Abstract:
A portable, automated bagging apparatus that includes a hopper and a transportable frame supporting the hopper, and a bag formation assembly disposed on the frame. The bag formation assembly is adapted to prepare bag material held by the bag formation assembly and fill the bag with a predetermined amount of particulate matter from the hopper.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. provisional application No. 60/680930, filed May 14, 2005. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    This application is directed to an apparatus for bagging particulate matter. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    In many cases, bags may need to be filled with material at a particular site. However, in many cases, the labor in moving the filled bags from the locus of the filling at the particular site to the place that they may be needed can be tremendous. In the situation of flooding, for example, an on-site bagging apparatus can be critical to attenuating the destructive power of rising water. However, many typical bagging machines cannot perform this function as efficiently as needed. For example, many typical bagging solutions involve a machine bagging fill material into an empty bag and disgorging the bag to a common area. The bags are then transported to the ultimate site where they need to be laid to combat rising waters through a human-chain. 
         [0004]    Other typical bagging machines are monstrous, simply being adapted from such bulk packaging industries, such as the dog food or fertilizer industries. One typical solution is to haul a unit that is 24 feet in length and weighing over 10,000 pounds to the general area of the site, and run the machine from a centralized spot. The bags are then relayed to the point that they are needed by other transport. Needless to say, the costs of this type of behemoth run to the extremes where a municipality cannot afford them. Further the completed product still needs to be placed at the point of use, requiring additional support crew far in excess of the operators themselves. Finally, these typical units are not necessarily cost effective, running in the tens of thousands of dollars (if not more), and requiring heavy haul apparatus to place at the general point of use. 
         [0005]    Finally, these heavy filling machines typically require specialized pre-made bags to operate. In one case, the bags are interconnected within a web, and the machinery relies upon the specialized interconnected bagging to operate correctly. In times of emergency, supplies of these specialized parts and accessories may be highly problematic. 
         [0006]    Additionally, many typical solutions discriminate the amount of particulate placed in the bag based upon weight. However, in bagging operations involving sand bags, the particulate used can be wet or dry, may be rocks, sand, gravel, or a mixture thereof. First, wet particulate is typically far denser than dry particulate. In the case of sand, typical wet fill sand can have anywhere from 1.2 to 1.5 times more weight than that of dry. Correspondingly, any system that requires weight to be considered in the filling of sand bags will be more inefficient, and result in wide ranges of particulate to be placed into the bags. Additionally, other typical systems make “guesstimates” of the amount of particulate delivered based upon the time a door is opened, or require as a prerequisite that the particular amount of particulate is delivered. Other solutions require an operator to actuate when to pour and/or when to cease pouring the fill material into the bag. Again, these systems require quite a bit of operator attention. 
         [0007]    Also, most typical solutions are tied to specific sizes of bags. Almost all the typical solutions are tied to specific bags or complicated interlocking systems of bags. Thus, if differing sizes of bags are required for different purposes, the typical system cannot even begin to address this issue. 
         [0008]    Finally, the filling and placing of large numbers of bags around an area requires effort in: filling the bags with particulate (including the proper amount of particulate), sealing the bags, and transporting the bags to their ultimate placement spot. The typical solutions do not typically offer efficiencies in the three aforementioned categories as a whole. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0009]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention. Together with the explanation of the invention, they serve to detail and explain implementations and principles of the invention. The drawings include: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a view of an apparatus for particulate matter in accordance with this application. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are cut-away views of an exemplary dispensing mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  are cut-away views of an alternative exemplary dispensing mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0013]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C are side views of an exemplary bagging material dispensing and forming mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are views of an exemplary bagging material handling mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B and  6 C are cut-away side views of an exemplary dispensing operation that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIGS. 7A ,  7 B and  7 C are side views of an exemplary bagged matter dispensing mechanisms that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a side cut-away view of an exemplary dispensing bagging mechanism that could be employed with the apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    Embodiments of the present invention are described herein in the context of an apparatus for and methods of bagging particulate matter. Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following detailed description of the present invention is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the present invention will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. Reference will now be made in detail to implementations of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The same reference indicators will be used throughout the drawings and the following detailed description to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0019]    In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations described herein are shown and described. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made in order to achieve the developer&#39;s specific goals, such as compliance with application- and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure. 
         [0020]    In accordance with the present invention, the components, process steps, and/or structures may be implemented using various alternative constructs. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize such alternative constructs may be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  is a view of one embodiment of the bagging device shown from the front and side, slightly elevated. The bagging device  10  has a hopper  12  into which particular matter can be disposed. The dimensions of the  12  hopper are typically such that an ordinary front end loader and/or light duty mover can empty particulate matter into the interior of the hopper. In a more robust version, the height is such that only larger front-end loaders can dispose such matter in the interior of the hopper  12 . In one embodiment, the volume of the hopper is limited by the maximum weight that can be safely towed by a ½ ton pickup truck. The volume held by the hopper can vary based on need. 
