US1654777A - Apparatus for closing filled bags - Google Patents

Description

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1923 HDELMER M 5/1755 @5 WW, 0% b- Jan. 3, 1928;

A. M. BATES APPARATUS FOR CLOSING FILLED BAGS Filed Nov. 8, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m "'illHiMllllW A 5 05mm M 5/7753 atfozuu s Jan. 3, 192 8.

A. M. BATES APPARATUS FOR CLOSING FILLED BAGS F'iled' NOV. 8, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 gyvuwrdoz HDELMER M. BHTES 3% am, 9% 7 6M 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E ME -A. M. BATES APPARATUS FOR CLOSING FILLED BAGS Filed Nov. 8, 1923 Jan. 3, 1928.

' gwuz'rt oe HDELMER M BHTEs 3& 0 @we- 6) I I I attoruaqa mmmmmmmm Patented Jan. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADELMER M. BATES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BATES VALVE BAG- COM: PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

APPARATUS FOR CLOSING FILLED BAGS.

Application filed November 8, 1923. Serial No. 673,481.

My invention relates to apparatus for closing filled bags, and more particularly it relates to' an apparatus in which a series of bags are conveyed in properly spaced relation beneath the closing mechanism which closes their ends in succession. More specifically, it relates to so-conveying filledbags beneath apparatus'which applies a reinforcing strip along each side of their open mouths, sews'a continuous seam through the mouths and reinforcing strips, and trims the bag walls parallel wit'h the seam.

The successive bags' so closed are connected by the reinforcing strips and the chain of thread, and myf-invention'ffurther relates to apparatus for-cutting this connection, .and for delivering the closed separated bags from the mechanism.

One of the principal objects of my invention is to produce a conveyor that will automatically space the bags roper distances apart so that the amount 0 reinforcing material and" thread between successive bags will be uniformly the minimum consistent with convenient operation of the apparatus.

Another object of my invention is to produce an apparatus which will closebags and leave their closed ends 'uniform""a1id heat in appearance.

Another object is to their bottoms downf Other features of the apparatus and objects of the invention will appearas the' description proceeds.

Apparatus embodying my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sectional View of the delivery end of the apparatus, taken substantially along the line 11 of Fig. 3. Fi 2 is a similar view of the receiving end of the apparatus, taken substantially along the line 22 on Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a plan view, with parts broken away, of the delivery end of deliver-1th: bags with the apparatus, while Fig. 4 is a plain view,-

3. Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a modlfied form of the apparatus. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail views of the structure of the chain and carriers used in the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 9. Fig. 12 shows an alternative form of chain. Fig. 13 is a detail view of aportion of the sewing head, showlng tape guides and trimming knife.

Frame members 20 and 21 are provided at the receiving end of the apparatus, and are held in upright spaced parallel relation by cross-bars 23. Similar frame members 24 and 25 at the delivery end of the apparatus are connected by cross-members 26. The frame members 20 and 24 are connected by a side plate 27 and members 21 and 25 are connected by -a similar side plate 28. A shaft 29 is mounted in the frame members 20 and 21, and it carries sprocket wheels 30 and 31.

A shaft 32 ismounted in frame members 24 and 25 parallel with the shaft 29, and carries sprocket wheels 33, and shaft 34 is mounted in the frame members 24 and 25 directly beneath the shaft 32 and carries sprocket wheels 35. A chain 36 passes over the sprocket wheel 30 on shaft 29 and over the aligning sprocket wheels 33 and 35, while a parallel chain 37 passes over sprocket wheel 31 and the aligning sprocket wheels 33 and 35. Side plate 27 carries at its upper edge a guidway 38 for the chain 36, and side plate .28 carries a similar guideway'39 for the chain 27. A shaft 40 is mounted in the frame members 24 and 25 and carries sprockets 41 which maintain the chains horizontal on their' return movement from sprocket wheels 35. v A shaft 42 is suspended from the side members 27 and 28 and carries sprockets 43 over which the chains run on their return passage from sprockets 41 to sprockets 30 and 31. The chains 36 and 37 are connected by pusher bars 44.

A motor 45 carries a pulley 46, driving a belt 47, passing over a pulley 48 on a shaft 49, supported by and parallel with the side members 27 and 28. An inclined shaft 50 is connected by a universal joint 51 to the shaft 49 and by a universal joint 52 to a shaft 53 carrying a worm 54. The shaft 53 is mounted in a housing 55, supported on one of the cross pieces 26, and within the housing isa worm wheel 46, driven by the worm 54 and mounted on shaft 47 On the end of the shaft 47 is a sprocket wheel 48', which 8 drives a sprocket chain 49, passing over a sprocket wheel 50' on the shaft 34. By these connections the chains 36 and 37, with their pusher bars 44, are driven from the motor 45.

