Systems with wheel saddles that can cooperate with wheels of encoders and related devices and methods
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a packaging apparatus, comprising:
- automatically pulling casing between the outer perimeter of a measuring wheel of a rotary encoder and a depression of a cooperating wheel saddle having an inwardly curved shape formed in the exterior surface of the wheel saddle to receive the outer perimeter of the rotary measuring wheel in the direction of the depression, the depression having a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of the outer perimeter of the measuring wheel; and
automatically measuring a length of casing pulled between the outer perimeter of the measuring wheel and the depression of the cooperating wheel saddle based on the rotation of the measuring wheel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, computer program products and apparatus for producing encased products use a rotary encoder with a measuring wheel, the measuring wheel residing against a depression of a wheel saddle that has a shape that curves inward with a radius of curvature that corresponds to an outer perimeter radius of a cooperating measuring wheel.
22 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a packaging apparatus, comprising:
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automatically pulling casing between the outer perimeter of a measuring wheel of a rotary encoder and a depression of a cooperating wheel saddle having an inwardly curved shape formed in the exterior surface of the wheel saddle to receive the outer perimeter of the rotary measuring wheel in the direction of the depression, the depression having a radius of curvature corresponding to the radius of the outer perimeter of the measuring wheel; and automatically measuring a length of casing pulled between the outer perimeter of the measuring wheel and the depression of the cooperating wheel saddle based on the rotation of the measuring wheel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for controlling a packaging apparatus, comprising:
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automatically pulling casing between a measuring wheel of a rotary encoder and a depression of a cooperating wheel saddle having an inwardly curved shape with a radius of curvature; automatically measuring a length of casing pulled between the measuring wheel and the depression of the cooperating wheel saddle based on an output from the rotary encoder; and wherein the wheel saddle is a tubular body with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart depressions, and wherein the method further comprises rotating the tubular body held on a product horn to present a different one of the depressions to be in cooperating alignment with the measuring wheel.
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6. A method for controlling a packaging apparatus, comprising:
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automatically pulling casing between a measuring wheel of a rotary encoder and a depression of a cooperating wheel saddle having an inwardly curved shape with a radius of curvature; automatically measuring a length of casing pulled between the measuring wheel and the depression of the cooperating wheel saddle based on an output from the rotary encoder; and before the automatically pulling step, forming tubular casing from flat roll stock; sealing long edges of the tubular casing together; and automatically advancing the sealed tubular casing using a film drive assembly with drive belts. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for packaging products using tubular casings formed from flat roll stock for encasing products therein, comprising:
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a frame; a horn releasably secured to the frame; a wheel saddle with at least one depression on the horn; a forming collar residing about the horn, the forming collar configured to cooperate with a roll of flat casing material to force the flat casing material to take on a shape with long edge portions of the casing material residing proximate each other; a seal assembly held a longitudinal distance in front of the forming collar in cooperating alignment with the horn; a film drive system residing proximate the seal assembly in communication with the horn; a controller in communication with the film drive system; and at least one rotary encoder with a measuring wheel residing against the depression of the wheel saddle in communication with the controller, wherein the controller is configured to adjust a speed of the film drive system to increase or decrease the film-drive speed based on data from the rotary encoder. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A wheel saddle for a packaging system, comprising:
a longitudinal tubular body with opposing ends and at least one depression extending lengthwise of the longitudinal tubular body and transverse to the outer circumference of the tubular body, and having an inward curved shape with a radius of curvature that is between about 1-2 inches measured from a center drawn in space that is radially outward from the tubular body.
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21. A wheel saddle for a packaging system, comprising:
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a tubular body with longitudinally opposing ends and at least one depression having an inward curved shape with a radius of curvature that is between about 1-2 inches measured from a center drawn in space that is radially outward from the tubular body; and wherein the wheel saddle has a leading end which, in a longitudinally extending direction, tapers up to a casing sizing lip then steps down before the at least one depression, and wherein the at least one depression curves inward corresponding to a curvature of an outer perimeter of the measuring wheel held therein.
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22. A wheel saddle for a packaging system, comprising:
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a tubular body with longitudinally opposing ends and at least one depression having an inward curved shape with a radius of curvature that is between about 1-2 inches measured from a center drawn in space that is radially outward from the tubular body; and wherein the at least one depression is a plurality of circumferentially depressions, each having a solid closed surface with the inward curved shape with a longitudinal length that is between about 1 inch to about 2.5 inches.
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Specification