Abstract:
Packaging systems can include grip pads having large surface areas to assist in handling and holding of bags. In some instances, the grip pads can be retrofitted to existing packaging systems.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates generally to packaging systems, and more particularly to grip pads for use in packaging systems and related methods. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0002]    The written disclosure herein describes illustrative embodiments that are non-limiting and non-exhaustive. Reference is made to certain of such illustrative embodiments that are depicted in the figures, in which: 
           [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of a grip pad; 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a right side elevation view thereof, wherein a top plan view and a bottom plan view thereof are identical to the right side elevation view, and wherein a left side elevation view thereof is a mirror-image of the right side elevation view; 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view thereof; 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a front elevation view thereof; 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a portion of an embodiment of a packaging system in which a plurality of grip pads such as those of  FIG. 1  are employed; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a portion of another embodiment of a packaging system in which a plurality of grip pads such as those of  FIG. 1  and a plurality of additional grip pads are employed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments disclosed herein can be used in retrofitting a packaging system so as to improve the efficiency and/or overall performance of the system. For example, certain embodiments can be used with form-fill-seal (FFS) line systems (e.g., horizontal FFS line systems), such as systems that are used in preparing individual packages of food items. 
         [0010]    Certain known FFS line systems have preinstalled grippers at various positions in the line. The grippers are used to temporarily secure bags in place as one or more processes are performed relative to the bags. For example, at one stage, a first set of grippers may be used to hold outer edges of a bag while vacuum is applied at outer walls of the bag so as to open the bag. The bag can be moved to a subsequent stage in which the first set of grippers have released the bag and a second set of grippers hold the edges of the bag as a gas is injected into the bag so as to purge air from the bag. At a later stage, another set of grippers can be used to hold the bag while a food item is introduced into the bag. At a later stage, yet another set of grippers can be used to hold the bag while the bag is sealed. 
         [0011]    In certain systems, the preinstalled grippers can suffer from various drawbacks. For example, in some instances, the preinstalled grippers can fail to adequately grip the bag, or may entirely miss the bag, when the bag curls. Such bag curl may be particularly common for some bag materials or films. Bag curl can be exhibited in a variety of directions, such as, for example, toward the machine drive side of a horizontal FFS line. Failure of the grippers to properly secure the bags can result in dropped bags, jams and/or other bag conveyance complications, and/or filling faults. In some instances, the preinstalled grippers are also problematic when they become worn. For example, the grippers can become hard over time and can perforate the bag material. 
         [0012]    Certain embodiments described herein can reduce or eliminate one or more of the shortcomings of factory installed grippers, such as those just discussed. For example, in some embodiments, grip pads can be used to replace and/or cover the factory installed grippers. The grip pads can readily flatten portions of bags that have curled. In other or further instances, the grip pads can securely hold the bags in place. In other or further instances, the grip pads can be much less prone to puncturing bag material when they wear over time. One or more of the foregoing advantages and/or other or further advantages will be apparent from the present disclosure. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1-4  illustrate an embodiment of a grip pad  100  that is configured for use with an FFS line. The grip pad  100  includes a connection interface  110  and a gripping interface  120  connected thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection interface  110  and the gripping interface  120  are integrally formed form a single piece of material. In other embodiments, the connection interface  110  and the gripping interface  120  can each include different materials and/or may be formed of different pieces that are joined to each other in any suitable manner. At least a portion of the grip pad  100  can be formed of a plastic and/or an elastomeric material (e.g., rubber or silicone). The grip pad  100  can be formed in any suitable manner, such as by machining and/or molding processes. 
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment, the connection interface  110  includes a stem  112  that is configured to interface with a portion of the FFS line so as to connect the grip pad  110  thereto. The illustrated stem  112  is substantially cylindrical. Other arrangements for the connection interface  110  are possible, depending on the configuration of the factory installed components of the FFS line. 
