US2540615A - Apparatus for opening and filling bags - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 6, 1951 M. J. HARRINGTON ETAL 2,540,615

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILLING BAGS '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. I 10, 1946 INVENTORS 6, 1951 M. J. HARRINGTON arm. 2,540,

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILL ING BAGS Filed Sept. 10, 1946 3 Sheets$heet 2 1 H 2 INVENTORS Mal-MEL J/In/ee/NaTa/v y 5HMUEL E. HAM/WEE Feb. 6, 1951 M. J. HARIIQINGTON ETAL 2,540,615

APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILLING BAGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 10, 1946 Patented Feb. 6, 1951 APPARATUS FOR OPENING AND FILLING BAGS Michael .I. Harrington, Cleveland, Ohio, and Samuel E. Hammer, Eagleville, Pa.

Application September 10, 1946, Serial No. 695,946

17 Claims.

of substantially coextending members on which 7 a collapsed bag can be manually slipped by endwise telescoping movement and which members are then spread apart by the operation of an electric power device for distending the walls of the bag to a fully opened condition so as to receive the charge of bulk material. In the apparatus of said earlier application it is necessary for the operator to maintain a hold on the bag during the filling operation so as to prevent the bag from dropping oiT the bag-distending members and this prevents the operator from reaching for or picking up the next bag to be opened and filled until the bag in process of being filled has been removed from the machine. The apparatus of said earlier application also includes a switch which controls the electric power. device and is located to be engaged and actuated by the upper end of the bag.

As one of its objects the present invention aims to provide improved bag opening and filling apparatus of a type similar to that of said earlier application but in which the above mentioned disadvantage is overcome in that it is not necessary for the operator to hold the bag on the distending members. In the improved machine the placing of the bag on the distending members actuates a switch which initiates the operation of the machine and results in the entire cycle being followed through, including the discharge of the filled bag, without need for the operator to retain a hold on the bag after the switch has been actuated. This will enable the operator to reach for and pick up a second bag immediately after the switch has been actuated by the first bag and thus the operator can be ready to apply the second bag to the machine just as soon as the first bag has been filled and discharged.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved bag opening and filling apparatus of this kind in which means is employed for retaining the bag in place in its open condition during the filling operation and which will cause the discharge of the filled bag automatically.

, Still another object of' the invention is to provide improved apparatus of the character mentioned in which the means for retaining the bag in place during the filling operation includes a bag rest which is movable so as to permit the filled bag to drop off the bag-distending members.

A further object is to provide improved apparatus of the kind referred to, whichembodies a valve for controlling the flow of bulk material into the bag and wherein the valve is actuated concurrently with the actuation of the bag-distending means.

This invention also aims to provide an improved apparatus of the character mentioned in which the switch controlling the electric power device is of the tiltable type and is disposed so as to be tilted when engaged by the bag to be opened and wherein holding means retains the switch in its tilted position for maintaining the power device energized as long as the bag remains in the filling position.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide improved bag opening and filling apparatus in which the armature of the electric power device serves as a counterbalance for the bag distending and valve actuating means and causes the movable members to be returned to their initial or starting position at the end of the cycle of operation.

The invention can be further briefly summarized as consisting in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly set out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheets of drawings Fig. l is a plan view of a bag opening and filling apparatus embodying this invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Fig. 3 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. l,

r Fig. 4 is another partial vertical sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 and showing the relative positions of the parts when the bag is in a fully opened condition,

Fig. 5 is a partial vertical sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a partial transverse sectional view taken through the distending members before the bag has been fully opened, as indicated by line 66 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view taken through the distending members when the bag has been fully opened, the view being taken on line !1 of Fig. 4 and Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a container bag of a kind adapted to be opened and filled by the apparatus of Figs. 1-7, inclusive.

The improved bag opening and filling apparatus it is provided with a frame which includes a transverse top or table I I, a base l2, and spaced columns i3 by which the table H is connected with the base. The table II has an opening l4 extending therethrough and through which the bulk material to be bagged or packaged is discharged in a downward direction by the chute.

