Patent ID: 7481033
Filing Date: 2009-01-27
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
1. A conveyor that bags objects conveyed by the conveyor, the conveyor comprising: a bottom conveying surface having laterally opposite side edges and a longitudinal length between an upstream end of the bottom conveying surface and an opposite, downstream end of the bottom conveying surface; a top conveying surface having laterally opposite side edges and a longitudinal length between an upstream end of the top conveying surface and an opposite, downstream end of the top conveying surface, the top conveying surface being positioned vertically above and opposing the bottom conveying surface with a vertical spacing therebetween, whereby the bottom conveying surface and the top conveying surface convey objects longitudinally downstream through the spacing; a bottom film dispenser that dispenses a bottom film of packaging material to the spacing between the bottom conveying surface and the top conveying surface with the bottom film positioned between the bottom conveying surface and the objects conveyed through the spacing; a top film dispenser that dispenses a top film of packaging material to the spacing between the bottom conveying surface and the top conveying surface with the top film positioned between the top conveying surface and the objects conveyed through the spacing; a plurality of connecting devices positioned adjacent the laterally opposite side edges of the bottom conveying surface and the laterally opposite side edges of the top conveying surface, the connecting devices each including a lower guide surface that slopes upwardly as it extends downstream and an upper guide surface that slopes downwardly as it extends downstream where the upper and lower guide surfaces of the connecting devices receive laterally opposite edges of the bottom film and top film and connect the laterally opposite edges of the bottom film and top film with the objects conveyed through the spacing between the connected bottom film and top film; the bottom film dispenser having means for supporting and dispensing a roll of the bottom film of packaging material; the top film dispenser having means for supporting and dispensing a roll of the top film of packaging material; the bottom film dispenser having means for splicing together consecutive rolls of the bottom films of packaging material for splicing the bottom film positioned between the bottom conveying surface and the objects conveyed through the spacing with bottom film on the means for supporting and dispensing a roll of bottom film; the top film dispenser having means for splicing together consecutive rolls of the top films of packaging material for splicing the top film positioned between the top conveying surface and the objects conveyed through the spacing with top film on the means for supporting and dispensing a roll of top film; and, the top conveying surface having a plurality of longitudinally extending top conveying surfaces that are arranged laterally side by side and having means for moving the plurality of top conveying surfaces at different speeds relative to each other.