EP0283493B1

EP0283493B1 - Apparatus for continuously packaging a product

Info

Publication number: EP0283493B1
Application number: EP19870906110
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rijk Van Der Haar; Ewoud Alphonsus Van Der Berg
Original assignee: Douwe Egberts Koninklijke Tabaksfabriek Koffiebranderijen Theehandel NV
Current assignee: Sara Lee DE NV; Van Nelle Tabak Nederland BV
Priority date: 1986-09-25
Filing date: 1987-09-24
Publication date: 1991-07-03
Also published as: EP0283493A1; NL8602426A; WO1988002335A1

Abstract

A package supplying wheel (10) is mounted for rotation about its axis and includes carrying means for picking up and carrying along an at least partially pre-formed package at its circumference. A filling wheel (20), mounted for rotation about its axis, cooperates with the package supplying wheel at its circumference and includes carrying means for taking over a package from the package supplying wheel and carrying the same along at its circumference. Filling means are provided for filling the package with a product as it is being carried along. The machine is designed to avoid the need of intermittent movement as a product is being handled or operated upon during its passage through the machine.

Description

The invention relates to an apparatus for continuously packaging a product, comprising a filling wheel mounted for rotation about its axis and cooperating with said package supply wheel at its circumference, said filling wheel including carrying means for taking over the package from the package supply wheel for filling of the package with a product as the package is carried along at the circumference of the filling wheel, and a product wheel rotatable about its axis coaxially with the filling wheel and at the same speed, the product wheel including chambers for receiving the product in units to be packaged and discharge means arranged in conjunction with each chamber for discharge of the product from the chamber to the package on the carrying means of the filling wheel.
An apparatus of this type, disclosed in Swiss patent specification CH-A-252,037, comprises a horizontally disposed product wheel mounted coaxially above the filling wheel for rotation therewith. The product wheel, containing the product to be packaged, is provided at the bottom side with a series of product outlets. Each outlet is positioned above one of the carrying means of the filling wheel and above a package held by the carrying means. Whilst the filling wheel with the packages is being turned, each package receives a measured quantity of the product to be packed from an outlet of the product wheel above it by letting the product fall from the outlet into the package. This known apparatus, using gravity force to fill the package, is slow and therefore less suitable for high speed packaging performance, particularly if the product is a lightweight or fluffy material such as cut tobacco. Furthermore, the apparatus is not adapted for the compaction or compression of the product before its introduction into the package.
The purpose of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the indicated type, wherein all needed packaging operations including compression of the product before its introduction into the package can be performed in a fast, uninterrupted operation.
For this purpose, the apparatus in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the filling wheel includes filling means arranged in conjunction with each carrying means of the filling wheel, and co-operating with the discharge means for filling the package on the carrying means of the filling wheel with a unit of product discharged by the discharge means, and that the chambers of the product wheel are formed as compression chambers including one or more compression members for compression of the product within the compression chamber, the compression members being mounted on the product wheel for rotation therewith.
Reference is also made to another type of packaging machine which is disclosed in British patent specification GB-A-320,116. This machine comprises a product wheel positioned above a filling wheel, the two wheels being coaxially mounted for simultaneous rotational motion. The filling wheel includes pockets each receiving and holding a container. In the machine, which does not comprise a package supply wheel, the containers are supplied to the filling wheel in line by a belt conveyor.
The product wheel comprises a series of compression chambers, each one located above a pocket of the filling wheel. A unit of the product to be packaged is fed to each chamber of the product wheel from an overhead chute. The chambers containing the product pass successively in intermittent motion underneath a compression plunger. This is different from the apparatus of the present invention in which the compression members are parts of the product wheel for rotation therewith. Accordingly, the apparatus of the invention can be operated continuously without the interruptions of this known machine.
In the apparatus according to the invention, all operations on the package, including filling and closing it, are effected in an uninterrupted passage of the package through the machine, with the package continuing to move through the machine as the various operations are carried out. Owing to there being no periods of standstill, it is thus possible to achieve a high production capacity.
Owing to the use of pre-fabricated packages in the machine, delaying factors during packaging, as arise in packaging machines in which the packages are first made in these machines themselves, are also avoided. In addition, the fact that the production of empty packages is independent of that of the filled packages greatly increases flexibility in operation and workshop layout.
The pre-formed package can be more or less stiff, for example, it may take tine form of a carton. On the other hand, and unlike packaging machines of the prior art, the apparatus according to the invention is excellently suitable for handling, at a high capacity, a flexible package that is supplied in flat condition, such as a bag or pouch. Naturally, it is not necessary in all cases for the pre-formed package to be in ready form immediately when introduced into the apparatus: if necessary, the package itself can be changed or provided with additional elements, such as, for example, closing elements, as it traverses the machine.
In the package supplying wheel and/or the filling wheel, means may be provided for performing particular operations on the empty or filled package, such as stretching/positioning elements to be inserted into the package being conveyed, folding or pleating means, and closing means.
Another processing wheel cooperating with the filling wheel can serve for carrying out operations on the filled package before or after it has been closed. This processing wheel can be arranged so that the operations on the package are carried out from the outside of the wheel, or alternatively, from a place located closer to the wheel axis.
Although the invention has many uses, it will be described hereinafter, by way of example, with particular reference to an apparatus for packaging cut tobacco in pouches, and with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In said drawings,