         [0015]    In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping interface  120  includes a substantially disk-shaped pad  122  that defines a gripping surface  124 . In the illustrated embodiment, the gripping surface  124  is substantially planar. Such an arrangement may inhibit formation of indentations or other markings on bags with which the gripping surface  124  comes into contact. In other embodiments, the gripping surface  124  may include gripping features, such as protrusions (e.g., ribs) or recesses (e.g., valleys), which may cooperate with a complementary gripping features at an opposing side of the bag. 
         [0016]    The hardness of the pad  122  can be selected to provide desired performance characteristics. For example, in some embodiments, the gripping abilities of the pad  122  can vary with the hardness of the pad  122 . In some embodiments, the hardness of the pad  122  can be within a range of from about 60 to about 80 durometer (Shore A), can be no less than about 60, 70, or 80 durometer (Shore A), or can be no greater than about 60, 70, or 80 durometer (Shore A). 
         [0017]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the pad  122  can define a diameter D 2  that is substantially greater than a diameter D 1  defined by the stem  112 . In various embodiments, the diameter D 2  can be no less than about 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times greater than the diameter D 1 . For example, in the illustrated embodiment, the diameter D 1  is about 10 millimeters and the diameter D 2  is about 30 millimeters. In the illustrated embodiment, a thickness of the pad  122  is about 2 millimeters. Other arrangements are also possible. 
         [0018]      FIG. 5  illustrates a portion of a filling machine or packaging system  200  in which multiple grip pads  100  have been installed. In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging system  200  is an FFS line of any suitable variety. For example, in some embodiments, the packaging system  200  can be a model 3700 horizontal FFS line available from Bossar Packaging of Sarasota, Fla., which may be used, for example, to package individual pouches of shredded cheese. A single bag or pouch  250  is shown. Two sidewalls  252  of the pouch  250  are separated, and the pouch has just been filled with a quantity of shredded cheese. The pouch  250  is gripped at a front end (right side of  FIG. 5 ) and a rearward end (left side of  FIG. 5 ) thereof by separate grip pads  100 . 
         [0019]    The system  200  can include stationary housings  220  with which the grip pads  100  can be coupled. The stationary housings  220  may, in fact, be movable in a direction of travel of the pouch  250 , and in the direction opposite thereto (e.g., toward the right and toward the left, respectively, in  FIG. 5 ). However, the stationary housings  220  may be stationary or immovable in a transverse direction (e.g., up or down in  FIG. 5 ). The system  200  can further include pistons  210  that may be movable in the direction of travel (and in the direction opposite thereto), as well as in the transverse direction as indicated by the double-headed arrows. 
         [0020]    The stationary housings  220  can define posts  222  that include factory-installed grippers (not shown). The grippers can resemble the grippers  214 , which are attached to shaft portions  212  of the pistons. The grippers  214  can define relatively small diameters, as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the factory-installed grippers have been removed and have been replaced with the grip pads  100 . In particular, the stems  112  of the grip pads  100  have been inserted into the posts  222 , which normally house the factory installed grippers. The stems  112  are retained within the posts  222  by a tight friction fit. 
         [0021]    When the system  200  is operating, the pouch  250  may pass through a series of stages (e.g., pouch wall separation and gas purging) prior to arriving at the stage shown in  FIG. 5 , in which food contents have been introduced into the pouch  250 . The pistons  210  can be in a retracted position (e.g., spaced away from the grip pads  100 ), and the pouch  250  can be inserted between the two sets of stationary housings  220  and pistons  210 . The pistons  210  can then be moved to the gripping position shown in  FIG. 5  so as to clamp the pouch  250  between the grippers  214  and the pads  122  of the grip pads  100 . 
