Granted Patent B2

US 7,367,171 · App. 11/333,538 · Granted May 6, 2008

Abstract

Claims (45)

1. A venting system for use in a foam-in-bag dispensing system, comprising:

a venting device having a base supported on a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system, an adjustment device supported by said base, and a drive device in driving communication with said adjustment device;

said adjustment device including a film material vent formation device which is moved by said drive device between a vent formation mode and a non-vent formation mode, and wherein, said adjustment device comprises a housing for said vent formation device, and wherein said housing includes a film contact edge that, in use, extends beyond, relative to film travel, a point of compression between two nip drive rollers of the foam-in-bag dispensing system to facilitate the avoidance of nip drive roller film wrap around.

2. The venting system of claim 1 , wherein said vent formation device comprises a blade adjustably supported by said base to move from the non-vent formation mode position, wherein said blade is positioned to a first side of the film material being vented that is closest to a support point of the blade relative to said base, to a vent formation mode position, wherein the blade includes a blade segment that is positioned to an opposite or second side of the film material.

3. The venting system of claim 2 , wherein the blade segment travels within a nip region of of the nip drive rollers, and said nip region extends between diametrically opposite points of one of said drive rollers.

4. The venting system of claim 1 , wherein said adjustment device is slidably received within a recess provided in said base with said drive device blocking said adjustment device from release from said recess when said drive device is in a lock-in position state, and said drive device adjusts to expose for removal said adjustment device when said drive device is in an unlocked state.

5. A venting system for use in a foam-in-bag dispensing system, comprising:

a venting device having a base supported on a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system, an adjustment device supported by said base, and a drive device in driving communication with said adjustment device;

said adjustment device including a film material vent formation device which is moved by said drive device between a vent formation mode and a non-vent formation mode, and

wherein the foam-in-bag film dispensing system includes a pair of drive rollers having a maximum compression film drive contact location falling within a nip region, and said vent formation device comprises a blade segment which travels through said film material and into a groove formed in one of the film drive rollers.

6. The venting system of claim 5 , further comprising a ring insert positioned in the drive roller groove and formed of a material better suited for repeated cuts by the blade segment relative to the driver roller material.

7. The venting system of claim 5 , wherein said blade segment is adjusted by said drive device to cut through a pair of layered film material within 1 cm of the maximum compression location.

8. The venting system of claim 5 , wherein said adjustment device further comprises a blade housing which has a recessed section for engagement with a cane support rod of the foam-in-bag dispensing system.

9. The venting system of claim 5 , wherein said adjustment device comprises a blade cartridge comprising a blade as said film material vent formation device and a blade housing, which blade housing is dimensioned such that said blade is retracted within said housing when in the non-vent formation mode and has a blade segment that extends out from said housing and into film material contact when in vent formation mode.

10. The venting system of claim 5 , wherein said adjustment device comprises a housing for said vent formation device which housing is dimensioned as a film wrap around prevention means.

11. The venting system of claim 10 , wherein said housing includes a film contact edge that extends through a film drive nip region zone.

12. A venting system for use in a foam-in-bag dispensing system, comprising:

a venting device having a base supported on a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system, an adjustment device supported by said base, and a drive device in driving communication with said adjustment device;

said adjustment device including a film material vent formation device which is moved by said drive device between a vent formation mode and a non-vent formation mode, and wherein said adjustment device comprises a housing for said vent formation device, and

wherein said housing is received within a notched region of one of a pair of nip drive rollers which pair of rollers is in driving contact with the film material being vented.

13. The venting system as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said venting device has releasable support rod mounting means which provides for film wrap-around prevention means replacement by said venting device while retaining a film wrap-around prevention function.

14. The venting system as recited in claim 12 , wherein said base pivotably supports said drive device between a driving operation mode and a non-driving operation mode, and wherein when said drive device is in said driving operation mode said adjustment device is locked in position, and when said drive device is in said non-driving operation mode said adjustment device is releasable in a tool-less manner.

