US1668761A - Bag-feeding machine - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 19 28.

A. c. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5 1926 uni 77 0405 [AIM [arr May s, 1928. 1,668,761

A. c. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1926 w 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS v 1157:: (kzmr (a t 77/044115 fmz (arr BAG FEEDING MACHINE Filed 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS liar/n60 Uzi/vino For) 77/JMAS [ARL Carv BY 97L0,( wt/1.)

ATT RN and May 8, 1928. 1,668,761 A. C. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE File Dec- 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS 4 G} and ALF/PIP C'zzmnvr Carr Y Eva/" 5 hm. 6077 B I flg a 97; 0%

ATTOR Y May 8, 1928. 1,668,761

A. c. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 192 s sheets-sheet 5 INVENTORS 41/62? QEME/VT Cory 77/a /15 59 74 CaTv BY v f %412ANU1 ZIZ W If ATT RN A. C. COTY ET AL BAG FEEDING MACHINE May 8, 1928.

e Sheets-Shet 6 Filed Dec. 50 192 INVENTORS 44mm uMmrCarr fire/ms [ARL arr and Patented May 8, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,668,761 PATENT OFFIQE.

ALFRED CLEMENT COTY AND THOMAS EARL COTY, OF WATEBTOWN, NEW YORK.

BAG-FEEDING MACHINE.

This invention is an inprovement in bag feeding machines, and more particularly in machines for feedingbag blanks of tubular shape.

Bags of this character are made b turn end and sometimes both ends of the tube areclosed, by forming folds in the said end or ends, the folds being secured together. Thus two or three separate handlings of the bag blanks are required, that is the blanks must be fed two or three times, and in each feedin exact alinement is desirable.

in feeding to the mechanism for folding the end or ends of the blank, it is essential that the tube be opened to facilitate the formation of the folds, and to enable this operation to be more easily performed and to facilitate the handling of the bag in the folding of the end or ends, the blanks are provided. at one end and on one wall with a tab, the other end of the wall having a thumb cnt, provided by the formation of the tab in a succeeding blank.

It is obvious that the feeding, whether for printing or end folding requires a high degree of accuracy. The bag blanks must be correctly. alined, and with the folding ma chineea'ch must be delivered in exact rela-; tion to the bottomer or mechanism which" folds the end. Otherwise uniform bags cannot result.

. above mentioned'in an accurate-manner, and

-. with each blank positioned when delivered to the operating machine precisely the same position as the preceding blank.

Another object is the provision of asimple, inexpensive and easily operated machine, wherein all the several operations are carried out a1.1to matic.;ily.

\Vith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims appendedjhereto, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part hereof Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view with parts broken away.

Fig. 3 is an end view looking toward the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view at the lower end of the magazine, showing the manner of opening the tubular blank.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one end of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail of the movable blank end supporting mechanism with the parts in one position. v

Fig. 7 is a detail in side elevation showing the pressing fingers and the blank withdrawing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a detail in side elevation of the blank alining mechanism.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line Fig. 8.

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail showing more clearly the relation of the resilient strips 12 and the opener blade 44 hereinafter described.

The bag blanks 1 as previously mentioned, usually have at one end a tab 2, and at the other end a thumb cut or notch 3, the said tab and thumb out being in one wall of the blank, and thethumb cut of each blank resulting from the formation of the tabin v 99 of a preceding blank. These elements, namefacilitates the separation of the blanks, and.

the thumb out the separation of the walls of the blanks.

In the present embodiment of the invention, a number of the tubular blanks in simi- .lar superimposed relation are placed in a magazine, composed of a bottom 4, at least one side wall 5, and sto s 6 at one end,

against which the ends 0 the blanks abut. The magazine as shown in Fig. 1 inclines downwardly toward the stops 6, and the blanks are arranged with the wall having the tab ahd thumb cut upward, and with the tabs at the forward ends, that is adjacent the stops 6.

The stops 6 are carried by a rod 7 arranged transversely of a suitable supporting frame 8 for the machine, and held in bearings 9 in the frame. The stops are arranged in spaced relation as shown in Fig. 3, each near one side of the magazine, and each stop has a split bearing 10 engaging the rod 7, and secured thereon by a set screw 11. The stops 6 as shown more particularly in Fig. 3, extend well below the rod 7, and below the bottom of the magazine, and each has secured to the lower end thereof a strip 12 of flexible material for a purpose to be presently described.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be noticed that the bottom 4 extends only a little beyond the median line of the blanks when m the magazine, so that a little more than one third of the lowermost blank is unsupported b the bottom at the end adjacent the stops. 1: each of the forward corners, the pile of blanks is supported by an angle plate 13 secured-to a rod 14 adj ustably held on a shaft 15 mounted at the appropriate side of the magazine and extending parallel with the long axes of the blanks. A hearing block 16 connects each rod to the shaft, the block having split bearings for engaging the rod and the shaft respectively, thereby to adjustably connect the block to both rod and shaft.

