US2475359A - Container forming machine and method - Google Patents

Description

July 5, 1949.

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14 sheets-sheet 11 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 INVENTGR. F20/img T. E. PIAZZE COIJTINlEI- FORMING MACHINE AND METHOD July 5, 1949.

14 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed Nov. 14, 1947 `Iuly 5, 1949. T. E. F'rAzzE` CONTAINER FORMINGy MACHINE ANDl METHOD Filed NOV. 14, 1947 EJECTO/ 14 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR.

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9 4 5 l 907 m n 4, A m 2 ...u lx h n s D M f m 6 T N M mm m www A 5 E n m Z w m... M 0 G E m M T F R 0 m WM 2 I @an M EH N ffm O C 7.. 4 9 l, qw a. 4 M 9 Q11 NW H ||||||||||||||w|.w 7 H w 5 d, M m mw ly im Vim. mm" u .l H J F H U l l l l I l I I l l llnm '|l' HHIHHI *14 E Patented July 5, 1949 CNTAINER FURJMING MACHINE METHODj Thomas Piazze, Mount Vernon,.0hio, assignori to Shellmar Products Corporation, Chicago,'Ill'., a 'corporation of Delaware Application November 14, 1947; SeralNo.;786,106'` 49 Claims.

This invention relates to a'machine and method. for making. containers. More particularly it pertainstozamachine and method. for forming a container having a pellet or capsule of dispersible materialE therein` for coloring the contents of such acontainer-Whenthe same` is filled With a semi-solid, viscous or plasticamass of. oleaginous material such as, for example; oleomargarine.

Itisl an objectof--the invention to provide a machine and `method, for making heat-sealable containers ofztuhe-likeconstruction which are transverselysealed .at .one end. and which have a capsule or pellet of dispersible.materialsecured againstian inner wall Ysurface thereof by a. heatsealablecapsuleholding. or patch memberthat willA permit the pellet; orcapsule contenta-to be dispersed and .thoroughly intermingled withthe contents of the container.

Anotherobg'ect of the invention is to provide a mechanism. and. method for feedingcapsulefholdf ing members for such containers successively into posi-tionf. onto movable. mandrels which araadapted to receivethe sarnein capsule holding position for subsequent attachment lthereof within. the containers against an. inner wall .surfacethereof Another object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism and method. for. feedingwcapsules -for such containers successively-and selectivelyv onto capsule holding members before securing them as aunit -withi-n .theacontainers Anotherobiect of the invention is toprovide a mechanism-and--method forfeeding such containers,-.1 or container tubes, into position so that an. innerwallsurface thereofoverlies each cap sule andits associated .holding member in order to secure thesame within .the container.

Another objectfof the invention. is to provide a mechanism and method for securing vthe capsule holding members to the inner wall surfaces of such containers, or container tubes, preferably by the application of heat and pressure.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and'vvill in part appear hereinafter.

The invention' accordingly-comprises the several steps and the relation of one'or moreof such steps with respect'to each of -the others, and the apparatus emb'odyng` features of`4 construction, combinations off elements land arrangement of parts whichware adapted Itov eifect'such'steps; all as eaemplied' in the following detailedv disclosure, and the scopeiof the. application of kwhich will be indicated .in theclaims.-

For ai-fuller understanding= of the nature and objects :of the' invention reference should be had tofthe following. detailed: description .taken in con- 2j` nection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1-is a front-.e1evational view of avpreferred;

type of machine which exemplifies the principles.

ofthe present invention;

Fig. 2 is Yaplan view of thev machine shown in Fig. .1;

Fig. 3 is anendelevational view of-the ma.- chine depictedin Figs. l and 25 looking from right to left of those. gures;

Fig. 4 is aside elevational. view of a-.perforating and. cuttin-gimechanism forV preparing capsule holding members from a web of suitable mal-1 terial and for feedingthempnto cooperatively associatedv .mandrelsadapted to receive the same in capsule holding position;

Fig. 5 is asectional viewof the perforating and cutting mechanism, taken along-the line 5--5'of- Fig. 4 .and lookingin .thedirection of the arrows;

Fig. 6V is a side viewof one ofthe mandrelsand a..portion of the-perforating andcuttingmechanismtaken alongthefline B-of Fig. 4, the man-Y drel being disposed .imposition .for receiving the capsule holding member assitis. cut off by the knife;

Fig. '7 is. amoredetailed. 'plan view-of `onefof the .mandrels;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional View of the mandrel .depicted .in Fig., 7 with an intermediate portion removed therefrom for clarity in illustration;

