CA1092565A - Apparatus for handling flat retort pouches - Google Patents
Apparatus for handling flat retort pouchesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1092565A CA1092565A CA315,012A CA315012A CA1092565A CA 1092565 A CA1092565 A CA 1092565A CA 315012 A CA315012 A CA 315012A CA 1092565 A CA1092565 A CA 1092565A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pouch
- walls
- mouth
- platform
- cups
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
- B65B43/30—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure Apparatus for handling flat retort pouches or the like having opposed walls and an open mouth. The apparatus includes a transport mechanism which carries a series of pouch holders in upright position to different handling stations. There is a magazine in which a pack of pouches are contained, feeding means for removing one pouch at a time and placing it in the holder, pre-opening means for initially opening the mouth by engaging its respective walls and separating them initially, means for suctionally engaging the walls to separate them further, filling means for placing a product in the pouch, mouth-closing means for bringing the edges of the walls of the pouch into juxtaposition at the mouth, and tack-sealing means for tacking the juxtaposed walls together.
Description
~092565 This invention relates to the handling, opening, filling and sealing of pouches with food products.
Comparatively recently, hermetically sealed flexible walled pouches of laminated plastic and metal have been used for food products, taking the place of the more conventional metal cans.
Although retort pouches of various sizes are employed, a typical pouch is made up of opposed rectangular walls 17 cm.
wide by 20 cm. high of laminated metal foil and plastic sheet.
The walls are heat sealed together around the edges to provide a laminated margin of about 7.5 cm. along a bottom and opposed ~ -~
sides, leaving the walls unjoined at the top to provide a mouth.
The mouth has to be opened, for filling, by spreading apart the walls, which are further bulged outwards by the contents aæ they are dropped in. The top margins must be left free so that they can be heat sealed together to complete the hermetically sealed package.
These pouches are flat and flexible and change shape during filling. ~he flexibility and slippery texture of the walls makes the pouch somewhat difficult to open. The flexi-bility and flatnesg of the pouch makes it hard to support and convey in an upright position from one processing station to the other. During and after filling, the walls are bulged out -making i~ hard to bring them together again tidily at the uth for heat ~ealing. -~ ;
~, - The handling of-these pouches automatically and con- ;
tinuously presents problems and no suitable equipment has been readily available for the purpose. It is an aim of the present ~-~
invention to provide such equipment whereby pouches may be fed in a continuous series, the mouth of each pouch opened, the -pouch filled, and the mouth closed and tack sealed. ~-Apparatus according to the invention includes an elongated frame on which the mechanism is mounted and along which there operates a transport mechanism which carries a series of pouch holders each adapted to contain an individual pouch and move it along in production line fashion. There are a series of stations at which there i5 mechanism to perform the different ope~ations, preferably on two pouches at a time. For convenience, reference will usually be made to the operation on a single pouch.
The starting point in handling the pouches is a magazine in which a pack of pouches is contained in vertical position so as to present a leading pouch for feeding into a pouch holder. Means is provided for advancing the pack as each pouch is removed so as to present another pouch ready for feeding.
Opposite the magazine unit is a feeding unit which includes a platform carrying several suction cups, resiliently mounted on a base plate carried by a pressure actuated piston.
The mechanism iq actuated so that the platform can be moved and the suction applied so that the suction cups attach them-selves to the wall of the leading pouch. When the platform is retracted they place the pouch above a pouch holder on the transport mechanism into which the pouch falls when the suction is cut off.
A preferred pouch holder includes a pair of opposed ~substantially vertical walls which have lower converging panels forming between them a channel for receiving the bottom margin of the pouch. The walls have inwardly extending end tabs pro-viding ends on the holder. The walls are urged in the outward direction b~ springs. The walls are also provided with slots to provide passages for a signal beam to locate the pouch.
Comparatively recently, hermetically sealed flexible walled pouches of laminated plastic and metal have been used for food products, taking the place of the more conventional metal cans.
Although retort pouches of various sizes are employed, a typical pouch is made up of opposed rectangular walls 17 cm.
wide by 20 cm. high of laminated metal foil and plastic sheet.
The walls are heat sealed together around the edges to provide a laminated margin of about 7.5 cm. along a bottom and opposed ~ -~
sides, leaving the walls unjoined at the top to provide a mouth.
The mouth has to be opened, for filling, by spreading apart the walls, which are further bulged outwards by the contents aæ they are dropped in. The top margins must be left free so that they can be heat sealed together to complete the hermetically sealed package.
These pouches are flat and flexible and change shape during filling. ~he flexibility and slippery texture of the walls makes the pouch somewhat difficult to open. The flexi-bility and flatnesg of the pouch makes it hard to support and convey in an upright position from one processing station to the other. During and after filling, the walls are bulged out -making i~ hard to bring them together again tidily at the uth for heat ~ealing. -~ ;
~, - The handling of-these pouches automatically and con- ;
tinuously presents problems and no suitable equipment has been readily available for the purpose. It is an aim of the present ~-~
invention to provide such equipment whereby pouches may be fed in a continuous series, the mouth of each pouch opened, the -pouch filled, and the mouth closed and tack sealed. ~-Apparatus according to the invention includes an elongated frame on which the mechanism is mounted and along which there operates a transport mechanism which carries a series of pouch holders each adapted to contain an individual pouch and move it along in production line fashion. There are a series of stations at which there i5 mechanism to perform the different ope~ations, preferably on two pouches at a time. For convenience, reference will usually be made to the operation on a single pouch.
The starting point in handling the pouches is a magazine in which a pack of pouches is contained in vertical position so as to present a leading pouch for feeding into a pouch holder. Means is provided for advancing the pack as each pouch is removed so as to present another pouch ready for feeding.
Opposite the magazine unit is a feeding unit which includes a platform carrying several suction cups, resiliently mounted on a base plate carried by a pressure actuated piston.
The mechanism iq actuated so that the platform can be moved and the suction applied so that the suction cups attach them-selves to the wall of the leading pouch. When the platform is retracted they place the pouch above a pouch holder on the transport mechanism into which the pouch falls when the suction is cut off.
A preferred pouch holder includes a pair of opposed ~substantially vertical walls which have lower converging panels forming between them a channel for receiving the bottom margin of the pouch. The walls have inwardly extending end tabs pro-viding ends on the holder. The walls are urged in the outward direction b~ springs. The walls are also provided with slots to provide passages for a signal beam to locate the pouch.
- 2 -109ZS~5 Once two pouches have been dropped into a pair of pouch holders the transport mechanism operates to advance the pouch holders to a pre-opening stage. ~~
There is a mechanism for pu~hing the walls of the pouch holder towards each other to center the pouch 90 that it can be acted on by pre-opening mechanism. This may take the form of a pair of arms which are pivoted to the frame and have contact jaws for engagement with the sides of the pouch holder.
The arms are moved inwards by pis,ton mechanism synchronized with the movement of the transport mechanism.
At or following the pre-opening station some contents may be placed in the pouch so as to press against it~ sides and hold the pouch in semi-open condition. Following the pre-open-ing station a transport mechanism operates to move the pouch holders 90 that the pair which has been pre-opened arrives at an opening station. ~;
The opened pouches are then moved to a feeding station where the mechanism at the pre-opening station also includes a pair of spaced-apart vertical platforms one at each side of the production line. Each platform mounts a pair of horizontally spaced-apart resilient cups for engaging the wall of the pouch -~
near its mouth. One of the cups is activated by suction, the other is passive. The active cup on one platform is opposite the passive cup on the other.
- The platforms-are each resiliently mounted on a base ~
- ~plate operableiby a piston mechanism to move the-respective ~-platforms towards each other till their resilient cups engage opposed walls of the pouch and press the pouch firmly between them. The re ilient mounting of the platform damps the contzct to protect the pouch and the mechanism. Suction is applied to the active cups so they attach themselves to the pouch walls.
Then the mechanism is operated to withdraw the platform 80 that the active cups draw apart the respective walls to which they are attached causing opening of the mouth of the pouch in an eccentric manner.
