GB1011872A - Packaging of material in pockets formed between tape strips - Google Patents

Abstract

1,011,872. Packaging material between webs. RUDD-MELIKIAN Inc. May 25, 1962, No. 20191/62. Headings B8A and B8C. A machine in which discrete amounts of a substance such as coffee are delivered into pockets formed in a strip t (Fig. 2) and in which a second strip tl is then sealed over the first strip, includes a closed working circuit, shown in plan in Fig. 3, one pair of charged tapes being prepared on each of the two opposed runs indicated by arrows. In the form illustrated, the circuit consists of pocketed carriers 17 pivoted together at 24 and guided by rollers 25 running in guides 26 to move over a flat platen 21. The chain of carriers is driven by cylindrical cams 27 formed with grooves which receive the rollers 25 and which are shaped to provide a period of dwell followed by a shorter period in which the chain is moved through the length of one carrier. A vertically moving die 88 indexes the carriers by engaging in the gap between them where the guides 26 are curved. Each carrier has hinged to it an apertured lid 45 (Fig. 13) provided with a roller 47 which engages rails 48 (Figs. 2 and 3) serving to open the lids at the proper points in the circuit. The lids are also partially opened, while a plunger 49 (Figs. 2 and 9) is forming a pocket in the first tape t, by a bell-crank 65 (Fig. 9) which engages the roller 47 and is controlled by a spring 69 and a roller 67 engaging the face of a spring- biased latch 68 moving vertically with the plunger 49. The arrangement is such that the lid 45 is lifted while the plunger 49 is forming the pocket, but is lowered again to retaining position immediately before the plunger 49 is retracted. Each carrier 17 includes a pocket 18 lined with P.T.F.E. and formed with holes 19 which, during parts of the circuit, register with vacuum ducts in the platen 21 to assist in holding the tape in place. Dispensing and levelling the coffee.-The pockets formed by the plunger 49 are filled with measured quantities of coffee through a follower 50 (Fig. 2) and the coffee is then levelled by rotating blades 51 (Fig. 5) carried on a shaft 74 which slides axially relatively to a driving shaft so that it can be lowered, against the bias of springs 78, by downward movement of a plate 57 which also carries the forming plunger 49. The levelling device also includes a shield 81. The coffee is then formed to the required shape by a plunger 52 carried by springs 84 from the vertically moving head 57. Sealing the tapes together.-After the lids 45 have been opened the second tape t1 is fed over the first tape and is sealed around the pockets of coffee by a head 55 (Figs. 2 and 5). The head 55 is also carried by springs 84 from the vertically moving plate 57 and includes a heating element. Ridges on the sealing head 55 press the tapes into the resilient P.T.F.E. lining 18 of the pockets to ensure an effective seal. Perforating or cutting the tapes.-After passing beneath a holding-down head 86, also carried by the vertically moving plate 57, the tape is perforated by punches 87 (Figs. 2 and 7). The punches are also carried by the vertically moving plate 57 and co-operate with apertures in a die 88 which is moved up to the underside of the tape, guided by ball bearings 95, under the influence of a cam 91. A spring-biased plate 97 serves to strip the tapes from the punches. The packages may be sheared from the tape.