Fig. 9 isan end elevational view of the mandrel shown .in Figs. 'l and Sand looking from right to left of those figures;Y

Fig. l0 is a sectional elevational view taken transversely of the machine, along the line indicated at lll-l0' of Fig. 2,` showing the capsule feeding mechanism andthe plunger device for formingpockets in `the capsule holding members as the latter arepresentedbyI the successive mandrels for receiving thecapsules fromy the' feeding mechanism, theplunger device alsooperating to tampthe capsules -in the pockets formed in the holding.` members;

Fig... 1lis.a.side elevational View ofthe capsule feeding mechanism, .the view being taken from the rear side of the machine;

Fig.. 12 is=a side.elevational view of the plunger device for forming the pockets in the capsule holding membersand tamping the capsulesin the pockets, theviewbeing taken from the frontiside of the machine;

Fig.. 13 is a Vdetail -view o-ffa .capsule ejector ele.- ment for selectively transferring' individual capsulesfromthe feed .mechanism to ach-uteffor delivery by gravity into a pocket formed in the capsule holding member on the mandrel while the latter is positioned below the plunger device;

i4 is a detail view of a clover shaped cam and follower arrangement, depicted in Fig. 11 in dotted lines, for actuating the feeding hopper, the View being taken along the line l4--l4 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 15 is a detail view illustrating a heartshaped cam and follower arrangement, also depicted in Fig. 11 in dotted lines, which is mounted on the same shaft as the clover-shaped cam, for operating the capsule or pellet ejector device shown in Fig. 13, the view being taken along the line |5-l5 of Fig. 10 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 16 is an elevational View, taken on the line II-I 6 of Fig, 2, showing the mechanism for feeding tube stock and cutting it into container forming lengths preparatory to delivery to the mandrels;

Fig. 17 is a partial transverse section, taken on the line l'l-I'l of Fig. 2 showing the mechanism which cooperates with the container forming mechanism of Fig. 16 to deliver the container e forming tube lengths onto the successive mandrels so that the inner wall surface of each container will overlie the capsule and its associated holding member, which have previously been delivered onto the mandrel, to permit the holding member to be secured to the container wall, preferably by the application of heat and pressure;

Fig. 18 is a transverse sectional View, taken along the line I8-I 8 of Fig. 16 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 19 is an elevational view, taken along the line lil-I9 of Fig. 2, of a mechanism for heat sealing a capsule holding member into position against the inner wall surface of a container forming tube length and simultaneously therewith heat sealing marginally across the trailing end of the tube length to close the same and provide an open-ended tube-like container ready for filling;

Fig. 20 is an end elevational view, taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 2, of the heat sealing mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a diagrammatical view illustrating the perforating and cutting mechanism in operation on a continuously unwinding tape, providing a slack between feed rollers and the cutting blade and intermittently shearing oi perforated capsule holding members for deposit in timed relation onto the advancing mandrels;

Fig. 22 is a diagrammatic representation illustrating the action of an intermittently moving mandrel (A through D) from the time it advances to receive the capsule holding member until it is ready for the operation of the plunger device which forms the pocket for the capsule and also illustrating (D through D4) the operation of the plunger device and the capsule feeding mechanism in forming the pocket, feeding the capsule and tamping the capsule into the pocket ready for receipt of the container forming tube length;

Fig. 23 is a diagrammatical view of a continuously unwinding tube of container material as it passes between air-blocks to maintain an air bubble therein to separate the opposed tube faces;

Fig. 24 is a sectional View on the line 24-24 of Fig. 23 illustrating the separation of the tube Walls by the air bubble;

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the 4 tube feeding and cutting mechanism showing the: feeding arms for the cut tube lengths preparatory to placing a tube length over a mandrel with a capsule and its associated holding member on. the mandrel;

Fig. 26 (E, F and G) is a diagrammatic view i1-l lustrating the placing of a container forming' tube length on a mandrel so that one inner wall surface of the container overlies a capsule and its holding member and also illustrating the sealing of the same into position against the inner wall surface of the container, as well as the sealing of the trailing end of the tube length to complete the formation of the container;

Fig. 27 shows a completed container; and

Fig. 28 is a transverse section, taken on the line 283-28 of Fig. 27.

The nature of the invention can readily be understood from a brief analysis of Figs. 21 to 28. Figs. 21, 22, 23, 25 and 26 constitute a diagrammatic illustration of the sequence of operations of the preferred machine and the steps of the method involved in forming the container on the machine.