The mechanism at the opening station includes opposed mounting platforms each mounting three resilient cups in spaced horizontal alignment for cooperation with cups on the opposite platform. On one platform the two outside cups are suction-activated and the central cup passive. On the other platform a central cup is suction-activated and the outer cups passive.
m e platforms are resiliently mounted on base plates which are piston-actuated so as to move the respective platforms towards each other so that they come into contact with opposite sides of the envelope in the pouch holder. The active cups are then ~
activated so as to attach themselves to the walls of the pouch ~`
so that when the platforms are withdrawn the walls are separated ~-to pull the mouth of the pouch open. The passive cups serve as a base to press the pouch against the opposed active cups. The particular arrangement of the cups causes the uth to be opened in an eccentric manner.
The pouch holder is then moved by the transport mechanism to the prefilling station.
A feeding mechanism is provided for feeding material to the open mouthed pouches presented to it. This feeding mechani~m may take-the form of a conveyor mechanism for con-veying filled containers of material which are conveyed trans-versely to the production line and are inverted onto an orificed platform to dump their contents into a feeding spout in which they are retained momentarily and released into the pouch. The containers are then pushed from the feeding table onto a return conveyor mechanism to take them back to the point of filling.
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, ~ .
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The opened pouches are then moved forward by the transport mechanism to a mouth-closing and tack-sealing station which has mechanism made up of a pair of vertical platforms, one at each side of the production line. Means is provided for moving these platforms to a uth-closing and tack-sealing position and into operative position to act on each pair of pouches as delivered between them.
Each platform includes a pair of outside gripper feet adapted to cooperate with the corresponding feet on the other platform for engaging the corners of the pair of pouches and pulling them outwardly so as to force the walls inward.
The inner feet on each side are both mounted on the same base plate which is, in turn, resiliently mounted on the platform so that when the respective platforms are moved into pouch gripping position the feet at the opposite sides of the pouch engage between them the adjacent corners of the pair of pouches. The outer feet are mounted in a different manner.
Each outside foot is mounted on a base plate which i9, in turn, mounted on a rod pivoted to a link pivoted to a block mounted on a piston rod of a pivotally mounted piston mechanism. The link on the inside is mounted on a block which is slidable in the frame connected to the platform and is spring held in for-ward position. So, when the platforms are moved into position so that the outside feet engage the outside corners of the pouch, the platform continues to move inward~, the resultant forces cause the feet to move outward drawing with them the walls of the envelope held between them. The resultant forces -~
react on the piston rod and the block respectively. The block resiles to a controlled extent against the spring so as to pre-vent undue force applied to the envelope which might tear it.
Each platform also carries a tack-sealing element . :
. ~. ;
- 5 ~
1~9256S
which cooperates with the tack-sealing element on the opposite platform. The tack-sealing elements are therefore brought into contact with the respective pouch walls when the platform is moved into pouch contacting position after the mouth of the pouch has been closed by the gripping mechanism de~cribed.
Then, the tack-sealing elements are activated to apply a tack-seal to the m~uth of the pouch. Then, the respective platforms are withdrawn so that the pouches can be advanced by the trans-port mechanism to further stations, for example to a permanent sealing station.
Having thus generally described the invention, it will be referred to in more detail by reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which: !
Figure 1 is a general perspective view of an overall machine for feeding from a pre-opening, partly ~illing, mouth-closing and tack-sealing of pouches, according to the invention:
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a series of pouches at various stages of handling;
Figure 3 shows the pouch holder in an end elevation;
Figure 4 is a general isometric view, on an enlarged scale, of the pouch holder of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows, in end elevation, the feeding unit for picking the pouches one-by-one from the magazine and dropping them into the pouch holder;
Figure 6 shows the pre-opening station in plan view;
Figure 7 shows the pre-opening station in end elevation;
., . .. , .... . , . . ~ . . . .
lO9Z565 Figure 8 is a top plan view of the opening ~tation, Figure 9 is a top plan view of the pre-opening ~tation showing the action on a pouch;
Figure 10 i5 an end elevation showing the filling station; -Figure 11 (which appears on the same sheet as Figure 8) is a fragmentary side elevation of the filling mechanism;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the ~-mouth-closing and tack-sealing station; and Figure 13 is a fragmentary view of the mouth-closing and tack-sealing mechanism on an-enlarged -scale.
General Arrangement Figure 1 is a perspe~ctive view of an apparatus accord-ing to the invention on which various handling stations and apparatus features will be identified.
A i~ a magazine in which a stack of pouches P is ^ retained ready for feeding.
B denotes a feeding mechanism for taking pouches one~
by-one from the stack and positioning them in a pouqh holdsr K
(Figures 3 and 4).
C identified a transport system which carries a series --~
of pouch holders K and moves them along the production line. ' --E shows a pre-opening station at which the mouths of the pouches are partly opened.
- F represents a station where the mouths of the pouches are further opened and partially filled. ~
Fl is a further filling station. ~--G is a tack-sealing station in which the uths of the bags are closed and opposed edges tack-sealed together. ~ -~
, ' :' Following station G, the pouches are conveyed to the right (looking at the drawing) to a sealing station, where the pouches may be finally sealed in a conventional manner.
Process For the better understanding of the action of the processing of the pouches, a diagrammatic perspective view of a pouch P, at the various stages of handling after it iB deposi-ted in the pouch holder K, is shown in Figure 2. In practice two pouches at a time are processed in each operation but, for simplicity, only one is shown in the diagrams.
A pouch P is shown at A in the flat condition as removed from the magazine A by the mechanism B and are deposited in the pouch holder K.
The pouch P in the pouch holder moves forward through a pre-opening station E where its mouth is partially opened by the action of suction cups 35, 36, 37 and 38.
At station F the pouch is fully opened by cups 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 and is partly filled, to give it a bodied shape ; ready for further filling as shown in station Fl.
The filled pouch is then shaped as it moves between station Fl and station G. At station G the ends of the sides of the pouch holder K are gripped by grippers 45, 46, 47 and 48 and drawn together by tension parallel to the top edge of the pouch.
The juxtaposed margins of the pouch walls at the mouth are then tack-sealed together at station Gl by elements 49 and 50. The tack-sealed pouch is then transported to a permanent sealing sta~ion tnot shown) where a permanent seal of the mouth may be made by conventional means.
Transport Mechanism The transport mechanism C operates between a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls 32 which extend the length of the ~' ~. : j . .-lO9Z565 apparatus. A conveyor belt 15 operates between the walls 32 to transport the pouch holder K from the feeding mechanism A
through to the tack-sealing mechanism G and beyond, for example, to conventional sealing apparatus.
The mechanism at the various processing stages will now be described in more detail.
Pouch Holder K
Figures 3 and 4 show the pouch holder, illustrated generally by K, connected to the transport mechanism C which receives pouches one-by-one from the magazine A. The transport ;
mechanism includes a conveyor belt 15 running on a track 17.
The conveyor belt 15 extends the length of the machine and is driven by suitable mechanism. -~
The pouch holder K includes a base plate 18 connected to the conveyor belt 15. The holder K has a pair of sheet metal ~-sidewalls 19 having converging ends each fitting around a rod 23 held between brackets 25 mounted on the base plate 18. The con-verging ends provide a channel 24 to receive the flat margin of the bottom of the pouch P. ' Each wal:L lg has attached to it a clip 27 having a hooked end which engages a tension spring 29 extending between the brackets 25 so as to hold the walls 19 resiliently in the outward position. The walls are pivotable inwards, into the ~ -position shown in dotted lines (in Figure 3), by the transport mechanism as will be described. Stops 28 limit the outward movement of the walls 19. Each wall has at each end a tab 26 which extends towards the other wall to retain the pouches with- ~`
in the holder. Each wall 19 is provided with a slot 30 for passage of a beam from a proximity detector, as will be later explai~ed.
Pouch Feeding Mechanism Figure 5 illustrates the mechanism for removing the ~-' _ g _ .. ::. . .. - ... . - -lO9ZS65 pouches P one-by-one from a stack held in the magazine A and depositing each pouch in a pouch holder K.
The stack of pouches P is supported with their edges resting on bars 55 extending from a bulkhead 66. Clips 56 act to limit the lateral movement of the pouch and guide it as it drops into the holder K. Suction cups 57 are carried by a base 59 which is, in turn, unted on a block 61 through rods 63.
The base 59 is normally urged away from the block 61 by springs 65. The hlock 61 is mounted on a piston rod 62 actuated by a piston 64. The suction cups 57 are connected to a source of negative pressure by a line 67.
In operation, the suction cups 57 are moved against 'che surface of the first pouch by the movement of the piston rod 62. The surface of the pouch P is engaged and the suction cups 57 retracted to the position shown in full lines in Figure 5. The negative pressure is then removed to release the pouch P to drop into the holder K.
