.