In Fig. 21 there is shown a tape which is continuously unwound from a supply roll, perforated by the perforating device and then intermittently fed to a cutting knife where capsule holding members are cut from the tape to be deposited on the mandrels.

In Fig. 22 a mandrel is shown (A) being advanced with the hold-down for the capsule holding member being raised (B) from its downward position to an out-of-the-way position, The capsule holding member is deposited onto the mandrel (C) whereupon the hold-down returns to operative position to retain the capsule holding member in place (D). Thereafter, a plunger comes into operative position (D'), depressing the capsule holding member to form a pocket (D2) as a capsule comes down an adjacent chute which leads to a hopper from which individual pellets are ejected by an ejection member. After the plunger is reciprocated (D3) the capsule falls into the opening of the pocket formed in the holding member. Thereupon the plunger returns (D4) to tamp the capsule into the pocket, the plunger alternately having a foreshortened stroke to permit of this action.

The next operation is to place a container forming tube length over the mandrel so that one inner wall surface of the container overlies the capsule and its holding member. In Figs. 23 to 25 a continuous web of tube material is fed through an air block where an air bubble initially separates the walls of the tube and thence to a cutting blade which partially severs the tube into container forming lengths. The lengths are separated, one by one, from the leading end of the tube by a reciprocating pair of feeding arms which grip the outside surfaces adjacent the end of the tube, slightly open the end of the tube and rapidly advance to completely detach the end length from the tube and strip it over the mandrel (E). The tube length is held in position by hold-down arms on the mandrel and the hold-down for the capsule holding member is retracted after which the capsule holding member is sealed to the overlying wall of the tube length (F). The trailing end of the container forming tube length is preferably simultaneously sealed to complete the formation of the container after which it is released by movement of the holddown arms (G). The completed container which is more-clearly-shown irl-Figs. 2'7y and-28;, isf-then removed-from the mandrel.

lEteferrin-g` morev particularlyeto. Figs. 1. to. 20.` of the drawings, theseparate mechanisms which araccoperatively associated in the. illustrated machine. for carrying. out the various operations involved in forming `the container bear the following captions: Drive-Mechanism` (Figs. l to. 3, particularly); Capsule Holding Member Perforating and Cutting-Mechanism (Figs. 4, 54 and4 6).; Capsule Feeding Mechanism (Figs. to. 15),; Cont-aineri-Eeeding Mechanism- (Figs. 16, 17 and 18-); and-Sealing- Mechanism- (Figs. 19 and 20).

l'lorA convenience irr illustration and reference tostructural parts-the Drive Mechanism will start with refer-ence numeraly II), the Capsule-.Holding Member-Perforating and Cutting Mechanism will start with refer-ence 'numeral'. |100-, the Capsule Feeding Mechanism will start with reference numer-al 200g theContainer-'Feeding startwit-h reference numeral 300,and the Sealing- Mechanism will start with reference numerald.

Drive mechanism- Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the machine comprises a frame structure having mounted thereon the-various mechanisms referred to, all of which are preferably driven in timed relation from a single motorilfll'. Motor Ill-drives the-transverse shaft I I-l by means ofthe pulley and belt I-2=. Gear I3 which is secured onl thke'other-end of the shaft Il drives gear I4 onone end of transverse shaft i5.` Gear IVE-on the, other endofshaft I5 drives gear-I I'I` on shaft I-B, on the outer end of which there is the dri-ving gear of a` Geneva mechanism I9 which intermittently drives the shaft 2U. Gear 2I onshaft 20 drives gear 22 l0n the shaft 23 which operates-'the rectilinear traverse-or conveyor-carrying the series of mandrels.

IIhe gear-I3 on the shaft II also drives gear 24fwhich is fixed on the transverse shaftl 25. At the farv side or the machine (Figs. 2` and 3) the shaft-25-carries a bevel gear-Z--which meshes with bevel gear 2ll on Vthe shaft 28. The shaft 28 drives the ver-tical@ shaft ZSlf by means of vbevel gears-3E! and 3l. The'shai-t 29- (Figs. 2, 3, 10 and 11) is connected by means of bevel gears 3'2- and 33' toa transverse. shaft 34 carrying gear 35 which drives gear St` on-the transverse cam shaft 3l whichoperates the Capsule Feeding Mechanism and the associated: plunger device for forming the pocketsin the capsule holding members.