The stack of pouches P is always pushed forward ~sady for removal of the leading pouch, by the following mechanism.
A plate 54 engages the trailing pouch. The plate 54 is connec-ted to a vertical rod 56a which is, in turn, connected to a trolley 58a which runs on horizontal rods 65. A weight 67 urges the trolley 58a against the pack of pouches. Thus, the leading pouch is always in position for removal.
Pre-Opening Station E
Mechanism for positioning the pouch P for pre-opening at station E is shown in end view in Figure 7 and in plan in -Figure 6. A pair of arms 80 and 81 are pivotally mounted on the walls 32 as at 80a and 81a. The arms are provided at their free ends with respective jaws 83 and 84 of plastic, for example, nylon, so that the pouch walls 19 of the pouch holder K will slide against them as the pouch holder movec along the produc-tion line. Inward movement of the jaws 83 and 8~ i9 effected through a pivotal connection to brackets 86 a~d 87 connected to the rods 88 and 89 of a piston mechanism.
In operation, with the pouch holder at station E, the rods 80 and 81 are moved inwards so that the jaws 83 and 84 urge the walls l9`of the pouch holder inwards to center the pouch P
between opposed pairs of suction cups 35, 37 and 36, 38.
The suction cups 35 and 37 are mounted on a base block 71 which is, in turn, through rods 73, mounted on a block 74.
Springs 75 urge the block 71 away from the block 74 so as to provide for a cushioning effect as the suction cups 35 and 37 engage the pouch P between them and opposed suction cups. The block or platform 74 is mounted on a piston rod 72 operating in a cylinder 76. Similar suction cups 36 and 38 are provided at ;~ ;
the other side of the conve!yor and similar numbers have been given to their associated parts as for 35 and 37 except that the subscript "a" has been added.
The cups 35 and 38 are live, i.e., connected to a source of negative pressure. The cups 36 and 37 are dead, i.e., not connected to negative pressure, but merely act hy their own structure and resilience as a base to retain the surface of the pouch in position for engagement with the opposed live cups.
Optionally, an auxiliary air blast mechanism may be employed to blow air into the open mouth of the envelope as shown at 107 in Figure 2. Once the walls have been initially separated, near the mouth, air blast may be applied to pull them apart further down in the envelope. The air blast is tied in with the control system and connected with a suitable source of compressed air and a valving arrangement employed to connect the air to the nozzles 107 to operate in appropriate timed relationship with the vacu~m cup mechanism.
- iO92S65 A field density type proximity detector 77 is provided to sense whether a second pouch may inadvertently have been fed to the position shown at Y. Should there be an additional pouch the detector will operate a stop mechanism in the elec-trical system. In the event that there is a pouch properly open with its edge in the position X the operation will continue normally .
; m ere are sensing devices (not shown) connected to the vacuum system leading to the vacuum cups that sense whether or not an envelope has actually been pre-opened or properly opened. These are conventional devices which operate an electrical circuit to alert the operator or stop the apparatus.
Opening Station F
The opening station F is provided with mechanism similar to that of the pre-opening station E. Similar numbers have been given to similar parts except that the numerals have been raised by 100.
In opening station F there are three suction cups on each block 171 and 171a instead of two. For example, the block 171 carries the two live suction cup~ 39 and 41 intervened by a dead cup 40. The block 171a carries the live central cup 43 flanked by the two dead cups 42 and 44.
The operation of station F is as follows. The pouch ~-~
P, pre-opened at station E, moves along in the pouch holder K
to station F. Here the cups are moved from the position shown ` -in full lines into the position shown in dotted lines (see Figure 8), to engage the walls of the pouch P. Then the suction cups are retracted to the position shown in Figure 9 pulling the walls of the pouch into the position shown in dotted lines.
At this point, contents are loaded into the pouch P so that its mouth is held in open position. The margin of the bottom of the pouch is retained in the channel 24 and its walls are ''^' " ~ ~ . ~ .
restrained by the walls 19 of the pouch holder K.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the mechanism at a fill-ing station. A filling funnel M has,two sides 210 and 211 '' pivoted as at 212 to a beam 214 slidably mounted on vertical rods 219 connected to the frame. A lever 218 is connected to each funnel part and is slidable on the rods 219. Springs 221 on the rods 219 intervene the beam 214 and levers 218. The lower end of each rod 219 is provided with a stop 220. The beam 214 is, in turn, connected to the piston 216 of a cylinder ;
217. Downward movement of the piston 216 causes downward move- ~ -ment of the beam 214. When the levers 218 strike the stop 220 they tip the funnel parts 210 and 211 to the open position shown ` in dotted lines, dumping the contents of the funnel into the ' , open pouch P. ' -''~
225 represents a table above the funnels. An opening ~ ~ , ,., :.;~: -: .
at each side communicates with the top of each funnel. A series ,~
of full containers T is advanced from a filling source by the ,~
upper conveyor 227. Each container T is dropped in an inverted pOSitiOIl over an opening on the table 225 so that its contentA
pass through the opening into the funnel. Then the cylinder 228 is activated so that the rod 229 is retracted causing the arm 231 to move from left to right (looking at Figure 11) pushing ', , the empty container D on to the top flight of the bottom con-veyor 233 to take it back to the filling source. ' Tack-Sealing Station G
Figure 12 illustrates the mechanism at the station G ~ ', where the mouth of the pouch P is closed prior to tack-sealing.
At station G there is a mechanism for closing and tack-sealing ~, simultaneously, two pouches P (a leading pouch and a trailing -pouch). This mechanism includes the pair of cooperating "out-: side" grippers 45 and 46 which engage opposite sides of the -' , . . ". , , , - , ,~ - , : -trailing pouch, and the pair of "inside" grippers 47 and 48 which engage the opposite sides of the leading end of the trail-ing pouch. Likewise, pairs of inside and outside grippers 45a and 46a, 47a and 48a engage the traillng and leading ends respectively of the leading pouch. The grippers are mounted, through a mechanism to be described, on movable frames R and R
at the respective sides of the production line. The frame R
which has a crossbar 270 mounted on a rod 272 i~ operated by a cylinder 273. Carried by the crossbar 270 are inwardly extend-ing beams 274 which carry a block 276 on which the inside grippers 47 and 45a are mounted. Springs 247a and 247b hold the grippers 47 and 45a in the outward position. The block 276 is mounted for inward movement by the beams 274 being movable against the action of the spring 278. The heating element 49 is also mounted on the crossbar 270. `
The gripper 45 is a foot made up of a metallic part 244 and a resilient pad 246. The part 244 is pivoted as at 247 to a block 248 fixed to the end of a rod 249. A spring 250 holds ;~the part 45 in the open position as shown in Figure 12. The rod 249 is integrally connected to a link 251 pivoted as at 253 to a block 255 which, in turn, is connected to a piston rod 257 of a cylinder 258. The cylinder 258 is pivoted at 260 to a bracket 261 mounted on the frame R. The link 251 is pivoted at 252 to a -part 262 which slide~ in a channel in a block 264 mounted on the frame R. m e part Z62 is connected by a rod 265 connected to a bracket 267 extending from the frame. The spring 269 urges the -block 262 in the outward direction towards the pouch P.
In a like manner to the foot 45 the feet 47a and 48a are associated with similar mechanisms.
Also mounted on the frame R is a plate 294 having an inner edge parallel with the direction of movement of the trans- ~ ~
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... , .. . . ~ ~
port system. On the frame Rl at the other side is a similar plate 292.
The uth-closing and tack-sealing unit at station G
operates as follows. At the appropriate signal, the frames R
and Rl at the respective sides of the apparatu~ move inwards, that is towards each other with the pair of poucheq in position between them~as shown in Figure 12. The inner edges of the plates 294 and 292 are moved inwards to engage the respective walls of the pouches P in the start of a flattening operation.
The plates have a spring loaded mounting on the frames R and Rl.
When they reach a predetermined spaced-apart position to provide -~
a gap between them of a desired width, a stop causes them from moving further inward. The pouch is thus flattened to a cer-tain extent before being actually gripped and fully flattened as will be described. To accompliqh further flattening, the inner corners of the opposed gripping feet 45, 46, etc. come into play and contact the upper margins of the wall of the pouch and frictionally grip its surface and as the frames R, R
continue to ve towards each other, the foot 45 is moved against the action of its spring 250, 90 that ultimately its contact surface is flat against the wall of the pouch. Since there is pressure by the feet at both sides of the pouch the resultant force on each foot 45 causes it to move outwards with res~ect to the pouch. At this point, the mouth of the pouch will have been extended to a certain extent. Its top margin will be gripped between the respective pairs of feet 45 and 46, 47 and 48, etc.