I5. The material to be packaged, such as coffee the chute from other predeter-' [9 which he undereneath the osition, as 9 are relain a colslid onto of drawmg t upwardly wn in this View construc ing memmembers position 4 mitted by a valve 3| located in the chute l5. The valve 3i is mounted on a transverse pivot 32 and in its closed position extends across the passage of the chute in an inclined relation as shown in Fig. 2. A valve actuating arm 33 is connected with the pivot 32 and carries a roller 34 which cooperates with the actuating face 35 of a cam 36. The cam 36 is mounted on the slide ll so that when the slide is actuated to shift the member 19 away from the stationary member 18 to distend the bag 20 to its fully opened condition, the cam face 35*will act on the roller 34 to lift the arm 33 and swing the valve 3| upwardly to its open position as shown in Fig. 4. When the valve is in its open positionthe predetermined charge of material is permitted to flow freely through the chute i5 and into the bag 20. Any

material which is delivered into the chute by the spout 16 while the valve 3! is in its closed position is'defl'ected' by the latter into a by-pass' strip 31 can be located in the main chute l5 at a suitable point to be engaged by the valve as the latter swings to its open position. A similar bumper element 38 is provided on the head of a screw 39 which is mounted on the table II at a point to be'engaged by the arm 33 when the latter moves in a downward-direction to cause closing of the valve 3!. Another such bumper and silencing element B'Q'can be mounted on the stationary member i8 at a point to be engaged by the member 19 when the latter is returned to its initial position. The bumper elements 31, 33' and 39 can be made of any suitable resilient material such as sponge rubber.

The slide 22 can be actuated by any appropriate power device such as-the electromagnet or solenoid 4i shown in this instance. The magnet ti includes a suitable laminated frame ilmounted on the table H andcarrying an energizing coil 43. The magnet also includes a movabiearmature or plunger Mwhich extends through a suitable opening in the table. The lower end of the armatureas is connected-with a countershaft 5- by means'of the-pivoted linlc it-and a lever 2-? fixed on the countershaft. The slide 22-is actuated by the rocking movement of the countershaft imparted thereto by the armature M of the electromagnet and for this purpose the slide is connected-with the countershaft by means of' the tiltable type and is located adjacent the stationary member it of the bag opening device so that the switch can be-actuated by the upperend of the bagwhen the latter is moved onto the bag opening members 18 and is as mentionedabove. The switch 5! can be of any suitable construction which. will enable it to be shifted or tilted by the bag for the purpose indicated. In this instance the switch 5! is of the type comprising a glass or insulating casing into which a pair offixed switch contacts 52 extend in spaced relation and in which a body 53 of conducting material, such as mercury, is shiftablein response to tilting of the casing for causing. opening or closing the electricv circuit at the point of the contacts 52.

is pivoted at 55 on an arm 56 depending from the table l A switch-actuating finger 51 is connected with the bracket 54 and extends into the path of movement of the upper end of the bag so as to be engaged thereby to cause tilting or rocking or the switch from the open position shown in Fig. 2 to the closed position shown in Fig'. 4. The actuating finger 5? is preferably of a length to extend into an opening 58 provided in one of the wings 2'! of the stationary member 83 so that the upper end of the bag cannot be moved past the switch without causing the desired tilting thereof. The tilting of the switch to its closed position shown in Fig. 4 causes the electromagnet l! to be energized which immediately causes an upward power stroke of the armature M thereby actuating the slide 22 and the valve 3! to the positions shown in Fig. 4.. The energization of the electromagnet in response to the tilting of the switch 5! thus causes a substantially instantaneous distending of the bag to its open position shown in Fig. 4 and a concurrent opening of the valve 3! to permit the fiow of the predetermined volume of bulk material into the bag 26.

In the arrangement above described for the electromagnet 5! it will be noted that the armature 4 is disposed in a substantially vertical position and that this enables this member to serve as a counterweight for the slide 22. The armature is constructed so as to have a weight or mass sufiicient tocause a return movement of the slide and bag-distending member l9 as soon as the electromagnet has been deenergized. When the filled bag is discharged from the bag-- distending members :3 and it in the manner to bepresently explained, the switch 5 1 is free to tilt back to its initial or open position shown in Fig. 2 thereby causing deenergization of the circuit of the electromagnet.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a bag supporting means by which the bag 28 will be retained on the bagdistending members is and is during the filling operation so as to permit the operator to let go of this bag and reach for and pick up the next bag to be filled. This is a very important characteristic of the improved apparatus H3 because it enables the operator to pick up the next bag and obtain the grip thereon which is neededto draw the open end of such next bag upwardly in telescoping relation onto the bag-distending members l8 and I9. By being able to pick up the next bag while the present bag is being filled greatly speeds up the operation of bag opening and filling apparatus of this type.

