US2285279A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

June 2,1942.

J. HOHL EI'AL PACKAGING MACHINE Jim 2, 1942.

J. HOHL. ETAL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed mama, 1939. e Shget's-Sheet 2 f f m w 1.

9 Ammz s.

J. HOHL EI'AL 2,285,279 PACKAGING MACHINE Filed March 24, 1939 s Sheets-Sheet 5- A TTORNEYS.

June ,2, 1942.

June 2, 1 942. J. HQHL. ETA}-- 2,285,279". PACKAGING MACHINE, Filed ld arch24, 1939 6 Sheets-Shark. 4

June 2, 1942. J, 'HQHL ETIAL 2,285,279

MCKAGING MACHINE v Filed March 2-4, 1939 6"S'heets-Sh e er 6 vBY Patented June 2, 1942 FFICE PACKAGING MAcmNE John Hohl, Olav Bjering, and Charlton F... Whittier, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Owens- Illinois Glass Company,acorporation of Ohio Application March 24, 1939, Serial No. 263,948

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to packaging liquids or other materials. In its-preferred form it comprises a machine adapted for filling bags or containers with a liquid, as, for example, a lubricating oil, and then'sealing the bag.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and practical machine for filling collapsible bags or containers'with a liquid, in accordance with which the liquid is introduced as by means of a nozzle into the collapsed container, and causing the latter to be gradually expanded by the entering liquid while preventing or restricting the entrance of air.

Another object of the invention is to provide a practical machine for rapidly filling containers and for sealing the filled containers. A. further feature of the invention consists in the provision of a novel form and construction of the nozzle through which the liquid is injected into the containers.

An object of the invention is to provide a filling nozzle so constructed and operated in such manner as to prevent or reduce to a minimum the drip from the nozzle between successive filling operations, and further to control any drip that may occur and direct it away from the containers. A further object of the invention is to provide novel sealing mechanism by which each container when filled is subjected to more than one sealing operation and in a manner to insure a strong, effective and reliable seal. a Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate at preferred form of our bag filling. machine and which, as-hereinafter described, is especially designed for filling collapsible bags with oil 'or other liquid; I

Fig. 1 is a perspective viw of the filling machine, parts being shown insection; Fig. 2 is a partsectional elevation of the machine looking in a direction at right angles to that of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view, the section being taken at the line:3-3 of Fig. 2; 1

Fig. 4 is a party sectional ,elevation on a larger holding the end gates of thetrays in closed position.

rotating the same, bag sealing mechanism, and means for expelling air from the bag;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing a cam and motion transmitting mecha nism actuated thereby for operating the bag clamping and sealing devices;

Fig. 7 is a view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 6, looking in a direction at right angles to that of Fig. 6;

Figs. 8; to ll are diagrammatic views illustrating the sealing operations; r

Fig. 8 shows the first clamping and sealing means; i

Figs shows the means for efiecting a second sealing operation; and

Figs. 10 and ll illustrate in plan and elevation respectively, the sealed end of a package.

The machine in the form illustrated comprises in general terms, a platform or base it supported on a framework i i, a vertical tubular column it having a fixed mounting in the base it, a superstructure including an upper platform iii supported in part by the column it, an electric 1110-. tor it, a hopper it, a filling nozzle it, means including a cylinder ii and pistonld for drawing charges of oil from the hopper and forcing such charges through a pipe is to and through the filling nozzle, driving mechanism including speed reduction gearing interposed between the Fig. 5 is a fragmentary part sectional elevation showing the tray carrying turret, mechanism for 25 which is reciprocated within the hollow standard it.

The machine will now described in detail as constructed and used for filling bags 30 with oil and sealing and discharging the bags. A supply of oil is continuously maintained within the hopper l5 and is drawn in measured charges from the hopper into the cylinder H by retraction. of the piston l8. Each charge is forced by the forward movement of the piston through the valve 3| (Figs. 1 and 4)., pipe l9 and feeding nozzle it into a bag 30. The motor l4 operates through speed reduction gearing within a gear casing 32 (Fig. 1) to rotate a drive shaft 33 and disk 34'. keyed thereto. it rock arm 35 mounted torock about a pivot 36 is actuated by means I .of a roll 31 on the disk 34 engaging aslot 38 7 in the arm. A connector 40 provides a connection between said am and the piston rod 39 of the piston-ll. The roll is adjustable radially of the disk 34 by adjusting means including a screw rod I, thus permitting the length of the piston stroke to be adjusted to adjustably vary the volume ofthe charges of oil.