The inner pairs of feet 47, 48, 45a and 46a will clamp the sides of the pouch together at each end of the mouth and
There is a mechanism for pu~hing the walls of the pouch holder towards each other to center the pouch 90 that it can be acted on by pre-opening mechanism. This may take the form of a pair of arms which are pivoted to the frame and have contact jaws for engagement with the sides of the pouch holder.
The arms are moved inwards by pis,ton mechanism synchronized with the movement of the transport mechanism.
At or following the pre-opening station some contents may be placed in the pouch so as to press against it~ sides and hold the pouch in semi-open condition. Following the pre-open-ing station a transport mechanism operates to move the pouch holders 90 that the pair which has been pre-opened arrives at an opening station. ~;
The opened pouches are then moved to a feeding station where the mechanism at the pre-opening station also includes a pair of spaced-apart vertical platforms one at each side of the production line. Each platform mounts a pair of horizontally spaced-apart resilient cups for engaging the wall of the pouch -~
near its mouth. One of the cups is activated by suction, the other is passive. The active cup on one platform is opposite the passive cup on the other.
- The platforms-are each resiliently mounted on a base ~
- ~plate operableiby a piston mechanism to move the-respective ~-platforms towards each other till their resilient cups engage opposed walls of the pouch and press the pouch firmly between them. The re ilient mounting of the platform damps the contzct to protect the pouch and the mechanism. Suction is applied to the active cups so they attach themselves to the pouch walls.
Then the mechanism is operated to withdraw the platform 80 that the active cups draw apart the respective walls to which they are attached causing opening of the mouth of the pouch in an eccentric manner.
The mechanism at the opening station includes opposed mounting platforms each mounting three resilient cups in spaced horizontal alignment for cooperation with cups on the opposite platform. On one platform the two outside cups are suction-activated and the central cup passive. On the other platform a central cup is suction-activated and the outer cups passive.
m e platforms are resiliently mounted on base plates which are piston-actuated so as to move the respective platforms towards each other so that they come into contact with opposite sides of the envelope in the pouch holder. The active cups are then ~
activated so as to attach themselves to the walls of the pouch ~`
so that when the platforms are withdrawn the walls are separated ~-to pull the mouth of the pouch open. The passive cups serve as a base to press the pouch against the opposed active cups. The particular arrangement of the cups causes the uth to be opened in an eccentric manner.
The pouch holder is then moved by the transport mechanism to the prefilling station.
A feeding mechanism is provided for feeding material to the open mouthed pouches presented to it. This feeding mechani~m may take-the form of a conveyor mechanism for con-veying filled containers of material which are conveyed trans-versely to the production line and are inverted onto an orificed platform to dump their contents into a feeding spout in which they are retained momentarily and released into the pouch. The containers are then pushed from the feeding table onto a return conveyor mechanism to take them back to the point of filling.
,~
, ~ .
.; ,~ , . . ~ . ~, . . . . .
The opened pouches are then moved forward by the transport mechanism to a mouth-closing and tack-sealing station which has mechanism made up of a pair of vertical platforms, one at each side of the production line. Means is provided for moving these platforms to a uth-closing and tack-sealing position and into operative position to act on each pair of pouches as delivered between them.
Each platform includes a pair of outside gripper feet adapted to cooperate with the corresponding feet on the other platform for engaging the corners of the pair of pouches and pulling them outwardly so as to force the walls inward.
The inner feet on each side are both mounted on the same base plate which is, in turn, resiliently mounted on the platform so that when the respective platforms are moved into pouch gripping position the feet at the opposite sides of the pouch engage between them the adjacent corners of the pair of pouches. The outer feet are mounted in a different manner.
Each outside foot is mounted on a base plate which i9, in turn, mounted on a rod pivoted to a link pivoted to a block mounted on a piston rod of a pivotally mounted piston mechanism. The link on the inside is mounted on a block which is slidable in the frame connected to the platform and is spring held in for-ward position. So, when the platforms are moved into position so that the outside feet engage the outside corners of the pouch, the platform continues to move inward~, the resultant forces cause the feet to move outward drawing with them the walls of the envelope held between them. The resultant forces -~
react on the piston rod and the block respectively. The block resiles to a controlled extent against the spring so as to pre-vent undue force applied to the envelope which might tear it.
Each platform also carries a tack-sealing element . :
. ~. ;
- 5 ~
1~9256S
which cooperates with the tack-sealing element on the opposite platform. The tack-sealing elements are therefore brought into contact with the respective pouch walls when the platform is moved into pouch contacting position after the mouth of the pouch has been closed by the gripping mechanism de~cribed.
Then, the tack-sealing elements are activated to apply a tack-seal to the m~uth of the pouch. Then, the respective platforms are withdrawn so that the pouches can be advanced by the trans-port mechanism to further stations, for example to a permanent sealing station.
Having thus generally described the invention, it will be referred to in more detail by reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and in which: !
Figure 1 is a general perspective view of an overall machine for feeding from a pre-opening, partly ~illing, mouth-closing and tack-sealing of pouches, according to the invention:
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a series of pouches at various stages of handling;
Figure 3 shows the pouch holder in an end elevation;
Figure 4 is a general isometric view, on an enlarged scale, of the pouch holder of Figure 3;
Figure 5 shows, in end elevation, the feeding unit for picking the pouches one-by-one from the magazine and dropping them into the pouch holder;
Figure 6 shows the pre-opening station in plan view;
Figure 7 shows the pre-opening station in end elevation;
., . .. , .... . , . . ~ . . . .
lO9Z565 Figure 8 is a top plan view of the opening ~tation, Figure 9 is a top plan view of the pre-opening ~tation showing the action on a pouch;
Figure 10 i5 an end elevation showing the filling station; -Figure 11 (which appears on the same sheet as Figure 8) is a fragmentary side elevation of the filling mechanism;
Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the ~-mouth-closing and tack-sealing station; and Figure 13 is a fragmentary view of the mouth-closing and tack-sealing mechanism on an-enlarged -scale.
General Arrangement Figure 1 is a perspe~ctive view of an apparatus accord-ing to the invention on which various handling stations and apparatus features will be identified.
A i~ a magazine in which a stack of pouches P is ^ retained ready for feeding.
B denotes a feeding mechanism for taking pouches one~
by-one from the stack and positioning them in a pouqh holdsr K
(Figures 3 and 4).
C identified a transport system which carries a series --~
of pouch holders K and moves them along the production line. ' --E shows a pre-opening station at which the mouths of the pouches are partly opened.
- F represents a station where the mouths of the pouches are further opened and partially filled. ~
Fl is a further filling station. ~--G is a tack-sealing station in which the uths of the bags are closed and opposed edges tack-sealed together. ~ -~
, ' :' Following station G, the pouches are conveyed to the right (looking at the drawing) to a sealing station, where the pouches may be finally sealed in a conventional manner.
Process For the better understanding of the action of the processing of the pouches, a diagrammatic perspective view of a pouch P, at the various stages of handling after it iB deposi-ted in the pouch holder K, is shown in Figure 2. In practice two pouches at a time are processed in each operation but, for simplicity, only one is shown in the diagrams.
A pouch P is shown at A in the flat condition as removed from the magazine A by the mechanism B and are deposited in the pouch holder K.
The pouch P in the pouch holder moves forward through a pre-opening station E where its mouth is partially opened by the action of suction cups 35, 36, 37 and 38.
At station F the pouch is fully opened by cups 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44 and is partly filled, to give it a bodied shape ; ready for further filling as shown in station Fl.
The filled pouch is then shaped as it moves between station Fl and station G. At station G the ends of the sides of the pouch holder K are gripped by grippers 45, 46, 47 and 48 and drawn together by tension parallel to the top edge of the pouch.
The juxtaposed margins of the pouch walls at the mouth are then tack-sealed together at station Gl by elements 49 and 50. The tack-sealed pouch is then transported to a permanent sealing sta~ion tnot shown) where a permanent seal of the mouth may be made by conventional means.