Between the side pieces 27 and 28 there is a bottom slide plate 51, supported on cross pieces 52. The cross piece 52' at the delivery end of the slide plate 51 carries a lug 53', upon which a roller chute 54' is pivoted at 55. A bell crank 56 is fulcrumed at 57 and has one arm 58 supporting the end of the roller chute 54 while the other arm 59 has a part sliding in a slot'60, so that it may be held in adjusted position by clamping said part in the desired position in the slot, and thereby the delivery end of the roller chute may be raised or lowered as desired.

The frame members 24 and 25 are cut away at 61, and a chute 62 is mounted to receive the filled bags 63 from the roller chute and deliver them through one of the side openings 61. Filled open-mouthed bags 63 are placed upon the slide plate 51' between the pusher bars 44 near the receiving end of the apparatus, and as each bag is shoved along by its respective pusher bar they are evenly spaced apart. The mouths are brought together at 64 and passed through a sewing machine 65, which applies reinforcing tape to the sides and. sews through the tape and bags.

The bag mouths are trimmed ofl', preferably by a trimmer working in conjunction with the sewing machine. A suitable sewing and trimming head is disclosed in my co-pending application Ser. No. 616,372, for sewing, severing and seam reinforcing machine, filed Feb. 1, 1923, and its specific construction forms no part of my present invention, and therefore need not be described in detail. However, Fig. 13 shows tape guides 651 and 652 adapted to guide reinforcing tape against the sides of the bag in position to be sewed by needle 653, and a trimmer knife 654 suitable for trimming off the tops of the bags.

The sewing head driving means may be connected to the conveyor for purposes'of or lowered as desired with respect to the conveyor,'to position it properly for closing the mouths of different lengths of bags or:

p the conveyor. Y

The bags leave the sewing head connected together by sewed together reinforcing tapes, as at 66. Upon a fixed pivot 67, immediately over the path of theclosed bags, there are mounted two co-operating cutter The sewing'head may be member constitutes a straight pusher bar 76.

The upper portion of this pusher bar is notched at 77 and when the connecting tape is positioned over the pusher bar, as it is at 'the severing point, the points of the knives 68 enter the groove 77 and insure the complete severance of the tape. The points of the knives close before the upper parts, so that the tape will never be crowded down below the knives. The chain 37 carries a projection 78 in proper relation to each pusher bar, so that as the projection 78 passes over the arm 79 of a switch member 80 it will raise that member so as to contact the member 81 and close the circuit through the solenoid, thereby actuating the cutting members. The contacts of the switch are preferably protected by a housing 82.

Spring plates 84 and 85 are mounted on the frame members 24 and 25 in position to contact the front side of the bag that is in position to have its connecting tape cut. These plates prevent the bag from running forward too far and pulling the tape over the pusher bar so far that the following bag will be cut in the severing operation. If there is a slight excess of tape, as might result from a slightly excessive speed of the sewing machine, the tape will bend up over the pusher bar, but will still be between the knives so that it will be correct-1y severed. The spring plates 84 and 85 also retard the tops of the bags so that their bottoms wih strike the chute 62 first, and the bags will be discharged bottom first.

A shaft 86 is mounted in bearings 87 supported from the side plates 27 and 28. A gear 88 on the end of shaft 86 meshes with a gear 89 on the shaft 49. A series of cross pieces 90 are connected by links 91 to eccentrics 92 on the shaft 86. Jigging members 93 are mounted on the cross pieces 90 and pass through slots 94 in the slide plate 51'.

The ends of the jigging members 93 are .bev-

eled, as at 95, to avoid puncturing the bags 96 may be provided between the jigging members 93 so as to keep them in proper position, or the same result may be obtained by the use of brackets 97, shown in Fig. 7, mounted on the side plates 27 and .28 and contacting the ends of bars 90 and keeping them in the proper plane.

