GB1328146A - Method and means for applying bad closures - Google Patents

Abstract

1328146 Applying bag fasteners HYBRID TURKEYS Ltd 26 Oct 1970 [27 Oct 1969] 50749/70 Heading B8C [Also in Division B6] A closure is applied to a bag by conveying the bag through a station where the neck of the bag is gathered and aligned with a closure opening, and rotating the closure relative to the bag neck whereby to apply the closure to the gathered bag neck. As shown, in which bags are fed continuously by a conveyer 21, the open neck of each bag overlies a platform 27 where rotating brushes 25, 26 flatten the neck, as the neck is nipped between and carried forward by a pair of belts 50, 39 which cause the flattened neck to be gathered into a bunch and to raise a lever 35. Movement of lever 35 actuates a switch 64, which through a relay (140), Fig. 18 (not shown), and an air valve (not shown) causes movement of a piston 86 controlling the operation of a knife 83 for severing a fastener junction 77 in a strip of fasteners positioned in a fastener magazine guide channel 32. Air is also supplied to a piston (72), Fig. 5 (not shown), which actuates a lever arm (58), carrying a pulley (53), to engage a belt 51 with the belt 39. The nip between belts 51, 39 engages the bag neck and pulls it between the belts against the resistance of a severed fastener 76. A rear surface of the fastener is curved and bears against surfaces of a channel (111), Fig. 12 (not shown), of a block 110 such that as the bag neck pulls the fastener 76, it is rotated on to the bag neck and breaks a second junction 78 between adjacent fasteners. The piston 86 is returned to its original position by actuation of a switch lever (74) caused by movement of the lever arm 58. The fastener strip is moved to position a fastener 76 to its applying position by a pawl mechanism 87 which is actuated by movement of the piston 86 to which the mechanism is connected through an arm 85, the final position of the fastener being determined by a pawl 90 which seats in the junction 77 between adjacent fasteners of the strip. A printing unit 34, Fig. 16, comprising a solenoid-operated printing block mounting 115 is synchronized with movement of the piston 86 to print each fastener at the completion of downward movement of the piston 86. The apparatus is controlled by an electric circuit, Fig. 18 (not shown).