Each shaft 15 is held in a sleeve bearing 17 on the frame, and each shaft carries a roller 18 engaging a cam plate 19 secured to a vertical shaft-20 journaled in the frame, and operated in a manner to be presently described. The arrangement of the cam is such that when the shaft 20 is oscillated in one direction, the plates 13 are swung downwardly and outwardly into inoperative or nonsupporting position, while when the shaft is oscillated in the opposite direction the plates are swung upwardly and inwardly into operative or supporting position.

The shaft is oscillated by'means of a cam 21 on a shaft 22 journaled transversely of the frame, the shaft 20 having an eccentrically carried roller 23 engaging a face roove in the cam. As shown, the roller 23 1s adjustably connected to the shaft 20 by means of a split bearing 24. A coil spring 25 normally acts on the shaft 15 to swing the plates 13 into inoperative position, and to hold the. roller 18 in close engagement with the cam 19.

Each cam 19 carries a separating and supporting finger 26 (Figure 5). The cam has a depending bearing 27 in which the finger 26 is held, and it will be noticed referring to Fig. 5 that the finger is roughly T shaped, the shank of the T engaging the bearing 27. One end 28 of the cross arm of the T, namely that end adjacent the bags is short and conical, to readily enterbetween the lower: most bag and those above, while the other end 29 of the cross arm is of considerable length, to provide an eflicient support for the superincumbent bags, when the finger is in operative position. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the shank of the finger is adjustably held by the cam.

Between the plates 13 the forward ends of the bags are supported at the, center at certain intervals by means of a plate or blade 30. The blade is secured to a bracket 35 having a split bearing engaging a shaft 33, and clamped thereon as shown. The blade has an oscillating movement imparted thereto by the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. This mechanism includes a gear segment 38 journaled at 39 on the frame, and engaging a mutiliated pinion 40 on the shaft The segment 38 carries a friction roller 41, engaging within a face groove in a cam wheel l2 secured to a shaft 43, journaled transversely of the frame.

The cam groove isso contoured that once during each complete rotation of the shaft 43 the segment will be rocked to oscillate the shaft 33. When the shaft is oscillated in one direction, the plate is swung upwardly into engagement with the tab of the lowermost bag blank, and supports the npper wall of said blank and the blanks above, leaving the lower wall free so that the opener blade to be described can easily enter between the walls.

Resilient fingers 30" are provided for forcing several of the tubular blanks down upon the blade 30 at each side then-of. That is these fingers engage between one or more of the lower blanks and those above, on each side of the blade 30 and make downward pressure, thus to bow transversely the forward ends of the lower blank or blanks. Since the lower wall of the lowermost blank is free, it moves away from the upper wall and blade 30, forming a pocket into which the opener blade to be described may enter.

The fingers 30" are adjustably held in split bearings 34 by set screws 36. The bearings are clamped on a' short shaft 31,-heldin the bracket 32. This shaft has a radial arm 37 provided with an angular cam slot, engaged by a roller 38 on a fixed arm 39depending from the rod 7. The fingers 30 are of 1aminated structure, and are resilient, built up like a cantilever spring. When the shaft 33 is oscillated as above described, the fingers 30 are first moved between several of the lowermost blanks and those above, and afterwards downwardly, thus to bow the blank over the blade 30 and to provide the pocket. between the lower tubular blank walls as above described.

lVhile the forward end of the lowermost blank is manipulated as just described, an

ion

49 journaled on the shaft 43, and held'stationary by an arm 50 secured to a shaft 51, journaled in the frame, parallel with the shaft 48 and below and behind the same.

The outer wall of the cam groove is lacking over about 90, so that at a selected point in the rotation of the cam the roller is free to move away from the shaft 43. A coil spring 53 is arranged between the arm and the collar 47, the spring acting to hold the roller in engagement with the lnner wall of the groove. The cam is adj ustably connected with the arm 50 by the slot and set screw 52 shown in Fig. 1. v

The blade 44 is resilient and may-deflect under pressure to prevent injury to the upper wall of the bag blank as it moves between the walls. The cam 49 allows the arm to swing downwardly from the position of Fig. 1 under excess pressure thus to prevent injury to the parts, and the spring returns the arm to normal position as soon as the pressure relaxes.