If desired, the delivery end of the apparatus may be modified as shown in Fig. 9. In that modification there is provided a framelOO in place of the frame members 24 and 25. Sprocket wheels 101 and 102 are by sharp corners. As shown in Fig. 6, bars of the pusher bars, the chains carry cu s,or

lin

supports 105, in each of which a fille bag may-be supported. A motor 106 carries a pulley 107, driving a belt 108, passing over pulley'109 upon the shaft 110. The end of the shaft 110 carries a gear 111, driving a chain 112 which passes over a sprocket wheel 113 on shaft 114, which in turn drives Worm wheel 115 and, by a sprocket wheel not shown, chain 116, which passes over sprocket Wheel 117 on the shaft 104 and drives the carrier chain. 1

A table 120 is provided to receive th closed bags, and the delivery end of the apparatus is high enough to discharge the bags 'upon the table from which they may be conveniently taken for packing. A guide 121 may be provided, if desired, to guide the bags onto the table.

As shown in Fig. 7 the jigger members may be driven directly from the drive shaft 110, if desired, in this form of the apparatus.

I prefer to form the carrier members 105 with bottom slots 122 for receiving the jigging members.

The chain is formed of pivots and regular links and special links interchangeable with the regular links and having ears to which the bars 44 may be fastened by bolts or rivets 126. Carriers 105 have lugs 127 for attachment to the special links. The bars or carriers may be properly spaced by inserting the special links at .the desired points. If the desired distance between bags requires a number of links which does not go evenly into the entire length of the chain, the extra links are divided up, one to a space, so that no space is more than one link longer than desired. I

Where adjustments are made frequently for different sizes of bags, it is advisable to make all links special, so that the bars or carriers may be attached to whatever links are chosen without disturbing the links. In Fi 12 a chain 37 is shown in which every is special. Where many bags of the same size are to be closed, a more exact adjustment may be obtained by making the bars or carriers adjustable as to the lugs, as by means of the slots 128 shown on Fig. 12.

The slots are shown of sufficient length so they allow adjustment the full length of a link so that there is no place on the chain at which a spacer may not be positioned. In this way the entire length of the chain may be divided exactly into any number of spaces and if desired the length of the chain might be increased or diminished by taking out or putting in a link or two, the idlers over which the chain runs in its return movement being suitably adjusted. In .this way the spaces between successive pushers or carriers may be adjusted with anydegree of exactness which circumstances render advisable.

The roller chute 54' is shown as composed of overlapping rollers so as to present a practically continuous antifriction surface, and is like the roller support disclosed in my application identified above; that is, a series of parallel transverse rods carry the rollers, the rollers on each rod being staggered with relation to those on the adjacent rods, and the circumference of each roller extending into. close proximity to the adjacent rods. Any other suitable form of chute may be used if desired.

The operation of the apparatus will be apparent from the foregoing description, but may be briefly summed up as follows:

The receiving end of the apparatus is made sufliciently long so that bags may be taken from a number of filling points, if desired, and placed upon the slide plate. It the bags are taken from a number of stations and placed upon the slide plate, it should be the duty of the person at the last loading sta tion to see that no vacant spaces are left between the pusher bars, so that the bags will be fed forward in a continuous series at properly spaced distances. As will be readily seen, the bags will contact the successive pusher bars as they are moved along, without regard to their positions between the pusher bars when they are set on the slide plate, as they will not move along until they are contacted by the pusher bars.

The same result is achieved with the carrier shown in Fig. 9, as the cups or boots are at uniform distances apart, so that the bags carried thereby vwill be uniformly spaced. There are other ways in which the same result may be achieved, as by providing a slide plate or chute slanting downward, so that the ba s will slide forward against retarding mem ers instead of awaiting pushers; or belt carriers may be used having stops thereon at regular intervals, and slanted either up or down so that the bags will slide against the stops either behind or before them. While I prefer the disclosed arrangement of slide plate and pushers, the fundamental purpose of this feature of my invention is the presentation of a series of uniformly spaced bags to the closing means. This would be advantageous, even if closing means, such as that disclosed in my application identified above, for example, Were placed beyond the-spacing conveyor to receive the bags therefrom.

The nearer the pushers are to the slide plate at the receiving end, the less they interfere with the loading'operation.

The operator at the sewmg station brings the sides of the bags together and feeds them in succession into the sewing machine. After passing the sewing machine, the bags run down the roller chute until they contact spring plates 84 and 85, where they are checked until the tape is severed, when the bottoms will run off of the roller chute and land on the delivery chute 62. In this way it is assured that the tape will lie loosely over the pusher bar at the time ofv severance and the cut will occur between successive bags.