Fig. 1 gives a side-elevational overall view of the apparatus according to the invention, showing, among other parts, a package supplying wheel and a filling wheel;
Fig. 2a is a perspective view of a carrier of the package supplying wheel of Fig. 1, with the moving parts thereof in the starting position;
Fig. 2b diagrammatically shows, in side-elevational view the way in which a pouch lies on the carrier of Fig. 2a;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the carrier of Fig. 2a with the moving parts thereof in the end position;
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 show, in perspective view, a carrier and a filling nozzle of the filling wheel shown in Fig. 1, with the moving parts thereof, respectively, in the starting position, in an intermediate position as a pouch is being filled, and in a further position as a flap of the pouch is being folded to a perpendicular position relative to the body of the pouch;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a compression chamber of a product wheel cooperating with the filling wheel;
Figs. 8-10 are perspective views, showing a portion of an operating wheel for fully folding down the flan of a pouch, in three successive stages as the pouch flap is being folded; and
Figs. 11-12 are perspective views, showing portions of the operating wheel in two successive stages during the application of a closure tape.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a pouch reservoir 51 containing a stack of empty pouches 50, stacked in flat condition, of a type as used for packaging cut tobacco (shag). This pouch of flexible material has a rectangular pocket portion which is to be filled with tobacco. The back of the pocket portion is extended and serves as a flap which is folded across the front of the pocket portion after the pocket has been filled. The pocket of the pouch has a rectangular bottom and also rectangular sidewalls which in the empty, flat pouch are folded inwardly or outwardly.
Disposed under the pouch reservoir 51 are two continuously rotating draggers 52, which periodically, one after the other, supply one pouch from reservoir 51 between two moving conveyor belts 53. Disposed at the end of the conveyor belts is a gripper wheel 54, rotatable about its axis and provided with carrier tables 55, uniformly spaced about its circumference, and each cooperating with a movable clamp 56. Each pouch supplied by conveyor belts 53 is held between a carrier table and a clamp of the grippe wheel, and taken along to a package supply wheel 10, with which the gripper wheel 54 cooperates at its circumference.
Supply wheel 10 is mounted for rotation about its axis and rotates along with gripper wheel 54 continuously and at the same circumferential velocity. Spaced uniformly about the circumference of the supply wheel are carriers 11, in this case eighteen in all. The carriers, shown in more detail in Figs. 2a and 3, have at their outward side a plurality of suction orifices 12 that can be connected to a source of vacuum. When a pouch conveyed by gripper wheel 54 approaches the circumference of supply wheel 10, the pouch is released by clamp 56 and taken over from carrier table 55 of the gripper wheel by the opposite carrier 11 of the supply wheel, and is retained thereon by the suction orifices.
Carrier 11 comprises a movable carrier table 15 and a narrower fixed carrier table 14 located in opposition thereto in the middle of a long side. In the starting position of the movable table 15, the perforated top thereof is at the same, or substantially at the same level as the top of the fixed table 14, as shown in Fig. 2a. Fig. 2b shows the location of pouch 50 in this position of tables 14,15: the pocket portion of the pouch lies on the movable table 15, with the flap side of the pouch facing up, and the flap proper resting on the fixed table 14. During the further rotation of the supply wheel, the movable table 15 is moved slightly downwardly relatively to the fixed table 14, as a result of which the pocket portion of the pouch is opened a little. A pair of stretching fingers 13 mounted on opposite sides of the fixed table 14 are then advanced into the opened pouch pocket down to the bottom of the pocket. Subsequently, the stretching fingers are moved laterally apart up to the pocket sides. During this movement, the folds in the bottom and the sides of the pocket are unfolded into a rectangular shape. Owing to these movements of the stretching fingers 13, not only is the pouch unfolded and stretching, but also possibly shifted somewhat relatively to tables 14, 15, as a result of which the pouch comes to lie in the proper position and orientation on the carrier. This is of importance in order that subsequent operations on the pouche may be carried out accurately and flawlessly, in particular on the subsequent operating wheels. Disposed on opposite sides of the movable carrier table 15 and the fixed table 14 are a pair of folding blocks 16; which at the sides facing the tables are provided with a resilient layer 17. Blocks 16 are now moved towards the tables 14 and 15, whereby the pouch sides, both the pocket portion and the flap, are clamped between folding blocs 16 and profiled side edges of the stretching fingers 13. As a result, sharp folds are formed in these side edges. The various movements of the carrier, i.e. the movable table 15, stretching fingers 13 and folding blocks 16 are indicated by arrows in Fig. 2a, and Fig. 3 shows the position of these parts at the end of their movement. After carrying out the described operations on the pouch, the movable parts of the carrier 11 return to the starting positions illustrated in Fig. 2a. It is noted that all these operations on the pouch are carried out while supply wheel 10 rotates at a constant velocity, with the movable parts of the carriers 11 each completing a cycle during one single revolution of the wheel.
