GB772951A - Improvements in and relating to the manufacture of filled packages with string handles and tags - Google Patents

Abstract

772,951. Packaging-machines. NATIONAL TEA PACKING CO., Inc. April 14, 1953, No. 10126/53. Class 94(1). The machine forms pillow-shaped packages, e.g. filled tea bags, with heat-sealed top closure seams and string-handles terminated by tags. It is similar to that described in Specification 698,867, but includes the following modified or additional features : (a) the mechanism for attaching the string-handles operates to position each handle H, Fig. 11b with its free end Q embracing the closure seam of a package, and the downwardly-extending portions of the string are anchored to the package by a staple X, (b) after the stapling operation, each package is pierced by a reciprocating needle terminated by a hook which on the return stroke draws a loop L of the handle, Fig. 16a, through the aperture N, so that the handle is shortened to prevent tangling thereof and the tag T is disposed against the opposite side of the package, (c) mechanism is provided for assembling the completed packages face-to-face in batches of predetermined number ready for insertion in a carton. The bags are formed, filled and heatsealed by apparatus A, Fig. 1, similar to that described in Specification 572,315, successive groups of four bags being heat-sealed simultaneously as the bags are carried through the machine by grippers G on a continuouslydriven endless chain conveyer Y. The stapling mechanism and the mechanism 50 for making string-handles terminated by heat-sealed tags is similar to that described in Specification 698,867, but the mechanism 70 for positioning the ends of the handles prior to stapling is modified to operate as described above. This mechanism comprises a gripper 75b, Figs. 10, 11a and 12, pivoted to an arm 75a and loaded by a spring 75g, arm 75a being swingable about a pivot 77a from the position shown in Fig. 10 to that shown in Fig. 11a and vice versa under the action of a cam-operated lever 77. The gripping of the string in the first position is controlled by a cam-operated striker (not shown) arranged to engage a projection 75h on the gripper, and the release of the string in the second position is effected by a striker 76x movable with the stapling mechanism 72. During the movement of the arm 75a, the upwardly-extending portion of the string is held against the package by a cam-operated jaw 79a and a spring-loaded jaw 79b, the latter carrying a prop 79v which supports the closure seam C. The arm 75a and associated parts are moved at the same speed as the packages during the positioning of each handle, and for this purpose are mounted on a carrier which is reciprocated parallel to the conveyer Y by mechanism coupled through a bar K1 to the apparatus A. The handleshortening mechanism 80, Fig. 20, comprises four cam-operated needles 87 arranged to pierce four packages simultaneously and cooperating with pivoted member 88, Fig. 20a, which straddle the projected needles and guide the formation of the loops. The loops are disengaged from the retracted needles by camoperated members 85a and loop depressers (not shown). Mechanism 80 is mounted on a carrier which is reciprocated parallel to the conveyer Y by mechanism operated by the bar K1. The assembling of the completed packages in batches is effected by mechanism 90, Figs. 30 and 44, comprising four grippers 91a which are reciprocated vertically and parallel to the conveyer Y by cam-operated linkages to lift successive groups of four packages from the grippers G and deposit them on platforms 94 which are reciprocated transversely with respect to the conveyer. The deposited packages are received between partitions 94g having teeth 94h which maintain them in an upright position and are moved in steps across the platforms by camoperated pushers 96a. When each platform has received four packages, the pushers make a longer stroke to move the groups of packages into aligned pockets 95 of an intermittentlyoperated chain conveyer 95a. The filled pockets are then positioned in turn opposite a pusher 99 which transfers the groups of packages into a delivery shoot 98 having side walls formed with teeth 98c to retain the packages in an upright position. The packages are finally separated into groups of sixteen for cartoning by a reciprocable gate 99q.