Transport Mechanism The transport mechanism C operates between a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls 32 which extend the length of the ~' ~. : j . .-lO9Z565 apparatus. A conveyor belt 15 operates between the walls 32 to transport the pouch holder K from the feeding mechanism A
through to the tack-sealing mechanism G and beyond, for example, to conventional sealing apparatus.
The mechanism at the various processing stages will now be described in more detail.
Pouch Holder K
Figures 3 and 4 show the pouch holder, illustrated generally by K, connected to the transport mechanism C which receives pouches one-by-one from the magazine A. The transport ;
mechanism includes a conveyor belt 15 running on a track 17.
The conveyor belt 15 extends the length of the machine and is driven by suitable mechanism. -~
The pouch holder K includes a base plate 18 connected to the conveyor belt 15. The holder K has a pair of sheet metal ~-sidewalls 19 having converging ends each fitting around a rod 23 held between brackets 25 mounted on the base plate 18. The con-verging ends provide a channel 24 to receive the flat margin of the bottom of the pouch P. ' Each wal:L lg has attached to it a clip 27 having a hooked end which engages a tension spring 29 extending between the brackets 25 so as to hold the walls 19 resiliently in the outward position. The walls are pivotable inwards, into the ~ -position shown in dotted lines (in Figure 3), by the transport mechanism as will be described. Stops 28 limit the outward movement of the walls 19. Each wall has at each end a tab 26 which extends towards the other wall to retain the pouches with- ~`
in the holder. Each wall 19 is provided with a slot 30 for passage of a beam from a proximity detector, as will be later explai~ed.
Pouch Feeding Mechanism Figure 5 illustrates the mechanism for removing the ~-' _ g _ .. ::. . .. - ... . - -lO9ZS65 pouches P one-by-one from a stack held in the magazine A and depositing each pouch in a pouch holder K.
The stack of pouches P is supported with their edges resting on bars 55 extending from a bulkhead 66. Clips 56 act to limit the lateral movement of the pouch and guide it as it drops into the holder K. Suction cups 57 are carried by a base 59 which is, in turn, unted on a block 61 through rods 63.
The base 59 is normally urged away from the block 61 by springs 65. The hlock 61 is mounted on a piston rod 62 actuated by a piston 64. The suction cups 57 are connected to a source of negative pressure by a line 67.
In operation, the suction cups 57 are moved against 'che surface of the first pouch by the movement of the piston rod 62. The surface of the pouch P is engaged and the suction cups 57 retracted to the position shown in full lines in Figure 5. The negative pressure is then removed to release the pouch P to drop into the holder K.
The stack of pouches P is always pushed forward ~sady for removal of the leading pouch, by the following mechanism.
A plate 54 engages the trailing pouch. The plate 54 is connec-ted to a vertical rod 56a which is, in turn, connected to a trolley 58a which runs on horizontal rods 65. A weight 67 urges the trolley 58a against the pack of pouches. Thus, the leading pouch is always in position for removal.
Pre-Opening Station E
Mechanism for positioning the pouch P for pre-opening at station E is shown in end view in Figure 7 and in plan in -Figure 6. A pair of arms 80 and 81 are pivotally mounted on the walls 32 as at 80a and 81a. The arms are provided at their free ends with respective jaws 83 and 84 of plastic, for example, nylon, so that the pouch walls 19 of the pouch holder K will slide against them as the pouch holder movec along the produc-tion line. Inward movement of the jaws 83 and 8~ i9 effected through a pivotal connection to brackets 86 a~d 87 connected to the rods 88 and 89 of a piston mechanism.
In operation, with the pouch holder at station E, the rods 80 and 81 are moved inwards so that the jaws 83 and 84 urge the walls l9`of the pouch holder inwards to center the pouch P
between opposed pairs of suction cups 35, 37 and 36, 38.
The suction cups 35 and 37 are mounted on a base block 71 which is, in turn, through rods 73, mounted on a block 74.
Springs 75 urge the block 71 away from the block 74 so as to provide for a cushioning effect as the suction cups 35 and 37 engage the pouch P between them and opposed suction cups. The block or platform 74 is mounted on a piston rod 72 operating in a cylinder 76. Similar suction cups 36 and 38 are provided at ;~ ;
the other side of the conve!yor and similar numbers have been given to their associated parts as for 35 and 37 except that the subscript "a" has been added.
The cups 35 and 38 are live, i.e., connected to a source of negative pressure. The cups 36 and 37 are dead, i.e., not connected to negative pressure, but merely act hy their own structure and resilience as a base to retain the surface of the pouch in position for engagement with the opposed live cups.
Optionally, an auxiliary air blast mechanism may be employed to blow air into the open mouth of the envelope as shown at 107 in Figure 2. Once the walls have been initially separated, near the mouth, air blast may be applied to pull them apart further down in the envelope. The air blast is tied in with the control system and connected with a suitable source of compressed air and a valving arrangement employed to connect the air to the nozzles 107 to operate in appropriate timed relationship with the vacu~m cup mechanism.
- iO92S65 A field density type proximity detector 77 is provided to sense whether a second pouch may inadvertently have been fed to the position shown at Y. Should there be an additional pouch the detector will operate a stop mechanism in the elec-trical system. In the event that there is a pouch properly open with its edge in the position X the operation will continue normally .
; m ere are sensing devices (not shown) connected to the vacuum system leading to the vacuum cups that sense whether or not an envelope has actually been pre-opened or properly opened. These are conventional devices which operate an electrical circuit to alert the operator or stop the apparatus.
Opening Station F
The opening station F is provided with mechanism similar to that of the pre-opening station E. Similar numbers have been given to similar parts except that the numerals have been raised by 100.
In opening station F there are three suction cups on each block 171 and 171a instead of two. For example, the block 171 carries the two live suction cup~ 39 and 41 intervened by a dead cup 40. The block 171a carries the live central cup 43 flanked by the two dead cups 42 and 44.
The operation of station F is as follows. The pouch ~-~
P, pre-opened at station E, moves along in the pouch holder K
to station F. Here the cups are moved from the position shown ` -in full lines into the position shown in dotted lines (see Figure 8), to engage the walls of the pouch P. Then the suction cups are retracted to the position shown in Figure 9 pulling the walls of the pouch into the position shown in dotted lines.
At this point, contents are loaded into the pouch P so that its mouth is held in open position. The margin of the bottom of the pouch is retained in the channel 24 and its walls are ''^' " ~ ~ . ~ .
restrained by the walls 19 of the pouch holder K.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the mechanism at a fill-ing station. A filling funnel M has,two sides 210 and 211 '' pivoted as at 212 to a beam 214 slidably mounted on vertical rods 219 connected to the frame. A lever 218 is connected to each funnel part and is slidable on the rods 219. Springs 221 on the rods 219 intervene the beam 214 and levers 218. The lower end of each rod 219 is provided with a stop 220. The beam 214 is, in turn, connected to the piston 216 of a cylinder ;
217. Downward movement of the piston 216 causes downward move- ~ -ment of the beam 214. When the levers 218 strike the stop 220 they tip the funnel parts 210 and 211 to the open position shown ` in dotted lines, dumping the contents of the funnel into the ' , open pouch P. ' -''~
225 represents a table above the funnels. An opening ~ ~ , ,., :.;~: -: .
at each side communicates with the top of each funnel. A series ,~
of full containers T is advanced from a filling source by the ,~
upper conveyor 227. Each container T is dropped in an inverted pOSitiOIl over an opening on the table 225 so that its contentA
pass through the opening into the funnel. Then the cylinder 228 is activated so that the rod 229 is retracted causing the arm 231 to move from left to right (looking at Figure 11) pushing ', , the empty container D on to the top flight of the bottom con-veyor 233 to take it back to the filling source. ' Tack-Sealing Station G
Figure 12 illustrates the mechanism at the station G ~ ', where the mouth of the pouch P is closed prior to tack-sealing.