In addition to supply wheel 10 and parallel thereto, there is arranged a filling wheel 20 cooperating with the supply wheel at its circumference and rotating at the same peripheral velocity. The filling wheel, too, is provided at its circumference with eighteen carriers 21. When a pouch on carrier 11 of the supply wheel approaches the filling wheel, the partial vacuum on the suction orifices in this carrier 11 is released, and at the same time a partial vacuum is applied to suction orifices in the carrier 21 of the filling wheel 20, rotating in opposition to the pouch, whereby the pouch is now taken along by the latter carrier.
The construction of the carrier 21 of the filling wheel is more clearly shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In Fig. 4, carrier 21 comprises a carrier table 22 with suction orifices, on which lies a pouch 50. As the pouches were lying with the flap portion up on the supply wheel, they come to lie with the flap portion down on the carrier table of the filling wheel, that is, with the pocket portion up.
Disposed under carrier table 22, in juxtaposition to each other, are a turning element or folding strip 24 and a closing strip 25, both movable towards and away from the carrier table, with the respective heads 28 and 29 of these strips sliding through slots in the carrier table. At the back of the carrier table is a movable suction bar 23 provided with a suction slit, to which a partial vacuum can be connected. Provided on opposite sides of the carrier table are two indenting fingers 26 movable towards and away from the carrier table and provided with a profiled head 27. Provided at the front of the carrier table is a filling nozzle 57 including a bottom plate 58 and a top plate 59 parallel thereto. The bottom plate 58 is fixedly arranged at a level slightly above the upper surface of the carrier table 22 and is fixedly connected on two sides with upright sidewalls 60. The top plate 59 is at one end fixedly connected to an upright slide 61, and both are movable upwardly, with the top plate 59 moving parallel to, and away from, the bottom plate 58 to form a rectangular aperture defined by the two plates 58, 59 and sidewalls 60. The carrier table 22, together with suction bar 23, folding strip 24, closing strip 25 and indenting fingers 26, is movable towards and away from the filling nozzle 57. The various possible movements of the parts of the carrier and of the nozzle are indicated by arrows in Fig. 4.
When the carrier table 22 has taken a pouch from the supply wheel, the condition of carrier 21 and filling nozzle 57 is as shown in Fig. 4, with the opening of the pouch being directed to the filling nozzle. The carrier 21 is then moved towards the filling nozzle, and during a first part of this movement carrier table 22 is shifted to move the flap part of the pouch under the bottom plate 58 of the filling nozzle. During this movement, the suction bar 23 is also swung over the carrier table carrying the pouch, so that the suction slit of the suction bar comes to rest on the upper edge of the pouch pocket. After subatmospheric pressure has been connected to the suction slit, the suction bar 23 is lifted a little to open the pouch pocket. During further movement of the carrier to the filling nozzle 57, the pouch pocket is shifted over both plates 58, 59 until the front sides of these plates reach the bottom of the pouch pocket. After the suction bar 23 has returned to its starting position, the top plate 59 is removed from the bottom plate 58, whereby the filling nozzle is opened and the pouch pocket is tensioned over plates 58, 59. Through the resulting rectangular filling opening, a weighed quantity of tobacco is shifted by an ejector 31 (Fig. 6) up to the bottom of the pouch. The situation is then as illustrated in Fig. 5. Subsequently, the tobacco is shifted further by the ejector and at the same time the carrier member 21 is returned from the filling nozzle to its starting position, and the now filled pouch moves off plates 58, 59. The closing strip 25 is moved upwards, whereby the head 29 slides upwards through the slot in the carrier table 22 to above the surface of carrier table 22. At the same time, the suction bar 23, now serving as a closure strip, is swung away, and the pouch is pinched shut behind the tobacco filling therein between the suction bar 23 and closing strip 25. The indenting fingers 26 are then moved towards the pouch, and the heads 27 form a dent in the sides of the filled pouch a short distance under the closed edge thereof. During this indentation, air can escape from the pouch pocket through the edge which is not yet completely pressed shut at this moment; thereafter the pocket edge is completely pinched shut between closing strip 25 and suction bar 23, and is sealed air-tight by electrically heating the head of the closing strip 25.