         [0022]    The grippers pads  122  have a substantially greater surface area, as compared with the grippers  214 . Such an arrangement can facilitate gripping of the front and rearward ends of the pouch  250 . For example, if the front end of the pouch (e.g., the right end in the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 ) were to be curled rearwardly (e.g., curled up or down in the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 ) and/or downwardly (e.g., curled in a direction into the page in  FIG. 5 ), the large gripping surface of the front pad  122  can contact a large portion of the pouch  250  and flatten it as the piston  210  is advanced toward the stationary housing  220 . Similarly, if the rearward end of the pouch (e.g., the left end in the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 ) were to be curled forwardly (e.g., curled up or down in the orientation shown in  FIG. 5 ) and/or downwardly (e.g., curled in a direction into the page in  FIG. 5 ), the large gripping surface of the front pad  122  can contact a large portion of the pouch  250  and flatten it as the piston  210  is advanced toward the stationary housing  220 . The large gripping surface can also provide enhanced traction on the pouch while the pistons  210  are in the gripping orientation, and likewise, enhanced support of the pouch. Such an arrangement can reduce or prevent jamming of the system  200 , dropping of pouches, and/or puncturing or perforation of pouches. 
         [0023]    Additional grip pads  100  can be used at other stages of the system  200  in like manner. In some embodiments, many grip pads  100  are used along a full length of walking and stationary beams of a the system  200 . In various embodiments, no fewer than about 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, or 50 grip pads  100  are used. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  illustrates another embodiment of a packaging system  300  that resembles the system  200  in many respects. In some embodiments, the system  300  can be an FFS line of any suitable variety. The system  300  can include pistons  210  and stationary housings  220 , such as described above. The stationary housings  220  can be connected with grip pads  100 , such as described above. 
         [0025]    The system  300  can further include grip pads  100 ′ that resemble the grip pads  100 . In particular, each grip pad  100 ′ can include a connection interface  110 ′ and a gripping interface  120 ′. The connection interface  110 ′ can include a sleeve  114  that can be positioned over one or more portions of the piston  210 . In some embodiments, a collar  130  can be used to secure the sleeve  114  to the piston  210 . The gripping interface  120 ′ can include a pad  122 , which may be the same, substantially the same, or complementary to the pad  122  of a corresponding grip pad  100 . 
         [0026]    The system  300  and/or the grip pads  100 ,  100 ′ can be adjusted such that the grip pads  100 ,  100 ′ contact the desired areas of the pouches  250 . In the illustrated embodiment, the pads  122  extend slightly beyond the front and rear edges of the pouch  250 , although other gripping arrangements are contemplated. In  FIGS. 5 and 6 , two pinching sites are shown at which the grip pads  100  contact the pouches  250 . In other embodiments and/or stages, additional pinching sites are possible. For example, two additional pinching sites may be used at positions along the sides of the pouches  250  and spaced from the opening of the pouches  250 . 
         [0027]    Although much of the foregoing disclosure is discussed in the context of retrofitting an FFS line with gripping pads, it should be appreciated that embodiments of gripping pads may be used as original features of a factory-produced FFS line. Any suitable use of the apparatus, assemblies, systems, and methods discussed herein is contemplated. 
         [0028]    Any methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for performing the described method. The method steps and/or actions may be interchanged with one another. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is required for proper operation of the embodiment, the order and/or use of specific steps and/or actions may be modified. 
         [0029]    References to approximations are made throughout this specification, such as by use of one or more of the terms “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” and “generally.” For each such reference, it is to be understood that, in some embodiments, the value, feature, or characteristic may be specified without approximation. For example, where such a qualifier is used, the terms includes within its scope the qualified word in the absence of the qualifier. 
         [0030]    Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “the embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the quoted phrases, or variations thereof, as recited throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the above description of embodiments, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that any embodiment require every feature shown in a particular drawing. 
         [0031]    Unless otherwise noted, the terms “a” or “an” are to be construed as meaning “at least one of.” In addition, for ease of use, the words “including” and “having” are interchangeable with and have the same meaning as the word “comprising.” Recitation of the term “first” with respect to a feature or element does not necessarily imply the existence of a second or additional such feature or element.