If the sewing machine ran slower than the conveyor, the cutting of the tape would have to be closely adjacent the machine to avoid having the tape pull backwards on the bag tops and forward on the, machine exces-. sively. With my arrangement, the sewing machine is run as fast as or slightly faster than the conveyor, so that the tape will allow the bag tops to remain the distance apart at which they are originally spaced by the conveyor. In case the machine is run slightly faster than the conveyor, a trifle more tape is provided than is necessary to space the bags apart the required distance. The springs 84' and 85 hold back thebags so that the tape will not be drawn straight or taut over the pusher bar at the time of cutting, and it may curve more or less at the space where it iscut, so as to provide for some variation in the respective speeds of the sewing machine and conveyor. In the form of device shown in'Fig. 9, the cutter could be placed at the point where the conveyor bends upward, so as to tilt back the bag, and in this way provision could be made for properly positioning the tape for cutting whether the machine ran slightly slower or faster than the carrier. In neither case does the position of the bag at the time of cutting depend upon the pull of the tape behind it, and I prefer to have the tape some-what slack, so that slight variation in synchronization may be taken care of in that way.

While I prefer to have'the cutter switch directly controlled by the conveyor, it is obvious that a cutter controlled by the passage of the bag could be used with the other fea tures of my apparatus.

The discharge end of the roller chute may be quickly raised or lowered for bags of different types, so that considerable variation in the size of the ba s may be made with little adjustment in th?) apparatus, but

cessive portions of a' continuous cord or twine, uniform spacing of the bags would result in saving twine; and a similar result would occur with any continuous closure forming element. Still the advantage of continuous actuation at uniform speed is especially great with a sewing machine, which operates more satisfactorily and with less breakage of thread when it can be operated at a comparatively low uniform continuous speed than when it is run at a high speed to close a bag, or two or three bags, and then stopped. Where the bags are fed in a uniformly spaced continuous series to the machine so that the sewing machine may be run continuously at uniform speed, the speed of the machine does not have to be excessive in order to sew an immense number of bags within a working day.

By the arrangement of jigging apparatus herein disclosed the material is Well settled in the bags without the loss of any time for this operation and without interfering in any way with the closing operation.

It will be evident that the specific con struotion of various elements herein disclosed may be widely varied while retaining the fundamental principles of the combination; and while the best results may be attained by the use of the complete combinatlon, various improved elements are susceptible of use with advantage in other combinations. Therefore, I do not wish my disclosure to be taken as limiting the scope of my lnyention beyond the terms of the appended claims.

' I \claim:'

1. In apparatus for closing the tops of filled bags, av bag conveyor including bag spac1ng means, and means for applying a reinforcing strip to bags on the conveyor and forming bag'closures with the aid of the'strip.

2. In apparatus for closing the tops of filled bags, a bag conveyor including bag spac ng means, means for applying a reinforcing strip to bags on the conveyor, and means for trimming the bag mouths parallel with the strip.

3. The combination consisting of a conwhere there is too great variation in the ize v y r adapted to convey a. plurality of bags of bags the positions of the pusher bars on the chains may be changed so that they will be at the proper distances apart. It will be seen that inthis manner the bags are received at the sewing station at properly spaced intervals so-that the sewing appa ratus may work continuously and at a constant speed without wasting reinforcing tape or seam-formingthread, It is obvious that the same principle might be applied with other closing means. If tape were not used, there would still be the saving in sewing thread. If the bag tops were not sewed, but were tied by looping around them sucin succession past a" fixed point,a trimming devlce adapted to trim the walls of the bag mouths as they pass said point, a feeding device on each side of the path of the bag 1 months, adapted, to feed a continuous strip .to the months, a sewing head in position to bags by a continuous closing element, and

means controlled by the spacing means for severing said element between the bags.

5. In bag closing apparatus, a series of uniformly spaced members 'each adapted to move a bag, a sewing head in operative relation to the tops of bags so moved, and means controlled by said members for severing the chain ofstitches between the bags. v

6. In bag closing apparatus, means to space a series of bags a uniform distance apart, means to apply a continuous closureforming member to the bags so spaced, means for severing the member between the bags, and means including an electric switch for controlling the severing means by, the

spacing means.

7. In bag closing apparatus, apparatus for closing a series of bags in succession by a continuous closure-forming member, a conveyor adapted to convey the bags in succession from the closing apparatus and discharge them at a pointspaced the breadth of a pluralityof bags from the closing apparatus, and means adjacent the discharge Ipoint for severing the member between the ags.

8. In bag closing apparatus, a sewing head adapted to sewa continuous closing seam through the tops of a series of bags, a downwardly slanting chutearranged to receive the bags with theirmouths connected by the chain of thread,fl.a' nd meansadjacent the discharge end of the} chute for severing the chain of thread between the bags.