Before the closing strip 25 and suction bar 23 return to their starting positions, the folding strip 24 is moved upwardly, whereby the head 28 rises above the surface of the carrier table. As a result the pouch flap is turned up to a position at right angles to the pocket portion between suction bar 23, closing strip 25 and folding strip 24, and the situation as illustrated in Fig. 6 is reached. Before the pouch is now transferred from the filling wheel 20 to an operating wheel 40 to be described hereinafter, the closing strip 25, the suction bar 23 and the folding strip 24 are returned to their starting positions.
The tobacco shifted into the pouch comes from a product wheel 30 disposed coaxially with, and next to the filling wheel 20, and has the same rotational velocity as the filling wheel. The product wheel contains eighteen identical compression chambers 32 (Fig. 1) spaced uniformly about its circumference and each cooperating with a carrier 21 of the filling wheel. Details of a compression chamber 32 are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 7.
The compression chamber comprises a stationary frame 62 which includes a bottom plate 33. The front part 33a of bottom plate 34 constitutes the bottom of a compression space. Resting on bottom plate 33 is ejector 31, already described with reference to Fig. 6. At the level of the front bottom plate portion 33a, there is arranged a compression frame 34, of inverted-U shape, which is movable vertically up and down. Provided at the front of the compression frame 34 is a wall plate 35, which is stationary relatively to the compression frame and is provided at its lower end with a rectangular outlet 36. During the vertical movement of the compression frame 34, it slides at the front past wall plate 35, with the insides of the long legs of the U-shape along the sides of bottom plate 33, and at the rear along the two upright walls of frame 62. (For clarity, the left-hand sidewall of frame 62 has been omited in Fig. 7).
The compression chamber further comprises a closure flap 37, which pivots about a shaft 38, and is shown in Fig. 7 in the open position. Ejector 31 can be moved to and fro between bottom plate 33 and flap 37. In the closed position of flap 37, after rotation about its shaft 38, flap 37 together with the front of ejector 31 closes frame 32 at the rear. In this way the actual compression chamber or compression space is formed, which is defined by the inner walls of frame 34 and wall plate 35, the front part 33a of bottom plate 33, the front of ejector 31, and flap 37. This compression space is then closed, except for aperture 36, which however is also closable at the front of wall plate 35 by means of slide 61 (Fig. 6) of top plate 59. Frame 34 further comprises a pair of T-shaped side compression rams, mounted in the long legs of the compression frame so as to be retractable and extendable in the horizontal direction. In the retracted position (shown in Fig. 7), the front of each ram 39 is flush with the inner wall of the relevant long leg of frame 34. Preferably, the length of stroke of frame 34 and/or rams 39 is adjustable from the outside, for example, by means of a hand wheel or servomotor. Preferably, the stoke rate is also controllable, in particular of the compression frame. It is possible to measure the thickness of the ultimately produced filled pouch at one or more places, using a measuring means which passes this data to the servomotor other control means which controls the degree of compression of the product in the compression chambers depending on the thickness of the pouch measured by the measuring means.
Secured on top of frame 62 is a magnetic ring 63, which gives access to a filling space defined by the upright walls of frame 62 and the opened flap 37. The magnetic ring 63 serves as a dragger for picking up and carrying along a transport container which can be retained on the ring by magnetic force.
As shown in Fig. 1, disposed under product wheel 30 is a worm 65, which serves to supply transport containers 64, each filled with a weighed quantity of tobacco. These containers are of cylindrical shape with a closed bottom and an open top. The cylindrical wall of containers 64 rests against worm 65 in the helices thereof, and their bottoms slide over a guide 66. As the worm rotates, containers 64 are moved to the forward end of the worm in equidistantly spaced relationship and at the same uniform velocity. The arrangement is such that the container at the forward end of the worm is picked up from guide 66 by the magnetic ring 63 of the compression chamber of the product wheel which is just over this container. The rotational speeds of worm 65 and product wheel 30 are attuned to each other so that each next container advanced by the worm is taken up by the next compression chamber of the product wheel. A container conveyed by the product wheel rotates with the wheel upwardly, whereby the container is reversed, i.e., it comes to be with the open end down. The compression chamber 32 is then in a situation as illustrated in Fig. 7, in which flap 37 is opened and the opening 36 at the front of wall plate 35 is closed by the slide 61 of the to plate 59 of the filling nozzle. The tobacco falls from the container into the open compression space, whereafter the flap 37 is closed. As the flap is closed, the tobacco is already compressed somewhat, mainly in the forwcard direction against the rear wall of plate 35. The tobacco is now fully confined within the compression chamber. Subsequently, frame 34 is moved downwards in a direction towards the centre of the product wheel, whereby the tobacco is compressed further in the same direction.