15. A venting system for use in a foam-in-bag dispensing system having a roller set for film material feed, wherein the roller set forms a nip roller region, said venting system comprising:

a base;

an adjustment device supported by said base;

a drive device in driving communication with said adjustment device to adjust said adjustment device between a film material vent formation mode and a film non-vent formation mode, and wherein said adjustment device includes a vent formation device that is driven toward the film material while the film material is within the nip roller region; and

a lock down device that releasably locks said drive device into an operational drive engagement position relative to said adjustment device while also clamping into operational position said adjustment device when in a lock down mode and provides for tool-less release of said adjustment device when said lock down device is released from the lock down mode.

16. The venting system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said adjustment device comprises a blade cartridge and said base includes a reception slot which slidingly receives said blade cartridge, and said blade cartridge comprising a housing as well as a blade which provides said film material vent formation device and has a portion in contact with said driver device and is adjustably supported within said housing for movement into and out of said vent formation mode in conjunction with drive device movement.

17. The venting system as recited in claim 16 , wherein said blade has a cutting edge positioned adjacent to the film material and a pivot support and a driver contact segment which is in contact with said driver device.

18. The venting system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said adjustment device is a blade cartridge that comprises a blade as said vent formation device and a blade housing, with said blade having a film material contact blade segment retracted within said housing when in the non-vent formation position and extending away from said housing and to an opposite side of the film material when in the vent formation mode.

19. The venting system of claim 18 , wherein said drive device includes an eccentric cam in driving contact with a segment of said blade which is in an exposed state relative to said blade cartridge housing and wherein said blade is pivotably supported within said housing and placed in said vent formation position upon adjustment by said eccentric cam.

20. The venting system as recited in claim 15 , wherein said base comprises a recessed region dimensioned for support rod reception, an access aperture for receipt of said vent formation device, and a pivot post support that pivotably supports said drive device; and said lock down device includes a lock member also supported by said base.

21. The method venting system of claim 15 wherein said vent formation device venting has a film contact segment that moves within an angle of 5° or less.

22. A venting system for use in a foam-in-bag dispensing system, comprising:

a first venting device having a base supported on a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system, an adjustment device supported by said base, and a drive device in driving communication with said adjustment device;

said adjustment device including a film material vent formation device which is moved by said drive device between a vent formation mode and a non-vent formation mode, and

wherein said base includes a capture recess configured for releasable connection with a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system and said venting system further comprising a friction enhancing compressible material member, which, in conjunction with the capture recess, provides for a tool-less connection of said base with the support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system.

23. The venting system of claim 22 , wherein the capture recess is a hook-shaped capture recess and wherein the support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system is a support rod which is received by the capture recess.

24. A venting system for use in a foam-in-bag dispensing system, comprising:

a first venting device having a base supported on a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system, an adjustment device supported by said base, and a drive device in driving communication with said adjustment device:

said adjustment device including a film material vent formation device which is moved by said drive device between a vent formation mode and a non-vent formation mode,

wherein said base includes a capture recess configured for releasable connection with a support of the foam-in-bag dispensing system and wherein said base is releasably connected, in tool-less fashion, with the foam-in-bag dispensing system, and

wherein said drive device is adjustably supported between a drive operation mode with said adjustment device and a non-drive operation mode with said adjustment device, and wherein, when said drive device is in said drive operation mode, said adjustment device is blocked from release by said drive device and when said drive device is in said non-drive operation mode said adjustment device is in an unblocked and tool- less release state relative to a support state with said base.

25. The venting system of claim 24 , further comprising a second venting device supported by the foam-in-bag dispensing system and being spaced apart from said first venting device.

26. The venting system of claim 25 , wherein said first and second venting devices are of a common configuration and interchangeable in operational position relative to the foam-in-bag dispensing system.

Assignments (28)