As the blade 44 moves into the blank between the walls thereof, the end of the blank is opened, the lower wall being drawn away from the upper wall which is en ported-by theblade 30. In order to limit tie opening movement and to prevent kinking and bending of the blank, as well as to reduce frietion, a roller 54 is arranged transversely of the machine just below the magazine, and just in front of the forward end of the bottom 4. As the forward end of the blank is drawn down in the manner shown in Fig. 6, the plates 13 are lowered and the blank is drawn down onto the roller 54.

The fingers 26 are moved into position between the lowermost blank and those above when the plates 13 are lowered, and the uppermost blanks are supported clear of the lowermost. l A pair of segments 55 is secured to the shaft 43, and the segments are arranged in rear of the arm 45, to engage above the lowermost blank as it is bent. around the roller 54. As the segments move onward, the periphery of the curved surfaces thereof cooperate with the roller 54 as feed rollers to move the blank rearwardly and to deliver it to a pair of rollers 56 and 57 journaled on shafts 58 and 59 in the frame.

In order to attain accurate delivery the blanks are alined laterally and longitudinally. The lateral alinement is attained by U shaped guides 60 adjustably secured to rods 61 extending inwardly from the sides of the frame. The guides are adjustable on the rods toward and from each other, and the side edges'ofthe blanks move in'the guides. Longitudinal adjustment is attained by a pair of arms 62 secured to a shaft 63 journaled in one end of-the cross-head 64 on the shaft 58. A spring 65 is arranged'between an arm 66 on the shaft and the cross-head, the said spring acting to hbld a friction roller 67 on the shaft 36 against a cam 68 on the shaft 58.

The roller 67 is on a radial extending arm 69, and the cam is contoured to swing the free ends of the arms toward the segments 55 just before the arms attain the position of ig. 8. The free ends of the arms are grooved transversely as shown at 69 on the faces adjacent to the segments, the bottoms of the grooves being in alinement with the contacting surfaces of the rollers 56 and 57. These arms engage the forward end of the blank, and move it slightly if necessary, to attain longitudinal alinement. From the rollers 56 and 57 the forms are delivered to the rolls 70-71, of the machine which performs the next operation.

During the passage of the blanks from between the roller 54 and the segments 55, they are supported by a table or plate 72. This plate is supported at its front end by an arm 73 secured to the fixed shaft 51 before mentioned and at its rear end by a standard 74 on the frame. The improved feeding machine may be driven in any suitable manner, as for instance by the machine to which with a gear 80 on the shaft 43. The wheel 56 is driven by the wheel 57, and the .roller 54' is preferably. composed of several sections, as shown in Fig. 3. In order to thoroughly loosen the lowermost. bag blank, break up air. adhesions between it and the next above, a roller 81 is journaled in open bearings 82 just behind the roller 54. This roller 81 has portions thereof hexagonal as shown in Fig. 2.

To prevent the points of the segments 55 from engaging the tubular blanks at the end of the pile, the strips 12 of flexible material previously mentioned are secured to the lower ends of the sto s 6 in register with the segments. When t e segments swing into the position of Fig. 7, the flexible strips are swept in beneath the pile of the blanks as shown in Fig. 7, thus preventing any inedges at one side abutting the guide plate 5.

At this time the plates 13 are in the position of Figures 1 and 7, and the fingers 26 are in the position of Figure 7, that is both beneath the lowermost blank of the pile. The arrangement of the magazine is such that while the bottom 4 supports the pile at one end, the other end is supported by the plates 13 and the fingers 26.