         [0022]    In this instance, the hopper  12  can have inclined interior sides, so that bottom dimensions of the hopper  12  are smaller than the upper dimensions. In the instance pictured in  FIG. 1 , gravity pulls the particulate matter residing in the interior of the hopper  12  to a dispersal mechanism disposed at the bottom of the hopper  12 . Accordingly, as particulate matter leaves the hopper  12  through the bottom portion of the hopper  12 , the particulate matter is remaining settles downwards to replace it. 
         [0023]    A frame  14  supports the hopper and the weight of the particulate matter within it. In the instance shown, the frame is separate from the device, but as will be described later, other hopper architectures need not have the frame members  14   a - d  ( 14   d  not shown) extending the height of the hopper  12 . 
         [0024]    The frame, and correspondingly the hopper and it contents, are coupled to a vertical frame  16 . Such a frame may have cross braces running in the vertical plane both lengthwise and/or widthwise to provide additional support for the device. A towing hook  18  is coupled at a front end of the frame  16 , to allow the entire apparatus to be towed by a vehicle. Additionally, wheels  20  are attached to the vertical frame  16  to allow overland travel by the entire unit. Accordingly, to move the bagger  10 , one need only attach the towing hook  18  to a vehicle, and drive the vehicle. In this manner the entire device  10  may be easily transported across a vicinity. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, a bag material support  18  (and  19   a - b ) is attached to the frame  16 . The bag material support  18  supports a spool of bag material  22 , which is unwound as the device operates. In  FIG. 1 , side by side deployment of bag making is pictured, although the principles can be extended to many more parallel flows, or condensed into a single flow. 
         [0026]    The bag material is unwound in a direction substantially parallel to the frame  16 , where ultimately an open end is placed in conjunction with a particulate dispensing aperture in the hopper. At a predetermined length, the material is separated from the roll and sealed, thus forming an empty bag with one open face, i.e. that face nearest the particulate dispensing aperture. The bag is opened and the particulate matter is dispensed into the bag and filling it with the particulate matter. The bag is then sealed, and directed to the rear of the device, where it is either unloaded by hand or directed off the device through physical or mechanical means. In one embodiment, the bag advances a pre-determined distance past a cutting/sealing strip to form an appropriate length bag, which can then be filled and sealed as the process continues. In this embodiment, the first seal forms the bottom of the bag. As the mechanism operates, a bag is cut below the seal, simultaneously separating the bag to be filled while opening an aperture to another bag to be sealed. After filling, the bag is sealed, and is advanced to the discharge area. 
         [0027]    Thus, as the device is towed, bags can be unwound and separated from a roll of material, directed to a particulate dispensing aperture, filled with particulate matter, and directed off the device. Accordingly, the device can make and drop filled bags as the device is being towed. 
         [0028]      FIGS. 2   a - b  are possible designs of a particulate dispensing mechanism that premeasures and dispenses a set volume of particulate. A hopper has a hopper bottom  24  where particulate matter is directed by gravity. A rotating cylindrical mechanism  26  is located at the hopper bottom  22 . The rotating cylindrical mechanism has an open aperture on one face. As shown in  FIG. 2   a , when the aperture is disposed upwards, the particulate matter will fall into the volume defined by the cylindrical mechanism  26 . As the cylindrical mechanism  26  rotates, the particulate matter within the volume of the cylindrical mechanism is separated from that residing within the hopper. When the aperture is directed downwards, the particulate matter drops out and into a waiting bag. In this manner a set volume of particulate matter can be dispensed for each bag. 
         [0029]      FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  detail alternative designs of volumetric distribution that can be used in the device. The upper and lower plates  28   a - b  open and close in opposing cycles. Thus, in one cycle particulate matter falls into the volume, and in the other the particulate matter is dispensed outwards.  FIGS. 2 and 3  can be employed to create alternative volumes. In  FIG. 2  a differing volume hopper can be employed, while in  FIG. 3  the separation between the upper and lower plates and/or separation between side portions can be varied to accommodate differing volumes. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  details the process of bag creation by the device. As the device is operated, a mechanism applies force to a front end of the bag material roll disposed on a support. Such force can be that of opposing rollers, like  30   a - b . As the rollers  30   a - b  are actuated, or for that matter a single roller by itself, the material  32  is propelled along. 