The valve, ll as shown in Fig.- 4 is a two-way valve adapted to place thecylinder l1 alternately in communication with the funnel l5 and pipe valve is then automatically rotated to the dotted T line position (Fig. 4) to. cut all communication in with the funnel and open a passageway from the cylinder to the pipe IS. The means for oscillating the valve 8| includes a cam 42 (Fig. 1) fixed a, the shaft 33 for rotation therewith, said to oscillate about the axis of the shaft 33. An

arm ll formed on and depending from the disk is connected through a rod 48 (Figs. 1 and 4) with an arm 41 of a bell crank fulcrumed at 48.

The other arm "of the bell crank is connected through a link 50 to a rock arm attached to the valve 3|.

/ The 'bell crank 41,- 49 also operates through mechanism which will now be described to actuate means for clampingthe bag to the filling 3o nozzle and holding the bag during the filling operation. Such clamping means includes a gripping pad 5| (Fig. 4) made of rubber or the like, said pad mounted in the lower end of a rock arm attached toa rock shaft 53 journalled in an 35 arm 54. A second rock arm 55, fixed to the rock shaft '53,,is held under the tension of a coil spring 5', thereby causing a yielding pressure of the gripp pad Slagainst the nozzle. A post 51 adiusta lymounted in the arm 54 and clamped 40 in position by a set-screw 58, has pivotally connected thereto'at its upper end, a rock arm 59.;

The outer end of the rock arm is pivotedat 60 to toe end of a rod ii, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 62 to the bell crank arm. The arm 58 carries a pin 63 which engages a slot 64 in a vertically disposed arm or link 65, the lower end of which has apivotal connection 66 with the arm 55.

n will be seen that with the parts in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, in which the valve 31 cuts oil? the supply of oil to the filling nozzle, the gripping pad 5| is'held away from the nozzle 16, permitting the operator to slip a bag into filling. position with the nozzle projecting into the fill opening of the bag. When the bell crank 41, 40 operates to reverse the valve 3| preliminary to filling the bag, the rod BI is moved downward. As soon as this downward movement commences..the spring 56 is free to swing the arm on it downward to the broken line position, thereby moving the gripping pad 5| into gripping position. The pin 63 is carried downward along the slot 64 during the continued movement of the bell crank and just before such movement is com- 65 pleted, the pin 63 engages the lower end of the slot and operates positively through the link 65 to increase the gripping pressure of the pad 5| and thus securely hold the bag in contact with the nozzle during the filling operation. The

- form a chamber 58 into and through which the oil is directed. Owing to the capacity of this chamber, the movement of the oil is sufilciently slow to cut down turbulence and reduce foaming of the oil to a minimum. The nozzle proper may be mounted on the elbow 51. The lower end 69 of the nozzle has both its outer and inner walls tapered. A plug 10, which serves as a valve for closing. the nozzle, is also tapered to correspond with the taper ofthe inner nozzle wall and provides therewith an efl'ective seal.

The plug Wis formed on the lower end of a tubular rod H which extends upwardly through the chamber 58. The elbow 61 has an extension 12 which provides a bearing for the rod H and also forms a support for the arm 54. A collar 13 is mounted on the rod H in the path of a finger or arm 14- formed integral with the arm 59.

"When the valve 81 is swung downward to bag filling position, the finger ll is swung upward to I cam engaging a cam roll 43 on a disk 44 mounted go the broken line position, thereby engaging the collar 13 andwithdrawing the plug I0 for opening the nozzle. When the valve 3| is reversed to close the pipe IS, the valve plug I0 is lowered by a coil spring 15 and closes the nozzle, thereby preventing dripping of residual oil.