Preferably, the compression frame is first moved down relatively rapidly, whereafter in a slower movement the tobacco is more strongly compressed. If desired, the compression frame is thereafter moved upwards a few millimeters. When the compression frame occupies this deepest or nearly deepest position, the side rams 39 are moved towards each other into the compression chamber, whereby the tobacco is also compressed in a lateral direction. The result is that ultimately the tobacco has been pressed in three directions essentially perpendicular to each other.
At this moment the opening 36 at the outside of the plate is opened by lifting top plate 59 with slide 61 to a position as shown in Fig. 6. Thereafter, the ejector 31 is moved forwardly, whereby the compressed tobacco is shifted from the compression chamber through opening 36 between the top and bottom plates 58, 59 of the filling nozzle, and then into a tobacco pouch as described hereinbefore with reference to Fig. 6.
Finally, top plate 59, frame 34, side rams 39, ejector 31, and flap 37 are returned to their starting positions as illustrated in Fig. 7.
It is noted that all of the above operations take place as the wheel is rotating at a constant speed, namely, each during a portion of a revolution thereof. The empty container 64 still present on the compression chamber is removed during the downcoming movement of the compression chamber and of the product wheel, whereafter the container returns to a weighing machine, where it is re-filled with a weighed quantity for it to be ultimately re-placed on guide 66 for a new cycle.
Forms of the compression chamber other than that shown are possible. For example, the filling opening may be at the side rather than at the top of frame 62. In that case, naturally, the magnetic ring 63 is also disposed at the side of frame 62, and the containers on the various compression chambers have a horizontal and mutually parallel position. The tobacco should then be positively discharged from the container into the compression chamber. This construction may be attractive to limit the radial dimensions of the product wheel with the containers placed thereon.
In another possible embodiment, the containers are placed at the side of the compression chambers facing the wheel axis, and the tobacco falls from a full container into the compression chamber in a low position of the compression chamber on the product wheel.
Returning now to the filled pouches with a perpendicularly folded flap, contained in the filling wheel 20, these pouches are transferred from the filling wheel to an operating wheel 40 (Fig. 1) rotating along with the filling wheel at the same peripheral velocity, and in which the pouch flap is folded fully against the pocket portion of the pouch and subsequently fixed thereon with a short piece of adhesive tape. The operating wheel 40 comprises eighteen pouch carriers 41 uniformly spaced over its circumference. Trained about rollers outside the operating wheel is an endless compression belt 42, which is in contact with a portion of the circumference of wheel 40, at which point it travels along with the wheel at the same velocity.
Arranged stationarily within operating wheel 40 is a closure tape unit 70, which contains a plurality of supply rolls 71 with webs of closure tape material and a sticking apparatus 72. The entire unit 70 is secured to pivoting arms 73, which are pivotable about a vertical shaft 74 mounted aside of the wheel. As a result, the entire closure tape unit 70, can be pivoted to the outside through the open side of the operating wheel, which renders the unit readily accessible, for example, for placing fresh supply rolls in it.
The pouch in recess 44 (Fig. 8) rests partly on an edge 47 at the underside of the carrier table, and for another part on a carrying strip 46 which is movable relatively to the carrier table. As a full pouch laid in recess 44 stands slightly proud of the top surface of the carrier table, the pouch is held down against the carrier strip 46 and the lower edge 47 of the carrier table by the compression belt 42, which presses against the carrier table and rotates along with it. The carrier table further comprises a movable folding strip 45 for completing the folding of the flap onto the pouch pocket.
A filled pouch with a perpendicularly folded pouch flap is transferred by the carrier table 22 from the filling wheel 20 into recess 44 of the carrier table of the operating wheel 40. This takes place at a position, slightly upstream of the point where the compression belt 42 comes to contact the operating wheel, so that the pouch can be freely laid into the carrier table, but immediately thereafter is firmly held by the compression belt. As the pouch is being placed on the operating wheel, the pouch flap points in a direction towards the wheel centre. The carrier strip 46 supports the pouch at a position close to the flap. This situation shortly after placing the pouch into the operating wheel is illustrated in Fig. 8.
