Multi-product packaging machine with bar code reader

• US 6,119,434 A
• Filed: 04/21/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA (Tetra Laval Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Andersson, Sven-Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): Sipos, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENSEN, STEVEN M
• Application Number:
  US09/063,763
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 53/237, 53/493, 141/9, 141/100
• US Class Current: 53/237
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/326 for dosing several products to be mixed
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/06 and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged

Abstract

A packaging system having a bar code reader integrated therein for conveying information concerning the size and filling requirements of a product to a packaging machine which will produce the product. The packaging machine is capable of consecutively filling cartons with different products in a single production cycle. The bar code reader provides this information from the bar code placed on every blank that is to be produced into a formed, filled and sealed carton. The filling system of the packaging machine may have a primary and secondary product for mixing in a package to produce a final product. Alternatively, the filling system may have several filling pipes, each filling pipe dispensing a different product. The bar code reader instructs the conveyor under which fill pipe a particular carton should be filled to match the product with the carton.

Claims

1. A packaging system for processing different products, the packaging system comprising:

a single form fill and seal packaging machine;

a magazine containing a plurality of different carton blanks, the magazine connected to the packaging machine for transferring carton blanks from the magazine to the packaging machine;

a fill system comprising

a primary product tank having a primary product therein;

a primary fill pipe in flow communication with the primary product tank on one end and cartons being processed on the packaging machine on another end;

a primary pump mechanism controlling the flow of primary product into the primary fill pipe;

a secondary product tank having a secondary product therein;

a secondary fill pipe in flow communication with the secondary product tank on one end and cartons being processed on the packaging machine on the other end;

a secondary pump mechanism controlling the flow of secondary product into the secondary fill pipe; and

a bar code reader for reading a bar code printed on each of the carton blanks, the bar code reader providing instructions to the machine to control the flow of primary product and secondary product into each of the cartons being processed on the packaging machine.

2. The packaging system according to claim 1 wherein the bar code reader is positioned on the magazine.

3. The packaging system according to claim 1 wherein the bar code reader is positioned along a conveyance line of the packaging machine.

4. The packaging system according to claim 1 wherein the bar code reader transmits information to a PLC of the packaging system to control the flow of primary and secondary product into a carton.

5. The packaging system according to claim 1 wherein the magazine is a multiple magazine having a plurality of magazines for each unique set of cartons.

6. A packaging system for processing different products, the packaging system comprising:

a single form fill and seal packaging machine having a PLC;

a magazine containing a plurality of different carton blanks, the magazine connected to the packaging machine for transferring carton blanks from the magazine to the packaging machine;

a fill system comprising a plurality of fill stations for dispensing a plurality of products, each of the fill stations having a servomotor connected to a pump mechanism which controls the flow of product through a fill pipe and into a carton, the servomotor connected to a servo amplifier which is connected to the PLC; and

a bar code reader for reading a bar code printed on each of the carton blanks, the bar code reader providing instructions to the PLC to control the flow of product into each of the cartons being processed on the packaging machine.

7. The packaging system according to claim 6 wherein the bar code reader is positioned on the magazine.

8. The packaging system according to claim 6 wherein the bar code reader is positioned along a conveyance line of the packaging machine.

9. The packaging system according to claim 6 wherein the magazine is a multiple magazine having a plurality of magazines for each unique set of cartons.