At station G there is a mechanism for closing and tack-sealing ~, simultaneously, two pouches P (a leading pouch and a trailing -pouch). This mechanism includes the pair of cooperating "out-: side" grippers 45 and 46 which engage opposite sides of the -' , . . ". , , , - , ,~ - , : -trailing pouch, and the pair of "inside" grippers 47 and 48 which engage the opposite sides of the leading end of the trail-ing pouch. Likewise, pairs of inside and outside grippers 45a and 46a, 47a and 48a engage the traillng and leading ends respectively of the leading pouch. The grippers are mounted, through a mechanism to be described, on movable frames R and R
at the respective sides of the production line. The frame R
which has a crossbar 270 mounted on a rod 272 i~ operated by a cylinder 273. Carried by the crossbar 270 are inwardly extend-ing beams 274 which carry a block 276 on which the inside grippers 47 and 45a are mounted. Springs 247a and 247b hold the grippers 47 and 45a in the outward position. The block 276 is mounted for inward movement by the beams 274 being movable against the action of the spring 278. The heating element 49 is also mounted on the crossbar 270. `
The gripper 45 is a foot made up of a metallic part 244 and a resilient pad 246. The part 244 is pivoted as at 247 to a block 248 fixed to the end of a rod 249. A spring 250 holds ;~the part 45 in the open position as shown in Figure 12. The rod 249 is integrally connected to a link 251 pivoted as at 253 to a block 255 which, in turn, is connected to a piston rod 257 of a cylinder 258. The cylinder 258 is pivoted at 260 to a bracket 261 mounted on the frame R. The link 251 is pivoted at 252 to a -part 262 which slide~ in a channel in a block 264 mounted on the frame R. m e part Z62 is connected by a rod 265 connected to a bracket 267 extending from the frame. The spring 269 urges the -block 262 in the outward direction towards the pouch P.
In a like manner to the foot 45 the feet 47a and 48a are associated with similar mechanisms.
Also mounted on the frame R is a plate 294 having an inner edge parallel with the direction of movement of the trans- ~ ~
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... , .. . . ~ ~
port system. On the frame Rl at the other side is a similar plate 292.
The uth-closing and tack-sealing unit at station G
operates as follows. At the appropriate signal, the frames R
and Rl at the respective sides of the apparatu~ move inwards, that is towards each other with the pair of poucheq in position between them~as shown in Figure 12. The inner edges of the plates 294 and 292 are moved inwards to engage the respective walls of the pouches P in the start of a flattening operation.
The plates have a spring loaded mounting on the frames R and Rl.
When they reach a predetermined spaced-apart position to provide -~
a gap between them of a desired width, a stop causes them from moving further inward. The pouch is thus flattened to a cer-tain extent before being actually gripped and fully flattened as will be described. To accompliqh further flattening, the inner corners of the opposed gripping feet 45, 46, etc. come into play and contact the upper margins of the wall of the pouch and frictionally grip its surface and as the frames R, R
continue to ve towards each other, the foot 45 is moved against the action of its spring 250, 90 that ultimately its contact surface is flat against the wall of the pouch. Since there is pressure by the feet at both sides of the pouch the resultant force on each foot 45 causes it to move outwards with res~ect to the pouch. At this point, the mouth of the pouch will have been extended to a certain extent. Its top margin will be gripped between the respective pairs of feet 45 and 46, 47 and 48, etc.
The inner pairs of feet 47, 48, 45a and 46a will clamp the sides of the pouch together at each end of the mouth and
3~ hold them in position while the outer pairs of feet 45, 46, 47a and 48a move in the outward direction to cause longitudinal ~ ~. ... . . . .
~-.:: ~ . .: , , " 1092565 tension along the mouth of the pouch pulling it closed. More specifically, this takes place as follows.
The beam 270 is moved inward towards the pouch P, bringing the foot 45 into contact with one side of the pouch P, while the companion foot 46 is likewise brought into contact with the other side of the pouch P.
As~soon as the foot 45 encounters the resistance of the foot 46 it first pivots against the resistance of the spring 250 so that its working surface flattens against the wall of the pouch. Then, the foot 45 i9 moved outward~ about the pivotal connection of the link 251 against the pressure of the piston 258.
The movement of the beam R is transmitted to the rod 249 and through the part 251 so that the foot 45 is pushed against the pouch and against the opposed foot 46 on the other side of the pouch, which is responding in the same manner. The pressure exerted by the cylinder 258 is less than that exerted by the spring 269. This allows a required amount of outward ;
i4 angular movement on the rod 249 to force the foot 45 in the out-'s 20 ward direction relative to the pouch. The differential pressure can be adjusted to such an amount that the pull exerted by the feet 45 and 46 against the retention on the other end of the pouch by the feet 47 and 48 is such as to pull the mouth of the bag closed without tearing it.
When the margins of the pouch P at the mouth of the pouch have been brought together as described, the elements ;`
49 and 50 function to heat seal the juxtaposed parts of the respective pouch walls between them. The pouches are then moved to the right to a sealing station where they are finally sealed.
The apparatus is provided with mechanical, electrical ~`
and pneumatic operating mechanism of a conventional type. Such . - .. , .- - - .. , -. . . . . .... , , :
` mechanism provides for the movement of the tran~port unit and for the operation of the mechanism at the various stations as described in appropriate timed relationship as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Vacuum Cups The structure and arrangement of the vacuum cups is important to~the preferred functioning of the apparatus. While the particular vacuum cup employed is not part of the invention, a typical vacuum cup is of a soft resilient elastomeric material and is made up of a cylindrical stem of about 5/8th of an inch outside diameter and about 3/4 of an inch in length and having a wall about l/8th of an inch thick whose base i5 mounted on the platform. A head integrally connected to the other end of `
the stem is made up of a circular part having a diameter of about 7/8ths of an inch merging into a diagonally outwardly extending frusto-conical thin flexible skirt terminating in a -~
circular contact rim about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. The , circular part ha~ a central 3/16ths inch diameter opening to ,~ the inside of the stem and spaced-apart ridges protruding from its surface to provide therebetween an access labyrinth leading to the opening when the cup is seated on the surface of an ~`
envelope. This is purely an example to give a specific idea of one suitable type of vacUum cup since the cup may vary in size and type.- ;~
Initial contact of the cup with the envelope surface ~ is made by the rim of the skirt. As the cup is moved further ,- towards the envelope, the skirt is progressively deformed to ;~
its physical limits. Vacuum is not applied until the cup has been collapsed to some extent, when the timing mechanism operates to apply vacuum. When the cup is collapsed to its physical limits the springs acting on the platform on which the , ~ ., - ~09Z56~
cup is mounted come into action first as shock absorbers, then to maintain resilient pressure of the cup against the surface of the envelope maintaining the spread shape of the skirt of the cup and pre~ent undue surface distortion of the envelope.
With a cup of the dimensions described, the resilience of the cup itself will provide a play of about 1/8th of an inch and ~-the springs another 1/4 of an inch.
It has been found by the applicants that applying vacuum on one side of the envelope and not on thé other pre-vents an equilibrium which might otherwise occur to interferewith the separation of the walls of the envelope to open its mouth. It is, however, desirable for the preferred functioning of the apparatus to have substantially identical surfaces oppo-Jite each other at respective sides of the envelope. So, the parts of the aligned cups 35 and 36, for example, which contact the surface of the pouch are identical even though vacuum is only applied to 35. Inequality between the respective surfaces of the cups facing each other and between which the pouch is squeezed would tend to produce surface distortion interfering with the attachment of the vacuum-active cup to the pouch wall.
In order to prevent the inactive cup from adhering to the pouch ~-~
wall and ensuring quick release of the pouch it is relieved by an escape passage leading from the labyrinth on its face through the bore in its stem to a passage through the platform on which it is mounted so that air can escape from the pocket formed between the cup surface and the pouch wall. However, the place-ment of the cups and their number and size may be varied to ~ ;
provide different configurations of the opened mouth of the pouch convenient for different filling operations. For example, `30 in the pattern shown in Figure 6, a pair of horizontally spaced-apart cups are employed, one of which 38 is active and the other ~6 is passive, with the opposed cups 37 and 35 being respectively passive and active. In another arrangement shown in Figure 9 on one side of the pouch there can be three CUp8 in a row, with the central cup 43 active and the flanking cups 42 and 44 passive, in which case, on the other side of the pouch the two outside cups 39 and 41 are active and the central cup 40 passive.
Other arrangements may be employed to vary the configuration of the opened mouth of the envelope.
Pneumatic connections to the cups are through passages -in the platforms that carry them. For example, passages in the platforms 71 and 71a lead from a vacuum connection (not shown) to the base of the stem of the active cups 35 and 38 respectively.