The folding strip 45 is now moved to the pouch and tilted whereby the pouch flap is folded until it makes an acute angle with the pouch pocket (Fig. 9). The movement of the folding strip 45 is now temporarily interrupted, and the carrier strip 46 is removed from under the pouch to an ultimate position under edge 47 of the carrier table. This causes the pouch to rest on the folding strip 45 and the lower edge 47 of the carrier table. The folding strip is now again rotated further until the pouch flap fully contacts the pouch pocket, whereby the position of Fig. 10 is reached.
As the pouch rotates further along on the operating wheel, while being held by the compression belt 42, the pouch flap is taped to the pouch pocket by the sticking apparatus 72 of the closure tape unit 70.
As shown in Fig. 11, the sticking apparatus 72 comprises a rotating drum formed by a pair of segments 75, each in the form of a half ring, and a slide 76 reciprocatable radially between the two segments 75, which slide is provided on opposite sides with heads 87 and 88. The circumference 77 of the segments and the end faces 84 and 85 of the slide heads are provided with apertures which are connected to a source of vacuum to retain adhesive tape material on to these parts. Disposed aside of the segments and the slide is a cutting wire 79, gripped between two grips and arranged to be electrically heated. The wire makes a circular movement towards and away from the segments. Fig. 11 also shows the pouch carrier 51 of Fig. 10, viewed from a bottom position.
A web of adhesive tape 80 is supplied to segments 75, and held thereon by a partial vacuum. This web, which is composed of separate sheets of material taken from supply roll 71, is provided with an adhesive on the side away from the segments, except for a narrow marginal strip 81. The cutting wire 79 serves to cut off a piece 82 from the tape 80 at the moment when the forward end of this tape is one of the heads 78 of the slide. In Fig. 11, adhesive tape 82 with a non-adhesive gripping portion 83 is held on the end face 84 of the 87 by partial vacuum and taken along. During this rotating movement of the slide, head 87 is also moved radially outwardly between the segments 75. In the outermost position of head 87, the latter presses the adhesive tape in the middle of the pouch over and into contact with the pouch flap and the pouch pocket, and sticks it thereto. To enable the slide head to stick the adhesive tape to the pouch, holes for the passage of the slide head are provided in folding strip 45 and carrier table edge 47.
Fig. 12 shows the situation at the moment when the adhesive tape is being pressed against the pouch by the slide head 87. The opposite slide head 88 is then in a position in which, at this moment, the upper surface is flush with the circumferential path of segments 75. The leading end of the web of adhesive tape 80 thus lies flat against the outer circumference of the segments 75 and slide head 88.
The supply velocity of the adhesive tape 80 is considerably lower than the circumferential velocity of the segments and the slide, as a result of which these elements slide under the tape. In each complete revolution of the segments, the forward displacement of the adhesive tape is, all in all, only about equal to twice the width of the piece of type 82 to be severed.
At the moment when the slide head 88 has come under the leading end of the adhesive tape, cutting wire 79 moves downwards through tape 80 into a slot 86 formed in the slide head. Thus a niece of tape 82 is cut off, whereby, owing to a loop reduction in the supply of the tape the latter, at the moment of cutting, has a velocity equal to that of the segments at the circumference. Subsequently, the situation is repeated as described with reference to Fig. 11.
Next to, and rotating along with, operating wheel 40 is a take-out wheel 90, provided along its circumference with ten take-out members 91 each provided with suction heads 92 connected to a source of vaccum. A filled and closed pouch is taken from operating wheel 40 by a take-out member 91 passing opposite the pouch at the moment when the pouch comes clear of compression belt 42. The take-out member turns the pouch 180° about its longitudinal axis, the vacuum is released in the take-out member, and the pouch is discharged onto a belt or chain conveyor travelling under the take-out wheel.
It will be clear that, in the above example, the carriers are in fact combined carrying and operating means.
As stated before, the apparatus according to the invention is excellently suitable for being extended by ancillary operating wheels, for example, an additional wheel for applying an inner seal along the top of the pocket portion of the pouch.
Although, in the example described, the pouch is situated in a horizontal position at the circumference of the wheels concerned, the apparatus can be so modified, without departing from the scope of the invention, that the pouch is held at the circumference of the wheels in an upright position.