Air may "be supplied through a hose Hi to the valve stem H and through the latter for breaking up air bubbles or foam which may accumulate at the mouth of the bag owing to agitation of the oil during the filling operation. This air may be supplied from any suitable source (not shown) and is controlled by any suitable means for periodically supplying a puff of air and applying it within the open end of the filled bag. The lower end of the nozzle l6 and plug 10 are espe cially shaped to cause anyresidual oil which may seep through while the plug is in closed position,

to collect at a point away from the bag or wall of the tray. For this purpose the end surfaces of the plug and nozzle are inclined toward a central point 10 at which such oil will accumulate. This prevents any such oil from soiling the end of a bag as the latter is placed in position on the nozzle.

The trays 20 are arranged in an annular series on the turret or carriage 2| and are adjustably held in position as by means of clamping bolts I1 (Fig. 2). The turret is given an intermittent step by step rotation for bringing the trays in succes sion to the filling station and holding them at rest during the filling Operation. The trays are downwardly and outwardly inclined; preferably at an angle of about 45. j The nozzle l6 and valvestem H are likewise inclined at the same angle so;

as to align with each tray as the latter is brought to rest at the filling station.

The mechanism for intermittently rotating the turret 2| includes a vertical drive shaft I8 driven from the motor l4 through a train of gearing including bevel gears 19 and at the upper end of the shaft. On the lower end of the drive shaft is a bevel gear Bl (Figs. 2 and 3) meshing with a bevel gear on a horizontal shaft 82 journalled in a bracket 83- beneath the platform [0. Intermeshing gears 84 and 85 are secured respectively to the shaft 82 and a parallel shaft 86. The

latter operates through bevel gears 81 to drive a verticalshaft 88 for operating 2. Geneva drive. The latter may be of conventional construction and as shown includes a gear wheel 89 bolted to the hub 90 (Fig. 2) of the turret 2i. Keyed to the upper end'of the shaft 88 is an. arm 9| carrying a roll 92 (Fig. 5) for engaging the radial slots 93 in the Geneva" wheel for rotating the latter step by step. The shaft 88 also carries the usual within the tubular column I2.

locking plate 94 to engage the locking surfaces 95 on the Geneva'wheel and lock the latter while the arm 9| is disengaged.

The turret is advanced one step, namely, the angular distance between centers of two adja cent trays, each time the drive shaft I8 is given intermittently, being under the manual control of the operator and is automatically brought to rest at the completion of each rotation by means of a stop switch 96'(Figs. 1 and 2) in the controlling circuit of the motor I4, said switch being a complete rotation; The 'drive shaft is rotated operated by an arm 91 on the drive shaft 18.

a bracket comprising a hub I having a fixed mounting on the column I2, and radially disposed arms iIlI, I02 and I03 extending outwardly and downwardly from the hub. Journalled in the arms I02 and I03 is a rock shaft IM to which. is secured a rock arm I05, the outer end of which is bifurcated to engage a pin or roll Hit carried by a sleeve till which has a limited up and down movement on the column 12. The sealing unit it'comprises upper and lower blocks 22% and 22' respectively (see Figs. 2, 5 and 8) which function as a pair of clamping ,jaws between which the filling end of the container is gripped during the sealing operation. The upper block 22 is carried on a bracket tilt in the form. of a bell crank lever mounted to rock on the shaft HM. A rod is connected to the sleeve IIlIl extends outwardly through an "opening in the bracket I08 and has mounted thereon a coil spring I ill which is held under compression and applies outward pressure against the bracket. Stop nuts II threaded on the rod I09 determine the position of the block 22. .The lower block 22 includes a resilient pad I I2 of Neoprene or other resilient or' rubber like material which serves as a resilient backing for the heater block 22, The head 22 is carried on a'rock arm II3 keyed to the shaft I04.

Except duringthe sealing operation the lower head 22 is held in'its retracted position (Fig. 5)

by means of a coil spring I (Fig. 2) mounted The spring is connected to the rod 25 and exerts a continuous upward pull thereon. The pin I06 extends through a slot IIiIi in thecolumn i2 and is connected to the rod 25, permitting the sleeve Ill? to be held in its .lifted position ,(Fig. 5)", thus holding the head 22 in its retracted position.

Means for swinging the head 22 upward to clamping and sealing position includes the cam 24 (Figs. 6 and 7) which engages and operates a bell crank II5 fulcrumed on a bracket IIB, the bell crank including an arm pivotally connected I08 against the compression force of the spring IIIl so that the blocks are held in clamping and sealing position with a yielding pressure. with in the block 22 is an electric heater II'I (Fig. 8) and a thermostat IIB which automatically controls the temperature of the sealing block by regulating in a conventional manner, the current supplied to the heater. The electric current is supplied to the heater through conductors carried in a cable IIQleading to the heater from any suitable source of current supply.