The shaft 35'- (Figc. 2, 3, 4 and 5.). extends to and operates the Capsule Holding Member Pertoratin-g and Cutting Mechanism. The gear- 38 on the shaft 34 drives gear l3S! on the shaft Ml which operates the web perforating device. The gear 38 also drives gear 4 I. onshaft 42 from which the-remainderof` the mechanism is operated by conventional driving connections.

The transverse shaft 25 (Figs. 2 and 3) extends forwardly of the machine along .the Container Feeding Mechanism (Figs. 2 and 16), and

is connected by means of bevel gears 43 and 4:4 f

with shaft 45. The shaft 11,5` is connected by means of `gears 4,6, `lll and 48 withthe shaft-49 from-.which the-mechanism for feeding the tube is operated-by conventional driving connections. While the -machine is illustrated as provided with the drive-- mechanism described, it. .will be appreciated. that more than one motor may be usedto .drive the-various mechanisms in the proper timed. relation and: that other .equivalent driving means martelingen.,

Mechanism will 6l Capsule holding member performing Acmd cutting mechanism Referrngnow togFigs. 4, 5 ;and. 6v of the drawings-, a tape I-DI! is-unwoundfrom a reel Ill-I (see Fig. 1) andgpassed-over idlerrollers |02- and ID3 mounted to rotate in a frame supporter plate ThetapeI-.Uiltpasses through a preforating device indicated. generally at |05. rIhis consists off a, vertical shaft lll mounted to slidein a pair or spaced bushings-H11 and G8-.- The'bushines LII-land, ideare nflciiritedl 0n a plate |09 which is ixed, at its lower end to the end of a rotatably mounted shaftv I Iii. The top .end-of the shaft MI5 isv connected to. an eccentric Ill I secured to the. driven shaft fill. At the bottom-end of the shaft tilt-there is a-.heady H2 having mounted therein. afgang. of perforatingneedles I;I.3. The needles; I I3;` areadapted; to` pass through a perrelatedA stripping plate H4 and a web. support plate` Irl-5, alsol perforated. The plates II4 and IfI-A are secured.v to. the end of the rotatably mllrltedsshaft liggin thesame manner as plate H19, Thetape IIl passes between the stripping plate H14., and; the support plate II-5. The eccentric III: recpirocates the shailt- I [lt and also imparts tothe plate Hit: an oscillating movement about ,the agisof the-shaft IIIlas a pivot. As a result;- of this operation the4 needles travel in an orbital path so, that they penetrate the web It@ andmove along with-the web, at approximately thesamespeed as. theweb, as they descend into the perorations. irri the .support plate II5, after which they are withdrawn to repeat the perforating/:operation In. this manner the tape Illllis provided with spaced rows of-perforations while it is movin-g continuously and the elasticity and static characteristics of the material are overcome withgut tearing orV making undue enlargements and without retarding, buckling ordonblingthetape.

The tape isi-,next severed tov provide holding members tor the capsules, which holding members are thenA deposited on the mandrels. In Fig. 4 a mandrel is indicated. in position to receive the holding member.

In the. particular embodiment or the, invention illustrated (Figs. 1,` 2, 3) a plurality of mandrels are mounted in anysuitable manner on a flexible conveyor, chain and. sprocket arrangement or the like, preterably to travel in a rectilinear traverse as illustrated in the drawings. In this respect, any suitable construction for practicing the invention may be chosen by those skilled in the art 11o-,satisfytheir particular requirements. The mandrels are-moved in their rectilinear traverse between the -frainesy of the` machine by the drive mechanism. Ypreviously described. The mandrels are irst successively moved to the position indicated-ing-Figs. 3, 4, and 6;,-where eachniandrel receives al capsuleholding member.

The tape.` WiL-having been perforated, advances continuously between the dri-ve rollers IIE and HJ-Y at a .predetermined-rate ot speed determined by the lengthl of the hold-ing. member, after which an-l intermittent motion is-imparted to the tape. There iS av PJlSe in the advance of the tape so that,a-.capsule-retaining member can b e cut theretrom. The-intermittent motionl is imparted to the tape byv permitting a slack to occur in the tape, as at Mihai-terthe. perforated tape leaves the, rollers H6 and I Ilf. T-he rslackgllil is intermitte-ndr taken: 1m and. the tape-advanced by iii-cans; (ii-'draw ,rollers-f l. 19.- .and 1.2.0.. It vvvillbe noted that the draw roller ||9 is of constant diameter whereas draw roller is segmental and only a portion of its circumference will contact the face of the roller H9. By such means the slack I8 is controlled and taken up intermittently to feed `the perforated tape intermittently to the cutting device.