- Likewise, passages through the platform 171 lead from a vacuum line to the active cups 39 and 41 and a passage through the platform 171a leads to the active cup 43. The vacuum connections are part of a conventional pneumatic system which leads to a suitable source of vacuum and is controlled by valves to apply and cut-off the vacuum, as described, in timed relationship with the other movements of the apparatus. ~
, The specific example of the type of envelope which has ~ ~`
been used to explain the invention is a hermetically sealable retort pouch because this is a preferred application. Another example is a gusset envelope. However, other types of envelope may be fed and opened by the use of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
After the tack-sealing station, the pouches are moved forward to where conventional further steps may be performed on them, as for example, evacuation, gas back-flushing, and sealing.
Conventional drive mechanism and conventional electri-cal, pneumatic and vacuum systems are employed to operate the apparatus to perform the various handling functions as described --~in timed relationship as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
.~: . ~ : - .
. , , The drive of the conveyor or transport mechanism is governed by a Geneva drive, part of which is shown at 285, which serves to stop and start the mechanism under controlled conditions so that the pouch holders stop at the appropriate stations where they are acted on as described.
A rotating cam mechanism is connected to electrical and pneumatic instrumentalities and continually operates to perform the various handling functions in timed sequence. The cam makes one full rotation for each full rotation of the Geneva drive and is programmed to operate microswitches in the electric circuitry to take care of each of the operations, as for example, turnedon and off the vacuum for picking the pouch off the magazine, for the pouch pre-opening and opening, and the closing and tack-sealing operations.
The air cylinders which operate the pneumatic and vacuum mechanism are controlled by timing cam mechanisms which operate a series of microswitches connected to solenoid valves 284 which, in turn, control the air cylinders. The vacuum ia cut in and cut out by solenoid-operated valves. Considering, for example, the pre-opening station shown in Figure 6, once '`
the pouch carrier arrives between the vacuum cups 35, 36, 37 ~
and 38 the cam senses where the holder is and, at that point, ~ -starts the pneumatic mechanism working to move the vacuum cup platforms 71a and 74a inwards so that the vacuum cups attach -themselves to the sides of the envelope. Then after a timed interval vacuum is supplied to the active cups. Then after a timed interval the reverse take~ place and eventually the vacuum is cut off again by the cam timing mechanism.
.. . . :
:: - :. , 1 . :
- , : - - : . , .
~-.:: ~ . .: , , " 1092565 tension along the mouth of the pouch pulling it closed. More specifically, this takes place as follows.
The beam 270 is moved inward towards the pouch P, bringing the foot 45 into contact with one side of the pouch P, while the companion foot 46 is likewise brought into contact with the other side of the pouch P.
As~soon as the foot 45 encounters the resistance of the foot 46 it first pivots against the resistance of the spring 250 so that its working surface flattens against the wall of the pouch. Then, the foot 45 i9 moved outward~ about the pivotal connection of the link 251 against the pressure of the piston 258.
The movement of the beam R is transmitted to the rod 249 and through the part 251 so that the foot 45 is pushed against the pouch and against the opposed foot 46 on the other side of the pouch, which is responding in the same manner. The pressure exerted by the cylinder 258 is less than that exerted by the spring 269. This allows a required amount of outward ;
i4 angular movement on the rod 249 to force the foot 45 in the out-'s 20 ward direction relative to the pouch. The differential pressure can be adjusted to such an amount that the pull exerted by the feet 45 and 46 against the retention on the other end of the pouch by the feet 47 and 48 is such as to pull the mouth of the bag closed without tearing it.
When the margins of the pouch P at the mouth of the pouch have been brought together as described, the elements ;`
49 and 50 function to heat seal the juxtaposed parts of the respective pouch walls between them. The pouches are then moved to the right to a sealing station where they are finally sealed.
The apparatus is provided with mechanical, electrical ~`
and pneumatic operating mechanism of a conventional type. Such . - .. , .- - - .. , -. . . . . .... , , :
` mechanism provides for the movement of the tran~port unit and for the operation of the mechanism at the various stations as described in appropriate timed relationship as will be apparent to one skilled in the art.
Vacuum Cups The structure and arrangement of the vacuum cups is important to~the preferred functioning of the apparatus. While the particular vacuum cup employed is not part of the invention, a typical vacuum cup is of a soft resilient elastomeric material and is made up of a cylindrical stem of about 5/8th of an inch outside diameter and about 3/4 of an inch in length and having a wall about l/8th of an inch thick whose base i5 mounted on the platform. A head integrally connected to the other end of `
the stem is made up of a circular part having a diameter of about 7/8ths of an inch merging into a diagonally outwardly extending frusto-conical thin flexible skirt terminating in a -~
circular contact rim about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. The , circular part ha~ a central 3/16ths inch diameter opening to ,~ the inside of the stem and spaced-apart ridges protruding from its surface to provide therebetween an access labyrinth leading to the opening when the cup is seated on the surface of an ~`
envelope. This is purely an example to give a specific idea of one suitable type of vacUum cup since the cup may vary in size and type.- ;~
Initial contact of the cup with the envelope surface ~ is made by the rim of the skirt. As the cup is moved further ,- towards the envelope, the skirt is progressively deformed to ;~
its physical limits. Vacuum is not applied until the cup has been collapsed to some extent, when the timing mechanism operates to apply vacuum. When the cup is collapsed to its physical limits the springs acting on the platform on which the , ~ ., - ~09Z56~
cup is mounted come into action first as shock absorbers, then to maintain resilient pressure of the cup against the surface of the envelope maintaining the spread shape of the skirt of the cup and pre~ent undue surface distortion of the envelope.
With a cup of the dimensions described, the resilience of the cup itself will provide a play of about 1/8th of an inch and ~-the springs another 1/4 of an inch.
It has been found by the applicants that applying vacuum on one side of the envelope and not on thé other pre-vents an equilibrium which might otherwise occur to interferewith the separation of the walls of the envelope to open its mouth. It is, however, desirable for the preferred functioning of the apparatus to have substantially identical surfaces oppo-Jite each other at respective sides of the envelope. So, the parts of the aligned cups 35 and 36, for example, which contact the surface of the pouch are identical even though vacuum is only applied to 35. Inequality between the respective surfaces of the cups facing each other and between which the pouch is squeezed would tend to produce surface distortion interfering with the attachment of the vacuum-active cup to the pouch wall.
In order to prevent the inactive cup from adhering to the pouch ~-~
wall and ensuring quick release of the pouch it is relieved by an escape passage leading from the labyrinth on its face through the bore in its stem to a passage through the platform on which it is mounted so that air can escape from the pocket formed between the cup surface and the pouch wall. However, the place-ment of the cups and their number and size may be varied to ~ ;
provide different configurations of the opened mouth of the pouch convenient for different filling operations. For example, `30 in the pattern shown in Figure 6, a pair of horizontally spaced-apart cups are employed, one of which 38 is active and the other ~6 is passive, with the opposed cups 37 and 35 being respectively passive and active. In another arrangement shown in Figure 9 on one side of the pouch there can be three CUp8 in a row, with the central cup 43 active and the flanking cups 42 and 44 passive, in which case, on the other side of the pouch the two outside cups 39 and 41 are active and the central cup 40 passive.
Other arrangements may be employed to vary the configuration of the opened mouth of the envelope.
Pneumatic connections to the cups are through passages -in the platforms that carry them. For example, passages in the platforms 71 and 71a lead from a vacuum connection (not shown) to the base of the stem of the active cups 35 and 38 respectively.
- Likewise, passages through the platform 171 lead from a vacuum line to the active cups 39 and 41 and a passage through the platform 171a leads to the active cup 43. The vacuum connections are part of a conventional pneumatic system which leads to a suitable source of vacuum and is controlled by valves to apply and cut-off the vacuum, as described, in timed relationship with the other movements of the apparatus. ~
, The specific example of the type of envelope which has ~ ~`
been used to explain the invention is a hermetically sealable retort pouch because this is a preferred application. Another example is a gusset envelope. However, other types of envelope may be fed and opened by the use of the invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
After the tack-sealing station, the pouches are moved forward to where conventional further steps may be performed on them, as for example, evacuation, gas back-flushing, and sealing.
Conventional drive mechanism and conventional electri-cal, pneumatic and vacuum systems are employed to operate the apparatus to perform the various handling functions as described --~in timed relationship as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
.~: . ~ : - .
. , , The drive of the conveyor or transport mechanism is governed by a Geneva drive, part of which is shown at 285, which serves to stop and start the mechanism under controlled conditions so that the pouch holders stop at the appropriate stations where they are acted on as described.