7 The bags 30 which when applied to the machine for filling, are in a deflated or collapsed condition, may be of rectangular construction, including the major upper and lower faces 36 and 30 respectively (Fig. 1) and the intermediate comparatively narrow side walls 3il which may be integral with the major walls and may pain the form of infolds or gussets. The bag may be made from a single strip of material folded to the form described and is sealed along the side and bottom end. The upper end may have corner portions I20 (Fig. 10) sealed, leaving a fill opening I2I therebetween, said opening being considerably narrower than the bag and of a size to fit closely over the filling nozzle The nozzle being tapered facilitates the attachin of the bag thereto, as well as providing an approximately air-tight seal. The bag 3t may be made of a thermoplastic material such as .Pliofilm which is well adapted for such purpose. When theend of the filled bag is clamped with the lower endof the shaft 25. The rotation of the cam 24 operates through the bell crank .to draw the shaft 25 downward and thereby swing between the heads 22* and 22 the heat applied to the bag servesto soften the material and seal the bag.

Inorder to supplement thesealing operation of the sealing unit 22 and thereby insure a perfect and reliable seal, a second sealing operation is effected by the sealing unit 23 which in general is substantially similar in construction and operation to that of the unit 22 as above described- The sealing unit 22 operates at the station C and the unit 23 at the station D. By reference to Fig 9 it will be seen that the bag contacting surfaces of the sealing elements are formed with complementary shoulders or offsets i 22 so as to form a bend or offset I23 (Fig. 11) in the sealed end of the bag. This results in a more reliable seal, decreasing any likelihood or possibility of the superposed plies of the sealed material spreading or developing a leak. The first sealing element 22 may contact with the end portion of the bag, the area of contact extending from the end edge rearwardly to a line E24. The second sealing element may be applied to a narrower end strip, the inner edge of which is defined by a line I25. Preferably a somewhat higher temperature is applied by the second sealing unit. This tends to soften the material a greater degree, insuring a good sealwhere the number of superposed plies of material is increased by the infolds or gussets and also at the lines of said folds.

Mounted onthehead 22 is a presser device I26 (Figs. 2 and5) which engages over the upper,

. sure to the filled bag and expelling air therefrom. The plate I2! is carried on an arm I28 connected to a rock shaft I29 mounted on the summarized as follows:

with an arm I32 mounted to rock with the shaft I. When the shaft I04 is rocked to swing the block 22" upward to sealing position, it operates through the linkage Just described to swing the presser plate I21 downward against the filled bag and compress it so that most of the airaastmo bag to slide downward by gravltyin b the, tray,

thereby releasing it .from the nozzle. The

. Geneva drive now operates to rotate the turret,

- advancing the trays one step.

which may be in the bag'is expelled just before sion atthe discharging station by the upwardmovement of the cam actuated rod 25 operating through means shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as follows:

A lever I34 having a fulcrum-I35 intermediate its ends is connected through a'link I36 and pin I 31 to the lower end of the shaft 25. The lever is connected at the end opposite the link I38 through a link I38 to. a rock arm I39 which engages a lug I ll on the hinge. rod of the end gate I33 for swinging the gate downward and thereby permitting the discharge of the package by gravity onto an inclined chute or platform Ill (Fig. 1).

In order to securely hold each Llld gate I33 in closed position while at the filling station, a

holding device in the form of a disk I42 (Figs.

1 and 4-A) is mounted by means of a bracket I on the platfo I and is spring-held as by means of a leaf spring H3 in position to engage the end gate of each tray as the latter is brought to the filling station. This prevents the possibility of the end gate opening slightlywhen the bag slides into position on the tray which might result in pinching the film. That is to say, the spring I43 is sufficiently stifi to counteract the force applied to the gate when the bag strikes it, thus positively holding the gate closed. Such opening of the' gate would also prevent it from holding the bag at the proper height for correct sealing.