The cutting device or mechanism comprises an anvil blade or knife |2| and a cooperating movable blade I 22 which is pivoted at |23 to the end of a knife holding arm |24. The blade |22 is urged into alignment with the edge of the anvil |2| by a compression spring |25 against an adjustable stop member |26 secured on a lug |21 depending from the arm |24. The arm I 24 is keyed to a shaft |28 on one side of the frame plate |04. On the other side of the frame plate |04, shown in dotted line position (Fig. 4) is an actuating arm |29 also keyed to the shaft |28, and having a cam follower |30 which rides a cam |3| on driven shaft 4 34 and imparts movement to the arm |24 and |29. The knife is thus mounted to obtain a shearing cut. A stripper plate |32 is mounted in spaced relation above the base plate and lower knife holder |33. The plate |32 is pivoted at |34 and provided with an upstanding arm |35 which bears against an eccentric 36, by means of which the position of the plate |32 may be adjusted. The plate |32 overcomes static and guides the tape between the knives |2| and |22. The mechanism feeds continuously the web or tape, and changes the motion of feed from a continuous to an intermittent motion, to permit capsule holding members to be cut therefrom. The holding members are delivered onto each successive mandrel in timed relation to the intermittent movement of the mandrels.

Capsule feeding mechanism Referring now to Figs. 10 to 15, there is provided a hopper 200 having a gate plate 20| Itherein spaced from the bottom of the hopper to permit capsules 202 to pass thereunder in a single layer into an assembly chamber 203. The hopper 200 is supported at its rear end by a compound link arrangement comprising a link 204 pivoted at 205 `to the bottom of the hopper and a link 206 pivoted at 201 to the link 204 and also pivoted at 200 to a rear side frame plate '209 of the machine. The pivot point 201 is locked after the hopper 200 is properly adjusted to a slope that will cause the capsules to feed in a single layer. The links 204 and 206 then act as a single link. The hopper 200 is reciprocated or rocked to bring about the feeding of the capsules 202. This is accomplished by means of a clover shaped cam 2|0 (Figs. 11 and 14) secured to the driven shaft 31. The clover cam 2|0 actuates an arm 2|| of a bell crank which is pivoted on the shaft 2 2, the shaft 2 I2 extending transversely between the side frame plates 209 and '2|3 of the machine. The end of the actuating arm 2|| is provided with a follower or roller 2| 4 for engaging the cam 2|0. The other arm 2|5 of the bell crank is pivotally secured to the front end of the hopper at 2|6. A spring 2|1 is secure at one end to the hopper 200 at 2 6 and at the other end to the frame plate 209. The spring 2|1 holds the cam roller 2|4 against the cam 2|0 and insures uniform motion of the hopper 200. The arm 2 I6 of the bell crank is connected by a cross or tie plate 2|8 with a cooperating hopper supporting arm '2|9 which is pivotally mounted at one end on the transverse shaft 2|2 and at its other end on the bottom of the hopper 200. The clover shaped cam 2|0 opcrates to cause a rocking or reciprocating motion to be imparted to the hopper 200. The purpose of the rocking motion is to agitate the capsules 202 which are in a single layer in the assembling chamber 203 to fall through the hole 220 into the hopper spring conduit 22| to provide a stack for the feeding mechanism.

Another actuating arm or plate 222 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 2|'2 (Figs. 10, 11 and 15) and is provided with a cam follower 223 riding a heart-shaped cam 224 secured to the driving shaft 31. A spring 225 is secured at one end to the plate 222 and at the other end to the frame of the machine to hold the follower 223 against the cam 224. Linked to the plate 222 is a slidable plunger or capsule ejector member 226 having a U-shaped plate 221 at the outer end (Figs. 11 and 13) whereby to remove individual capsules 202 from the stack in the conduit 22| and selectively to deposit them in the chute 228. The ejector 22|:` is mounted to reciprocate in a suitable head, or bearing '229 which receives the lower end of the conduit 22|. As the plate 222 is actuated by the cam 224 it imparts a reciprocating motion to the ejector 226. With each stroke in a forward direction a capsule 202 is removed from the bottom of the aligned stack in the conduit 22| and delivered to the chute 228. The chute is angularly disposed with respect to the ejector 226 and terminates above and adjacent the capsule holding member which has already been deposited on the respective mandrel.