Claims

1. Apparatus for continuously packaging a product, comprising:

a package supply wheel (10) mounted for rotation about its axis and including carrying means (11) for picking up and carrying along an at least partially preformed package (50) at the circumference of the wheel,

a filling wheel (20) mounted for rotation about its axis and cooperating with said package supply wheel at its circumference, said filling wheel including carrying means (21) for taking over the package from the package supply wheel for filling of the package with a product as the package is carried along at the circumference of the filling wheel and

a product wheel (30) rotatable about its axis coaxially with the filling wheel and at the same speed, the product wheel including chambers (32) for receiving the product in units to be packaged and discharge means (31) arranged in conjunction with each chamber (32) for discharge of the product from the chamber to the package on the carrying means (21) of the filling wheel, characterised in that the filling wheel (20) includes filling means (57) arranged in conjunction with each carrying means (21) of the filling wheel, and co-operating with the discharge means for filling the package on the carrying means (21) of the filling wheel with a unit of product discharged by the discharge means, and that the chambers (32) of the product wheel (30) are formed as compression chambers including one or more compression members (34, 37, 39) for compression of the product within the compression chamber, the compression members being mounted on the product wheel (30) for rotation therewith.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the compression chambers (32) include one or more reciprocating compression members (34) for compressing the product within the compression chamber.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the compression chambers include a second compression member (39) for compressing the product within the compression chamber in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the product is first compressed.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the compression chambers at the circumference of the product wheel are each provided with take-up means (63) for picking-up and carrying along a transport container (64) filled with product supplied to the product wheel.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the filling means (57) comprise a filling nozzle (58, 59) for receiving compressed product from the product wheel and for filling the package to be slid over the filling nozzle.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, further comprising an operating wheel (40) rotatable about its axis and cooperating at its circumference with the filling wheel (20) for taking over the filled package from the filling wheel and performing operations thereon as it is carried along by the operating wheel, characterized in that the operating wheel comprises a folding device (45) for pressing a closure flap of the package against the filled and closed package.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized by a taping apparatus (72) disposed stationarily within the circumference of the operating wheel for applying adhesive tape to the package and the closure flap thereof at the side of the package facing the wheel axis.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the taping apparatus (72) is secured to a pivoting arm (73,74) disposed outside the operating wheel for pivoting the taping apparatus into or out of the operating wheel.