The operation of the machine will be under- This brings the filledbag to station B and the met is automatically stopped with the next tray at the filling station. when the filled bag reaches station 0, the sealing unit 22 operates to seal the bag in the manner heretofore described, the pressure plate III operating as the sealing jaws are coin-' ing together, .to expel the major portion of any air contained in the bag. At station D the second sealing operation takes place. The filled bag remains in its tray until station G is reached, at which the end gate is automatically opened and the package discharged by gravity from the machine. i

Modifications may resorted to within the :spirit and scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims. I

We claim:

1. A packaging machine comprising means for filling a bag with a commodity at a filling station, a tray positioned and arranged to support the bag during thefilling thereof, a traveling carriage on which the tray is mounted and by which the tray is carried to and fromthe filling station, said tray including a hinged end-gate at the lower end thereof; a stationary holding device positioned to contact the gate and hold it closed while the tray is at said station, a spring yieldingly holding the gate closed while the tray is away from said station, and automatic means for opening said gate against the tension of the spring and permitting the package to be dis charged from the tray bygravity.

2. A packaging machine comprising a carriage rotatable about a vertical axis, a, tray mounted stood from the foregoing description but may be While the machine is at rest the operator places a bag in' position at the filling station A, with the nozzle t6 projecting into the fill opening, the bag at this time being in a, deflated, fiat condition. The operator then pushes the switch button-98, thereby releasing the limit switch and starting the motor I4. The valve 3| is at this time in'the Fig. 4 position. The motor operates to move the piston I8 outwardly, drawing va .charge of oil into the cylinder II. The cam 42 then operates as before described to reverse the valve 3| so that as the piston It moves inward, a'

is then advanced one step by the Geneva drive.

The clamp 5| is automatically released as the plug ll closes the nozzle, permitting the filled thereon in aninclined position and adapted to support a container, said tray having an end gate hinged thereto at the lower end of the tray, means for rotating the carriage and thereby bringing the tray to a filling station and thereafter to a discharging station, a holding device arranged to engage the end gateand hold it closed while the tray is at the filling station, a spring yieldingly holding the gate closed during the rotation of: the carriage, and means at the discharging station to open said end gate against the tension of said spring and permit the discharge of the filled container.

3. A packaging machine'comprising a carriage rotatable about a vertical axis, a tray charge of oil is forced downward to the filling mounted thereon and adapted to support a contamer, sald tray having an end gate at the lower end thereof, means for rotating the carriage step by step and thereby bringing the container to a filling station and thereafter to a discharging station,- means for filling the container while supported by the tray at said filling station, a spring yieldin gly holding said end gate closed during the rotation of the carriage, means at the discharging station for opening said end gate against the tension of the spring while the tray is at rest at the charging station and thereby permitting the discharge of the filled container. a roll at the filling station mounted separately from the carriage in position to engage the outer surface of the end gate while the carriage is at rest with the tray at the filling station and thereby prevent'accidental opening of the end gate.

4. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a carriage, means for rotating it about a vertical axis, a tray mounted thereon, said tray having ahinged end gate at the tension of said spring means for opening they end gate at a delivery station and permitting the package to be discharged from the tray by gravity.

5. A machine of the character described comprising, in combination, a carriage, means for rotating it about a vertical axis, a tray mounted thereon, said tray having a hinged end gate at its lower end, spring means for holding the gate normallyclosed during the rotation of the carriage, means for delivering a package to the tray when the latter is in a predetermined position and allowing the package to move downward along the tray and be arrested by said end gate,

a stationary holding device in position to engage 25 the end gate and positively hold it against opening movement by the descending package, and

means operable to open the end gate in opposition to said spring holding means after the tray has advanced beyond said stationary holding device to a delivery station and thereby permitting the package to be discharged by gravity from the tray.

6. A packaging machine comprising a carriage rotatable about a vertical axis, an annular series of downwardly and outwardly inclined trays on the carriage, each tray having an end gate at the lower end thereof and spring means for holding the end gate normally closed, means for rotating the carriage step by step, means for delivering a package to each tray at a station and permitting the package to slide downward by gravity until arrested by the end gate, a stop device having a stationary mounting in position to hold the end gate closed at said station, and means-operable in opposition to said spring holding means for opening each end gate in succession while the associated tray is at rest at a discharging station.

JOHN HOHL. OLAV BJERING. CHARLTON P, WHI'I 'I'IER.

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