Before the capsule 202 finds its way down the chute 228 to the capsule holding member a pocket is formed in the latter. This, preferably, is accomplished by means of a reciprocating plunger device indicated generally at 230 (Figs. 10 and 12). It comprises a vertical shaft 23| which is mounted in spaced bearings 232 and 233 extending from a stationary supporting plate 234 which is secured to the frame of the machine. The shaft 23| is spring loaded by means of a spring 235 and a colletJ 236 on the shaft 23| holding the spring in energized position. The top end of the shaft 23| is connected to one arm 231 of a bell crank pivotally mounted on the transverse shaft 2|2, the other arm 23B of the bell crank carrying a cam follower 239 riding a cam 240 secured to the driving shaft 31. It will be observed by reference to Fig. 12 that this cam has a double dwell. Each dwell is designed so that one performs about twice the magnitude of function of the other; that is, rotation of the cam 240 causes reciprocation of the plunger shaft 23| whereby the plunger alternately forms a pocket in the capsule holding member by depressing it centrally and then tamps a capsule into the pocket formed thereby, the alternate strokes of the plunger 23| being such that the tamping stroke is fore-shortened a distance equal approximately to the thickness of the capsule.

In order to impart flexibility to the action of the bottom end of the plunger and to prevent damage by engagement with the mandrels, it is provided with a universal arrangement or flexible sleeve joint comprising a casing 24| receiving the headed lower end of the shaft 23| and having a compression spring 242 contained in the casing in engagement with the head formed on the end of shaft 23| The casing is thus flexibly or swivelly mounted on the end of the shaft 23|. At the bottom end of the universal head or joint 24| is a projection 243 constituting the plunger. With this arrangement the plunger 243 moves adjacent the end of the chute 228 and performs the function ofrst depressing the capsule holding member overlying the mandrel to form a pocket therein and then permitting a capsule coming down the chute 228 to enter the top of the pocket as the plunger is withdrawn, after which the plunger 243 tamps the capsule into the pocket. The capsules are fed down the chute 228 in timed relation to the operation of the plunger 243 so that each capsule rests against the plunger 243 during its upstroke after formation of the pocket (Fig. The mandrel is provided with an opening sufficient in size to permit the formation of such a pocket in the capsule holding member as well as to permit the other operational functions of the plunger device.

Container feeding mechanism Preferably, the containers used in practicing the present invention are of tube-like construction. They may be made from a web of material having a single longitudinal seam, a double web having oppositely disposed longitudinal seams, or they may be made from extruded plastic tubing or other suitable heat-scalable material. It is within the contemplation of the invention to feed prefabricated containers of any suitable type into the machine and place them around the mandrels which have been supplied with the patches and capsules ready for sealing to an inner wall surface thereof. However, a preferred embodiment of container producing mechanism is shown in the accompanying drawings (see Figs. 16, 17 and 18).

In Fig. 16 a continuously running tube 300 of plastic material, such as, for example, polyethylene, is shown being unwound from a mill roll 30| (see also Fig. 3). It is known that due to static or other conditions the interior surfaces of such a tube often adhere rather tenaciously together. It is desirable initially to effect a separation between the inner faces of such walls so as to facilitate opening of the ultimate tubular containers to facilitate slipping them over the mandrels. Therefore, the tube 300 is passed through an air-block arrangement comprising a series of spaced parallel rods or rollers 302 and at a suitable distance thereabove another group of similarly spaced rods or rollers 303. After the tube 300 has been initially threaded between the group of rollers 302 of the air-block, a bubble of air is injected with an hypodcrmic needle into the tube between the rollers 302 and 303 so as to expand the tube as shown at 304. Constantly drawing the tube between the two groups of rollers 302 and 303 effects an initial separation of the inner wall surfaces of the tube because of the presence of the air bubble which remains relatively fixed as the tube slides around it.

The tube is next passed around idler roller 305 and then between feeding rollers 300 and 301, the roller 306 being mounted on the driven shaft 49. The tube next passes between a revolving cutting blade 308 and an anvil roller 309 and the tube is partially severed. A complete severance is not effected but the tube is permitted to remain attached at certain points. The continuous but partially severed tubing continues to advance over a belt conveyor mechanism indicated generally at 3 l 0.

The conveyor mechanism 3|!! comprises a continuous belt 3|| passing around a driven pulley 3|2, rollers 3|3 and 3|4 and toward the rectilinear traverse of mandrels around a nose roller 315. Spaced hold-down rollers 3|6 are supported above the top iiight of the belt 3| and bear on the continuouslyl advancing tube material. \The conveyor belt 3| travels at 'a-slightly faster rate than the movement of 'the tubular material, as it is delivered to it,`toir`on out'wrinkles, etc. by tension on the web'an'd to assure-proper alignment of the leading end vof the partially severed material for operation ofthe opening device.