A rotating cam mechanism is connected to electrical and pneumatic instrumentalities and continually operates to perform the various handling functions in timed sequence. The cam makes one full rotation for each full rotation of the Geneva drive and is programmed to operate microswitches in the electric circuitry to take care of each of the operations, as for example, turnedon and off the vacuum for picking the pouch off the magazine, for the pouch pre-opening and opening, and the closing and tack-sealing operations.
The air cylinders which operate the pneumatic and vacuum mechanism are controlled by timing cam mechanisms which operate a series of microswitches connected to solenoid valves 284 which, in turn, control the air cylinders. The vacuum ia cut in and cut out by solenoid-operated valves. Considering, for example, the pre-opening station shown in Figure 6, once '`
the pouch carrier arrives between the vacuum cups 35, 36, 37 ~
and 38 the cam senses where the holder is and, at that point, ~ -starts the pneumatic mechanism working to move the vacuum cup platforms 71a and 74a inwards so that the vacuum cups attach -themselves to the sides of the envelope. Then after a timed interval vacuum is supplied to the active cups. Then after a timed interval the reverse take~ place and eventually the vacuum is cut off again by the cam timing mechanism.
.. . . :
:: - :. , 1 . :
- , : - - : . , .
Claims (14)
1. Apparatus for handling flat retort pouches or the like having opposed walls and an open mouth, comprising, a frame mounting a transport mechanism extending the length thereof, a series of pouch holders carried by the transport mechanism for movement to different handling stations each having means for retaining a pouch in upright position, a magazine unit in which the pouches are contained upright in a pack, and in series, a number of handling units including, a feeding unit provided with means for removing one pouch at a time from the magazine unit and placing it in one of said holders and for advancing the pack so as to place another pouch in feeding position, at least one opening unit provided with means for opening the mouth of the pouch by separating its respective walls, a filling unit provided with means for placing the product in the pouch, a mouth-closing and tack-sealing unit provided with means for bringing the edges of the walls of the pouch into juxtaposition at the mouth and for tack-sealing the juxtaposed walls together, and operating and timing mechanism provided with means for advancing and stopping the transport mechanism and for operating and handling units in synchrony.
2. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the feeding unit includes a vertical platform facing said magazine unit and carrying a plurality of vacuum cups, said platform being mounted for movement towards and away from the platform for engagement with the leading pouch and for withdrawing it and depositing it in the pouch holder, and means for applying and withdrawing vacuum from the vacuum cups.
3. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the opening unit includes a pair of opposed platforms, one at each side of the transport mechanism, at least one pair of resilient cups on each platform placed to register with the pair of cups on the other platform, in which at least one cup on each platform is connected to a source of vacuum and at least one other cup is passive, means for moving one platform towards and away from the other whereby the pouch is engaged between opposed cups and when vacuum is applied and the platform withdrawn the respective walls are pulled apart so that the mouth is open.
4. Apparatus, as defined in claim 2 or 3, in which each vertical platform is resiliently mounted on a base movable by a fluid operated piston mechanism.
5. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the trans-port mechanism includes a holder for receiving a pouch from the magazine and having a pair of substantially vertical walls for holding the pouch upright, at least one of said walls having an opening, a proximity detector at the side of the transport mechanism of the opening unit operative through said opening and means actuated by the proximity detector for interrupting the operation if there is an unopened pouch.
6. Apparatus, as defined in claim 3, in which the walls of the holder are held resiliently in outer position, the opening unit including centering means movable inwardly against the walls of the pouch to center it for handling.
7. Apparatus, as defined in claim 6, in which the in-wardly movable means includes a pair of arms pivoted to the frame, each arm having a jaw for engaging the walls of the pouch holder.
8. Apparatus, as defined in claim 3, in which the open-ing unit includes a horizontally placed array of three resilient cups on each platform each placed to register with a cup on the other platform, a central cup of one array and the flanking cups of the other array being connected to a source of vacuum, the other cups being passive.
9. Apparatus, as defined in claim 3, in which there are a pair of resilient cups on each platform, each placed to register with the cups on the other platform, one cup of each pair being connected to a source of vacuum, the other cup being passive.
10. Apparatus, as defined in claim 1, in which the filling means includes a hopper positioned to retain material for dropp-ing into a pouch and means for opening the bottom of the hopper to allow the material to fall into the pouch, a table above said hopper and an opening in said table, a conveyor mechanism operating transversely to said transport mechanism and having a terminal above said table whereby containers filled with product are conveyed to and inverted on said table to dump their contents therethrough into the hopper, means for moving empty containers back onto the con-veyor mechanism for return to the source of product, and means for operating the feeding mechanism whereby product is supplied to opened pouches as they reach the feeding station.
11. A method of handling pouches and the like, comprising, selecting a pouch having opposed connected walls unjoined along one margin to provide a mouth, placing and holding the pouch loosely in upright position and while so held, opening the mouth by suctionally engaging the walls of said margin and pulling them apart, filling the pouch with product through the open mouth causing its walls to bulge outwards maintaining the mouth open, closing the mouth by gripping the top corners of the pouch and exerting resilient tension pulling in opposite direc-tions to place the walls under tension and drawing them into juxtaposition, and tack-sealing the juxtaposed walls together.
12. A method, as defined in claim 11, in which a plurality of pouches are selected and handled simultaneously.
13. A method, as defined in claim 11, in which, prior to gripping the corners of the pouch, pushing them together to within a predetermined gap.
14. A method, as defined in claim 11, 12 or 13, in which the opening of the mouth is effected in two stages by first pulling the walls apart by suction applied eccentrically in one pattern and then by suction applied eccentrically in another pattern.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,012A CA1092565A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1978-10-31 | Apparatus for handling flat retort pouches |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,012A CA1092565A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1978-10-31 | Apparatus for handling flat retort pouches |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1092565A true CA1092565A (en) | 1980-12-30 |
Family
ID=4112781
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA315,012A Expired CA1092565A (en) | 1978-10-31 | 1978-10-31 | Apparatus for handling flat retort pouches |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1092565A (en) |
Cited By (7)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4724656A (en) * | 1985-10-02 | 1988-02-16 | Sokichi Tanaka | Automatic molten substance bagging system |
| EP1645512A1 (en) * | 2004-10-07 | 2006-04-12 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Apparatus for opening of flatly stacked bags |
| JP2015081138A (en) * | 2013-10-24 | 2015-04-27 | 株式会社ファブリカトヤマ | Filling seal device for bag-like container |
| CN110116830A (en) * | 2019-05-21 | 2019-08-13 | 广东大市智能装备有限公司 | A kind of intelligence encapsulation stacking machine |
| CN112693642A (en) * | 2019-10-23 | 2021-04-23 | 宁波诺客环境科技有限公司 | Material collecting equipment and material collecting method |
| IT202000026173A1 (en) * | 2020-11-03 | 2022-05-03 | Icos Pharma S P A | EQUIPMENT FOR CONTROLLED HANDLING OF BAGS |
| US11407544B2 (en) * | 2020-10-09 | 2022-08-09 | Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. | Part packing system and method |
-
1978
- 1978-10-31 CA CA315,012A patent/CA1092565A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (8)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4724656A (en) * | 1985-10-02 | 1988-02-16 | Sokichi Tanaka | Automatic molten substance bagging system |
| EP1645512A1 (en) * | 2004-10-07 | 2006-04-12 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Apparatus for opening of flatly stacked bags |
| US7194849B2 (en) | 2004-10-07 | 2007-03-27 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Apparatus for opening bags lying flat |
| JP2015081138A (en) * | 2013-10-24 | 2015-04-27 | 株式会社ファブリカトヤマ | Filling seal device for bag-like container |
| CN110116830A (en) * | 2019-05-21 | 2019-08-13 | 广东大市智能装备有限公司 | A kind of intelligence encapsulation stacking machine |
| CN112693642A (en) * | 2019-10-23 | 2021-04-23 | 宁波诺客环境科技有限公司 | Material collecting equipment and material collecting method |
| US11407544B2 (en) * | 2020-10-09 | 2022-08-09 | Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. | Part packing system and method |
| IT202000026173A1 (en) * | 2020-11-03 | 2022-05-03 | Icos Pharma S P A | EQUIPMENT FOR CONTROLLED HANDLING OF BAGS |
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