IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,827,399
Granted Patent B2
US 11,827,399 · App. 17/734,257 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

Funnels for package filling

Inventors: James Abston (Plymouth, WI); Tim Veldman (Plymouth, WI); Jon Sommer (Plymouth, WI); Aaron Strand (Plymouth, WI)
Assignee: Sargento Foods Inc.
B65B39/12B65B1/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,827,399
App. No.
17/734,257
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Funnels are disclosed for use with filling packages with bulk product.

Claims (25)

1. A funnel assembly for transferring a weight scaled amount of shredded cheese in a z axis, x axis and y axis direction to a package comprising:

an intermediate funnel having an entry end for receiving the weight scaled amount of shredded cheese, the intermediate funnel configured such that the weight scaled amount of shredded cheese travels through the intermediate funnel in a stream in the z axis direction and the stream is shaped in the x axis direction without being shaped in the y-axis direction; and

a second funnel configured such that the weight scaled amount of shredded cheese travels through the second funnel in the stream in the z axis direction and the stream is shaped in the y axis direction without being shaped in the x axis direction, said second funnel terminating in a coped exit end adapted to be positioned in the package, wherein the second funnel continues to shape the steam in the y axis direction when the coped exit end is positioned in the package.

2. The funnel assembly of claim 1 wherein the coped exit end has at least one cutout.

3. The funnel assembly of claim 2 wherein the at least one cutout is curved.

4. The funnel assembly of claim 1 wherein the coped exit end has two cutouts.

5. The funnel assembly of claim 1 wherein the coped exit end is wedge shaped.

6. The funnel assembly of claim 1 wherein the second funnel has no moving parts.

7. A funnel assembly for transferring a weight scaled amount of shredded cheese in a z axis, a x axis and a y axis direction to a package comprising:

a funnel having walls oriented to receive a stream of the weight scaled amount of shredded cheese and enable the stream to travel through the funnel in a z axis direction, the walls are oriented to shape the stream traveling in the z axis direction first in an x axis direction without being shaped in an y axis direction, and thereafter the walls are oriented to shape the stream traveling in the z axis direction in the y axis direction without being shaped in the x axis direction and oriented to have an coped exit end positionable in the package,

the funnel oriented so that the stream of the weight scaled amount of shredded cheese is already shaped in the x axis direction and continues to be shaped in the y axis direction as the stream enters the coped portion positioned in the package.

8. The funnel assembly of claim 7 wherein the coped portion has at least one cutout.

9. The funnel assembly of claim 8 wherein the at least one cutout is curved.

10. The funnel assembly of claim 7 wherein the coped portion has two cutouts.

11. The funnel assembly of claim 7 wherein the coped portion is wedge shaped.

12. The funnel assembly of claim 7 wherein the funnel has no moving parts.

13. A funnel assembly for transferring a weight scaled amount of shredded cheese in a z axis, a x axis and a y axis direction to a package comprising:

a first portion having walls for receiving and allowing the weight scaled amount of shredded cheese to travel between the walls in a stream in a z axis direction, the walls are oriented to shape the stream in an x axis direction without being shaped in a y axis direction;

a second portion adjacent the first portion and having second walls that allow the stream from the first portion to travel between the second walls in the z axis direction, the second walls are oriented to shape the stream in the y axis direction without being shaped in the x axis direction; and

a coped third portion adjacent the second portion, positionable in the package and oriented to allow the stream from the second portion to continue to be shaped in the y axis direction when the coped end in positioned in the package.

14. The funnel assembly of claim 13 wherein the coped third portion has at least one cutout.

15. The funnel assembly of claim 14 wherein the at least one cutout is curved.

16. The funnel assembly of claim 13 wherein the coped third portion has two cutouts.

17. The funnel assembly of claim 13 wherein the coped third portion is wedge shaped.

18. The funnel assembly of claim 13 wherein the funnel has no moving parts.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 25, 2024
From: SARGENTO FOODS INC.
To: SARGENTO CHEESE INC.
Reel/Frame 066370/0428 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 2, 2022
From: ABSTON, JAMES; VELDMAN, TIM; SOMMER, JON; STRAND, AARON
To: SARGENTO FOODS INC.
Reel/Frame 059779/0217 →
Continuity (2)
Division 17106578 · Nov 30, 2020
Related Publication 20220258896A1 · Aug 18, 2022