When the leading 'end of the partially severed tubing reaches the Vend ofthe top flight of the conveyor Abelt 3H it is "necessary to break off or completelys'ever'theirst or leading tube section since it is still connected to the continuous tube bythe small un'severed portions of the material. It is also necessary to 'separate the walls of this tube section'at lthe forward end in order to strip the completely severed section over the mandrel which is advanced inits path carrying the capsule in the pocket 'formed in the associated holding member vthereor'i 'and to position the container forming ltube section 'thereover in position for sealing.

This is accomplished by means of a sliding or reciprocating device indicated generally at 3H (Figs. 16 and i8). This ldevice or mechanism is mounted on suitable vertically spaced longitudinal bars or gibs 3H! and 3|9 and includes a reciprocating' head- 3'2'0 carrying two opposed arms 32| and 322 the former being pivotally mounted on 'the upper portion of the head at 323 while the latter is xed relative to the head on a lower, laterally extending 'arm 324. At vtheir free ends the arms 32| and 322 arey each provided with. a suction member, or cupi, 325 and 3126, respectively, which are in opposed relation, on opposite sides of the tube material, when the head 320 is in fully retracted position.v The vacuum cups 325 and 320 are connected to a cam-operated valve controlled vacuum means by passageways extending through 'the arms 32| and 322, and the hea-d 320 to connecting lines 321 (Figs. 2 and 18). The arm 32| is urged toward arm 322 by a tension spring 320 connected to the forwardly extending arm 329 at one end and to a forwardly extending portion of the base of the head at the other end, the arm 329- being connected to the arm 32| and movable therewith about the pivot 323. The reciprocating head 320 is actuated by a link 330V connected at one end tothe bottom of the head and at the other end to a link lever 33| which isv pivoted to the' bottom of the frame of the machine at 332. The link 33| is pivotally connected intermediate its ends to one end of a connecting link 333 the other end of which is pivotally mounted ona crank arm 334 which is in turn mounted on driving shaft 45.

Mounted on the free end of arm 32| above the suction cup 325I is a cam roller resting upon a movable cam arm 330i directly in the path of the roller.. This cam arm has a camming surface 33lI and is arranged to rise and fall as shown by the arrow at the end thereof for the purpose' of bringing the suction cups 3,25 and 326 in closed position as the leading end of each tube section is guided between them. When the cam arrnv 333 drops downwardly the valve controlling the vacuum is operated by the controlling. cam tov cause the outer walls of the tube material to be engaged by the vacuum cups 325 and. 326 to initiate opening of the leading end of the end tube section.

The cam arm 335 is suspended from one end. of a lever arm 338 by means of parallel links 339 and 3.40. The lever arm 330 is pivotally mounted at 34| on the support arm 34'2 attached to the machine frame at 343'. The other end of. the lever arm 33B is pivoted to a connecting link 304V which is connected at its opposite end to one end of a bell crank lever 345. The bell crank 345 is pivoted at 346 to the bottom of the arm 342 and has a cam follower 341 at the end of the other arm 348 which rides the camming surface of an end cam 349 on the driven shaft 23. The cam 349 causes raising and lowering of the end of the cam arm 336 as indicated by the arrow initially to separate the pick-up or suction heads 325 and 326 and also to subsequently restore them to closed tube gripping position, When the suction members 325 and 326 are advanced by the reciprocating head 32|), the partially severed leading container forming tube length is completely separated from the end of the oncoming tube. As the cam roller 335 on the suction head 325 advances, it strikes the camming surface 331 of the cam arm 336 and the suction cups 325 and 326 are moved apart to separate the walls at the leading end of the tube length whereby the tube length can be stripped over the mandrel. Further advance of the arms 32| and 322 carries the tube length over the mandrel so that an inner wall surface thereof overlies the capsule in the pocket of the associated holdingmember on the mandrel. In Fig. 17 a container forming tube length 356 is shown, in dotted line, stripped over a mandrel, the latter being indicated generally at 35|.

As the arms 32| and 322 on the reciprocating head 325 carry the suction cups 325 and 326 to the end of their stroke to deposit the completely severed tube length, the suction is broken and the tube length is held down by oppositely disposed hold-down arms 352 (Figs. 7 and 8). The hold-down arms 352 are connected to a rock shaft 353. Centrally connected to shaft 353 is an extension 354 having a cam roller 355 for actuating the hold-down arms 352 to bring them into raised position. The hold-down arms 352 are normally retracted by a spring 356 mounted on the rock shaft 353 and connected to the extension arm 354.