         [0031]    After a predetermined amount of material  32  is pulled along, a sealing mechanism  38  can then bind the back end of a portion of the roll, forming an empty bag. A separation mechanism  34  can then separate the roll, freeing a roll segment  36 . A sealing mechanism can then bind the back end of the roll, forming an empty bag. In one case, an electric sensor can detect markings or other indicia on the roll, thus indicating when the separation and melding should take place. In one embodiment, the cutting mechanism can be one the burns through the material, or one that cuts or shears it. 
         [0032]    As for the melding of the bottom end of the bag, in one example a meltable material is used for the bag. After the bag is separated from the roll, a heating mechanism melds the material together. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  shows other rollers along the path of the bag material. These rollers can also have force applied to them, or may be free spinning and acting in reaction to the force placed elsewhere. In this exemplary embodiment, the rollers help guide the bag material roll. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 5   a - c  detail an alternative embodiment of creating the bag from the bag material. A grasping mechanism such as pincers  40  can grasp the edge of the material and be moved along the lengthwise axis of the frame  16 , thus pulling the material along. In this embodiment, the arm length of the mechanism pulling the pincers  40  determines the bag length, and sensing devices need not be used to determine the length. As the material is pulled along, a clamping device (such as rollers) can be actuated around the material roll below the cut line, thus keeping the tension in the remaining roll material subsequent to it being cut. The cutting mechanism  34  and the sealing mechanisms  38  work much as described before to complete the open bag. 
         [0035]    The formed bag is then placed into a position to accept the particulate matter from the hopper. After the formed bag is partially formed, the open end of the now-formed bag is directed to the particulate dispensing aperture in the hopper. An embodiment applies a force to the bag to open the bag to accept particulate. Such mechanisms as pneumatic means in the form of a blower, mechanical means such as an insert support, or vacuum pressure applied to the sides, or combinations thereof, can be used to fully open the bag. Once opened, the opening of the bag is placed against the aperture where particulate can be dispensed into it. 
         [0036]      FIGS. 6A ,  6 B, and  6 C detail the placement of a bag sealing mechanism near the open mouth of the filled bag. Subsequent to the placement of the particulate matter into the bag  42 , another sealing mechanism  44  can be used to seal the top end of the bag. This can employ mechanical means or heating means to accomplish this task. In the case where the meltable material is used, heating elements can be applied to the bag near its top end to fuse the faces together. At this point, a sand bag has been manufactured, directed to a position, filled with particulate matter, and sealed. This is all accomplished while being disposed on a movable frame, so that the entire sand bagging mechanism can take place as the device is being transported about an area. 
         [0037]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  detail disposal mechanism for the device. In  FIG. 7A , the formed sand bag is directed towards an inclined plane  46  situated towards one end of the assembly. The bag then slides down this plane  46  and off the mechanism. Thus, bags can be made and dropped at the points that they are needed. In another embodiment, the bags can be directed to a conveyor belt that directs them off the device. In the case of the conveyor system, the plane need not be angled as shown, but can be oriented in any direction. Again, the formed bags can be placed in close proximity to their ultimate usage site without any human power or the use of heavy machinery to transport. 
         [0038]    The dimensions and materials that make up the unit can be such that the total weight of the device filled with particulate matter is no more than 7500 pounds. This allows a one-half ton pickup truck to move the device around an area, which makes it very convenient and easy for municipalities to justify. Of course, other weights can be considered for the device, since other heavier lift vehicles could be used to move the unit about. In one case, the assembly weighs less than 6000 pounds, to allow 1500 pounds of particulate to be placed into the hopper. Of course, other combinations of weights of particulate and weights of assembly can be imagined. 
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is an alternative embodiment of hopper geometry and particulate dispensing mechanism placement that can be used within the context of the device. The side walls are straight, but the bottom portions of the hopper are inclined inwards. Other geometries that allow for the placing of the particulate dispensing mechanism at a point in the hopper that captures the advantages of gravity are possible, and should be considered within the context of this disclosure. 
         [0040]    Many of the features of the device can be used singly or in combination with one another. The features as described should not be taken as exclusively existing in conjunction with one another unless explicitly mentioned as such. 
         [0041]    Thus, an apparatus for performing and coordinating data storage functions is described and illustrated. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible without departing from the invention. Of course, the various features depicted in each of the figures and the accompanying text may be combined together. Accordingly, it should be clearly understood that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the particular features specifically described and illustrated in the drawings, but the concept of the present invention is to be measured by the scope of the appended claims. It should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described by the appended claims that follow. 
         [0042]    While embodiments and applications of this invention have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure that many more modifications than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. Further, many of the different embodiments may be combined with one another. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.