Patent ID: 6311458
Filing Date: 2001-11-06
Classification: B65B

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing a plurality of shock absorbing pads, the apparatus comprising:a core material metering feeder positioned to meter and feed downstream a substantially large quantity of substantially dry particulate matter defining core material;a core pad former positioned downstream from said core material feeder for forming the core material into a plurality of pre-separated individual core pads, the core pad former comprising:a mounting frame,an annular drum frame rotatingly mounted on the mounting frame, anda plurality of core pad forming frames mounted toouter peripheries of the drum frame for forming individual pre-separated core pads as the drum frame rotates and core material fed by the core material feeder is drawn into each of the plurality of core pad forming frames;a core pad conveyor having a portion overlying the core pad former positioned to receive each of the plurality of individual core pads as each is lifted upwardly off the core pad former by a pressure differential and conveying each of the plurality of individual core pads downstream, the core pad conveyor comprising a screen conveying belt;a blower positioned upstream from the core material feeder and connected to the core pad feeder to blowingly supply air to the core material feeder to thereby blow the core material to the core pad former;an air pressure supply in fluid communication with the blower, the core pad former, and the core pad conveyor to create a pressure differential to draw core material into the core pad forming frames and to lift upwardly each of the plurality of individual core pads off the core pad former and hold each against the screen conveying belt of the core pad conveyor for conveying the individual core pads downstream;a core pad encaser positioned downstream from said core pad former for encasing the plurality of individual core pads with a selected sheet of material to thereby form a sheet of a plurality of shock absorbing pads;a pad sheet debulking conveyor positioned downstream from said core pad conveyor and adjacent said core pad encaser for debulking the sheet of the plurality of shock absorbing pads and conveying the sheet of the plurality of shock absorbing pads downstream; anda pad separator positioned downstream said pad sheet conveyor for separating the sheet into a plurality of individual shock absorbing pads.