The hold-down arms are raised when the cam roller 355 intercepts the projection 351 (Fig. 17) on one arm 358 of a bell crank lever pivoted at 359 on the bracket arm 342. The end of the other arm 360 of the bell crank is connected by a link 36| to a control arm 362 which is also pivoted at 346 on the bottom of the bracket arm 342 and which is provided with a cam roller 363 at its free end for riding the cam surface of a cam 364 on the driven shaft 23. This arrangement causes the hold-down arms 352 to be raised up wardly out of position to receive the tube length 35|) as the latter is moved into position over the mandrel 35|. After the tube length passes under the hold-down arms 352 they are then restored to container holding position. In the meantime, the suction cups 325 and 326, at the ends of the arms 32| and 322, are freed of the tube section by shutting off the vacuum and preferably injecting air in the vacuum line to assure release of the tube length from the vacuum cups and the cups 325 and 326 are returned to their initial starting position by the reciprocating head 325. At this point the suction cups 325 and 326 are still in spaced apart position to receive the next succeeding container tube length therebetween. The continued operation of the cam 349 drops the cam arm 336 a short distance, sucient to bring the suction cups 325 and 326 to closed position with the leading end of the next tube length therebetween. The vacuum valve is then operated by the cam to create a suction to grip the leading end of the next tube length and the cycle is repeated.

Sealing mechanism After the container forming length of tube has been moved onto the mandrel as described, the intermittent arrangement, which carries the series of mandrels, advances the mandrel to the sealing station where the capsule holding member is sealed to the inner wall surface of the length of tube and preferably, simultaneously therewith, a transverse seal is provided on the trailing end of the tube length which forms the bottom for the container (see Figs. l, 19 and 20).

The sealing mechanism for forming the transverse seal to complete the bottom of the container will rst be described. It comprises an upper sealing element or iron 460 and a lower sealing element or iron 40|, each of which contains a conventional electrical heating cartridge. The upper sealing iron 400 is connected to an upper sliding gib plate 402 and the lower sealing iron 46| is connected to a lower sliding gib plate 403. rIChe upper sealing iron 466 is resiliently mounted on the gib plate 462 by means of a plurality of plungers 404, 465 and 406 slidably mounted in upper and lower plunger retaining yokes 461 and 468, respectively, which extend from the gib plate 402. Resilient action is provided by springs 469, 4W and 4|| surrounding the plunger members 4&4, 455 and 406, respectively.

Projecting from the upper and lower yokes 431 and 468 is an extending bracket or arm 4|2. vertically movable within the end of the arm 4|2 is a sealing plunger 4| 3 resiliently mounted by means of a spring 4|4 surrounding the same. The bottom of the plunger 4|3 has a sealing iron indicated generally at 4|5 provided with a sealing face 4|6 which is undercut, leaving a marginal sealing surface for marginally sealing the capsule holding member around the capsule to the inner surface of the tube wall. The sealing iron 4|5 is likewise provided with conventional electrical cartridges for heating the saine.

In order to permit sealing of the capsule holding member to the tube wall it is necessary to withdraw the hold-down arm or member 4| 1 (Fig. 8) out of the path of the sealing iron 4|5. The hold-down member 4|?, which retains the capsule holding or retaining member in position on the mandrel from the time of its deposit thereon until the sealing operation, is slidably as well as pivotally mounted on the mandrel 35|.

The hold-down arm 4|1 is pivotally mounted by shaft 4|8 on a slidable gib plate 4|!! which is mounted for sliding movement on side guides 426 in the lower rear portion of the mandrel 35|. The hold-down arm 4|? is urged into its operative position by a coil spring 42| around the shaft 4|8. An upwardly projecting arm 422 on the end of shaft 4|8 is provided with a cam follower 423 which is adapted to be engaged by a cam rail 424 on the main frame of the machine (Fig. 2). The gib plate 439 is normally held in the forward position by a pair of tension springs 425 secured at one end of the gib plate and at the other end to a forward portion of the mandrel 35|. The gib plate 4|9 is provided with a cam follower 426 which is adapted to be engaged by the cam rail 421 on the main fdame of the machine (Fig. 2). The cam rail 424 is mounted so that it engages the cam follower 423 just prior to the movement of the mandrel 35| into position to receive the capsule holding member and pivots the hold-down arm 4|1 to an out-of-the-way position until the holding member is deposited on

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