9. In bag closing apparatus, means for closing a series of bags with a continuous closure forming member, means for conveying the bags from said closing means, means for severing the member between the bags as they are conveyed. and means for slacken ing said member at the point of severance.

10. In bag closing apparatus, a sewing head adapted to sew a continuous seam through the mouths of a succession of bags, means for conveying the closed bags away from said head, means for severing the chain of thread between the bags as they are'conveyed, and means for retarding the closed mouth of the bag that has passed the severing means, to slacken the chain of thread at the severing point.

11. In bag closing apparatus, means for closing a series of bags with a continuous closure-forming member, means for severing said member between the closed bags, and a downwardly-inclined bag support between the closing means and the severing means.

12. In .bag closing apparatus, an elongated bag support, evenly spaced bag pushers movable over said support from the receiving end to the discharge end, means above the pushers for closing a series of bags with a continuous bag-closing member, and means above the pushers for severing the member between bags, the pushers being nearerthe support at the receiving end than at the severing point.

13. In bag closing apparatus, spacers adapted to evenly space an advancing succession of bags, means for closing the bags with a continuous closure-forming member, means to position the spacers immediately beneath said member between closed bags, and severing means controlled by the spacers for severing said member between the bags.

14. In bag closing apparatus, means for closing a succession of bags with a continuous closure-forming member, a grooved guide, means to position the guidewith its groove adjacent one side of the member between adjacent closed bags, shears pivoted on the side of the member opposite from the guide. and means for closing the shears with I the points of the shear blades in said groove.

15. In combination, apparatus for closing filled bags, a conveyor adapted to convey closed bags in upright position away from said apparatus, and means to engage and retard the upper ends of successive bags and insure the delivery of the bags from the conveyor bottoms first.

16. In combination, apparatus for closing filled bags, a chute beneath said apparatus, and an endless series of pushers passing over and under the chute, the delivery end of the chute being lowered and turned to one side, so as to deliver the bags to one side of the pathof the pushers.

17. In combination, a chute, a pusher chain running over and under the chute, the chain being spaced apart farther vertically at the end towards which its upper run travels, and chain-drivin the delivery end of t e chute dropping below the chain and turning to one side to deliver articles to one side of the path of the chain.

18. In apparatus for closing filled bags, a slotted slide plate, bag-c1osing means over the plate, pushers adapted to push bags over the plate beneath the closing means, and

jigging bars reciprocating through the slots.

19., In apparatus for closing filled bags, a bag closing device, a jigging device, and a conveyor adapted to receive filled open mouthed bags and convey them successively over the jigger with their bottoms in operative relation thereto and beneath the closing device with their tops in operative relation thereto.

20. In apparatus for closing filled bags, a conveyor for filled bags including a slotted support, a jigging device reciprocating through the slots in the support against the bottom of a bag thereon and means in operative relation with the conveyor for closing the mouths of the bags after the material in the bags has been settled.

21. In bag closing apparatus, a device for means at said end,

' closing the tops of bags, a series of members bags in upright position, in spaced relation; and with the mouths of successive bags fol- I lowing the same path, a device adjacent the path, for closing the mouths successively with a continuous elosure-forming member, shears pivoted above the path of the member as it leaves the device, the blades of the shears extending downward from the pivot on opposite sides of the path of the member and the points of the blades curving towards each other, and means operating the shears in timed relation with the passage of the bags, to sever the member be tween'successive bags.

23. In bag closing apparatus, means for conveying a series of spaced bags with the ends of successive bags following the same path, means adjacent said path to apply an elongated closure-forming member to the ends as they pass, shears pivoted adjacent a point in the path reached by the bags after the member is applied thereto, the blades of the shears extending from the pivot to the two sides of the path of the elongated member and having their points curved towards each other, and means to close said ,shears in timed relation to the passa e of the bags to sever the member between, ags. 24. In bag closing apparatus, means for conveying a series of spaced bags with the ends of successive bags following the same path, means adjacent said path to apply an elongated closure-forming member to the ends as they pass, shears pivoted adjacent a point in the path reached by the bags after the member is applied thereto, the

blades of the shears extending from the pivot to the two sides of the path of the elongated member and having their points curved towards each other, means for retarding the closed mouth of the bag that has passed the shears, and means to close said shears in timed relation to the passage of the bags to sever the member between ba s.

in testimony whereof, I have this day signed my name to this specification.

ADELMER M. BATES;

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