When the shaft 22 commences to rotate, the parts attain the position of Fig. 1, with the'blade 30 engaging beneath the tab of the lowermost blank. The fingers 30, Figure 2, come into engaging position between the lowermost blank, or between several of the lowermost blanks and those above and are operatedto press down upon the blank or blanks,.thus to separate the walls of the lowermost blank, since the lower'wall is at this time unsupported between the plates 13. The blade 44 now enters the pocket, moving between the walls of the blank, and bendin down theblank in the manner ,shown in Figure 6. As the blade enters the blank, the plates 13 are moved into the inoperative position of Figure 4, as are also the fin ers 26. a

The lade 30 is meanwhile passing on to the position of Figure 7, and the plates 13 and the fingers 26 are returned to the operative osition of Figure 7. Soon thereafter the b ade 44 passes out of engagement with the blank, as shown in Figure 7, and the segments 47 engage the blank and cooperating with the roller 54 feed it to the rollers 56 and 57. The resilient strips 12 have been swept in beneath theend of the pile by the segment points, thus insuring that the said points will clear the pile of blanks. During its passage from the segments and roller 54 to the rollers 70 and 71, the blank is supported by the table 72, and inits travel it is alined laterally between guide 60, and longitudinally by the fingers 62, so that it enters between the rollers 70 and 71 accurately positioned for operation by the machine of which the said rollers form a part. After the blank is withdrawn over the rollers 54 and 81, the latter roller thoroughly breaks up air adhes ons and the like between the lowermost blank and those above, so that there is no tendency to carry along another blank.

' The roller 54 is resiliently monnted,.and spring pressed toward the segments. At its ends it is journaled in bearing blocks 85, which are slidable in guides 90 on the frame. A coil spring .91 is arranged in rear of each block, and the block and spring are engaged by tension screws 92 and 93 respectively threaded through the .frame. By-means of the screws, the position of the roller with respect to the segments, and the tension of the spring may be adjusted. The machine is adjustable for bag blanks of difl'erent sizes.

tion, and is easily swung laterally at either 76 end. As the front end passes from between the rollers 56 and 57 it engages the lateral guides 60, Figs. 1 and 9, and if out of alinement the front end will be swung, the re mainder of the blank will follow, andthe blank will be fed in exact lateral alinement to the rollers 7071. The. guides flare somewhat at the entrance end to facilitate the entrance of the blank.

\Vhat is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed to support a pile-of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with the underside of one end of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage and support the upper wall of the lowermost blank nearthe center of the said end, and means to press said wall downwardly at each side of the blade, thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of openin means.

2. In a machine of the class escribed, a. magazine constructed to support a pile of tubular bag blanks in super )osed relation with the underside of one ent of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage and support the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of the said end, means to press said wall downwardly at each side of the blade, thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of opening means, and means entering the pocket for opening the end of the-blank and bending said end downwardly.

3. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed to support a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with the underside of one end of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage and support the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of the-said end, means to press said wall downwardly at each side of the blade, thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of opening means, means entering the pocket for opening the end of the blank and bending said end downwardly, and mechanism for engaging the said end' and withdrawing the blank from the magazine.

' 4. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed to support a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with the underside of oneend of the lowermost blank free, a blade to engage and support the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of the said end, fingers topress said wall downwardly at each side of the blade, thereby to form a pocket to facilitate the entrance of opening means, means entering the pocket for opening the end of the blank and bendingsaid end downwardly, and mechanism including a resiliently supported roller over which the blank is drawn for engaging the said end and withdrawing the blank from the magazine.

5. In a machine of the class described, a magazine constructed ,to support a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with the underside of one end of the lower-. most blank free, a pluralit of means cooperating to separate the we ls of the lowermost blank at the said end and to tem orarily support the upper wall, an opener lade mounted to move into the said opened end and bend the end of the blank downwardly, means engaging the said end to withdraw the blank, and mechanism in connection. with the magazine movable into and out of operative position for engaging beneath the pile at the said end and synchronized with the operation of the bending and withdrawing means to move into inoperative position during the operation of the bending means. and into operative osition during the op eration of the with rawing means.

6. Ina machine of the class described, a magazine constructed to support a pile of tubular bag blanks in superposed relation with the underside ofone end of the lowermost blank rec, a pluralit of means co-- operating to eparate the wa ls of the lowermost blank at the said end and to temporarily support the upper wall, an opener blade mounted to move into the said 0 ned end and'bend the end of the blank dtiwnwardly, means en aging the said end to withdraw the blan mechanism in connection with the magazine movable into and out of operative position for engaging beneath the pile at the said end and synchronized with the operation of the bending and withdrawing means to move into ino erative position during the operation 0 the bending means and into operative osition during the operation of the with rawing means, and guides engaging the edges of the blank to al ne the same as it moves away from the magazine.

7. In a machine of the class described a magazine for a pile of tubular bag blanks, a pair of feed rollers, a-plurality of means cooperating'to withdraw the lowermost blank from the ile and deliver it to the feed rollers, and means moving in the opposite direction to the travel of the blank to' engage the front end thereof prior to its engagement by the feed rollers to determine theposition thereof with respect to said rollers.

8. In a machine of the class described, a to magazine havi me'ansto sup ort one end of a pile of tu ular bag blan in en posed relation, a blade at theother an of the magazine movable into and out of position to su port the upper wall of the lowermost blan near the center of the said end, fingers to engage said wall and ress it downwardly at each side of the bla e thereby to form a pocket, an opener to enterthe pocket and to bend the end of the blank downwardly, means engaging the said end to withdraw the blank, and means movable into and out of supportin osition to engagethe said other end 0 t e pile during v the operation of the withdrawin means.

9. In a machine of the class escribed, a

, magazine havin means to supgort one end of a pile of tu ular bag bla in su rposed relation, a blade at the other en of the magazine movable into and out of posi tion to support the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of the said end, fingers to engage said wall and press it downwardly at each side of the blade thereby to form a pocket, an opener to enter the pocket and to bend the end of the blank downwardly, means engaging the said end to withdraw the blank, and means movable into and out of'supportin sition to engage the said other end 0 t e pile during the o eration of the withdrawing means, the with rawing means including a resilientl) supported roller over which the blank is drawn. a

10. In a machine of the class described, a magazine having means to support one end of a pile of tubular bag blanks in an rposed relation, a blade at the other end oi the magazine movable into and out of position to support the upper wall of the lower: most blank near the center of the said end, fingers to engage said wall and ress it downwardly at each side of the bla e thereby to form a pocket, an opener to enter the pocket and to bend the end of the blank Qdownwardly, means engaging the said end to v Jwithdraw the blank, and means movable into position to engage and out of. supportin the said other end of t e pile durin the o eration of the withdrawing means, t e wit drawing means including a resilientl supported roller over which the blank is rawn, and wheel segments cooperating with the roller to engage the edges of the blank.

11. In a machine of the class described, a magazine havin means to sup ort one end of a pile of tu ular bag blan s in superposed relation, a blade at the other end of the magazine movable into and out of position to support the upper wall of the lowermost blank near the center of the said end, fingers to engage said wall and press it downwardly at each side of the blade thereby to form a ocket, an opener to enter the pocket and nd the end of the blank downwardly,

means'engaging the said. end to withdraw position to engage the'said other end of t e pile during the operation of the withdrawing means, the withdrawing means includin a resiliently supported roller over whiclit e blank is drawn, and wheel segments cooperating with the roller to engage the edges of the blank, the magazine having flexible strips at the corners thereof depending below the blanks and positioned to be engaged by the segments for the purpose specified.

12. In a machine of the class described, a magazine including means to support one end of a pile of superposed bag blanks, and means movable into and out of operative position to support the pile at the other end, a plurality of mechanisms at the said other end to withdraw the lowermost blank from the pile, and means for operating the said means and the said mechanisms to cause the supporting means to release the lowermost blank during the early part of the withdrawal operation and 'to engage and support the remaining blanks during the later part of the operation, the withdrawing mechanism including an opener blade to pull down the unsupported end of the lowermost blank, and a resiliently supported roller and wheel segments cooperating therewith to withdraw the blank.

13. In a machine for successively feeding from a pile the lowermost of a plurality of superposed similarly arranged tubular bag blanks each provided at one end with a tab on the upper wall thereof, a magazine including a fixed support for one end of the pile anda movable support for the other end,

down the end, mechanism to engage the said end to withdraw the blank, and means to operate the blade, the fingers, the movable support, the opener and the withdrawing means in proper order and relation.

14. In a machine for successively feeding from the bottom of a pile'of similarly arranged tubular bag blanks each having the upper wall at one end extended, a blade for engaging the extension of the *lowermost blank, fingers to depress the blank on each side of the'bla'de, an opener blade to enter between the walls and bend down the end of the blank, other means to engage said end and withdraw the blank, and means to operate all of said mechanisms in the proper order.

15. In a machine of the class described, a magazine for holding a pile of tubular bag blanks, a pair of feed rollers, av plurality of'means cooperating to withdraw the lowermost blank in the pile and deliver it to the feed rollers, and a plurality of means cooperatin to determine the position of the blank with respect -to the feed rollers, said means engaging the end and sides'respectively of the blank.

Signed at Watertown, in the county of Jefferson and .State of New York, this 12th day of August, A. D. 1926.

ALFRED CLEMENT COTY. THOMAS EARL COTY.

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