The bag supporting means provided for the accomplishment of this important function includes a bag rest 68 mounted on a horizontal pivot 5i which is carried by a bracket 62. The bracket 52 is mounted on one of the posts 53 at a suitable elevation so as to locate the rest 5%! in laterally spaced relation to the lower end of the stationary member I8. The rest 5% is disposed so that when the bag 29 is distended to its fully opened condition shown in Fig. 4 the side wall 2% will be moved by the member 19 to a position in which a portion of the bottom ZQc will engage and overlap the rest. During the filling operation the bottom 280 is supported on-the rest 60 and the bag is thereby maintained on the bag-distending members it and Hi. When the previously measured charge of bulk material has been fed into the bag the weight of the bag and contents will then be such as to cause downward swinging of the rest 66 on the pivot 6|; that is", be tripped so as to release the bag and permit the same to drop off the bag-distending members i8 and [9. To facilitate this downward movement of the bag past the rest es and the subsequent return of the rest to its operative position, the outer end of the rest is preferably constructed as a downwardly curving convex arm or plate a as shown in Fig. l.

The bag rest 69 is connected with an arm or lever 63 on which a counterweight 64 is adjustably mounted. The counterweight 64 can be shifted to a desired position on the arm 53 such that the weight of the bag and contents will cause the desired downward swinging ofthe rest 68 as explained above and will cause the return of the rest to its initial full line position shown in Fig. 2. The arm fi l may, if desired, be providedwith graduations 65 to facilitate the proper setting of the counterweight 64 thereon for the particular weight of material being charged into the individual bags. The bracket 62 is vertically adjustable on the post 13 so that the position or the rest 56 can be varied to suit the length of the bags being opened by the distending members l8 and i9.

In the operation of the apparatus above de-- scribed it is desirable that the bag 26 be held in its fully opened condition by the member is during the entire filling operation and this is accomplished by maintaining the electromagnet ii energized during the filling operation. .For this purpose a holding means or interlock is pro-* vided for maintaining the switch 5! in the tilted position of Fig. 4 which corresponds with the energized condition of the electromagnet. This holding means comprises a depending arm or lever El carried by a rock-shaft 68 and a finger 69 projecting from the rock-shaft and engageable with the bracket 5% of the switch 5|. The lower end of the arm El carries a pin or screw is which is disposed opposite an opening H of the member 59. When the bag Ell is on the bagdistending members !8 and W the wall 29b thereof covers the opening H and prevents the screw H! from entering the same. This enables the arm til to hold the shaft 68 in a rocked position in which the finger E9 engages the bracket 5&- and holds the same in the depressed or tilted position shown in Fig. 4.

The rock-shaft 68 is suitably supported as by being mounted in a pair of brackets l2 depending from the underside of the table and mounted on the guide members 24. The arm 67 is preferably counterbalanced by a weighted lever 18 projecting from the shaft 68 and which is engageable with a rest id for holding the arm in the initial position shown in Fig. 2 in which the screw it) thereof is ready to be engaged by the wall 2% of the bag 29 when the distending member i9 i shifted by a working stroke of the slide 22. When the filled bag drops off the distending members it and id as explained above, the screw iii is released and enters the opening H and the corresponding rocking movement imparted to the shaft 68 lifts the holding finger iii? and permits the electric switch 5! to tilt back to its open position shown in Fig. 2 for deenergizing the electromagnet 4!. When the operator applies the next bag to the members 58 and I9 the switch 5! will again be actuated and the entire cycle will be automatically followed through from that point until the bag has been filled and drops off of the distending members 18' and 19 by the above-described. tilting of the power of course from the d ste'r e received on a at a previou'sl With the disch' distending d the accomp e readily under provides an 'i"; apparatus y ened and =fille' e etofore necessary a1 bags to is therein which tion until after the b' filled t'erial mg d that in initia e for the opera next bag recess of rms filldescriboperation nderstood 'r broader -;sense g of any 'd Ti nto a bag and d g is filled to its and fillmg a I described h e understood ld not be regar mited in scope s and modifi s of the we claim leseribe-d, r opening device oils of bag a ber e I open and 010 of said b r electri powe said valve reuit *o causin vice, and asw t itch be- 111 of being locate so as to be e the bag to s, a delively I adjacent stibst'a ated beneath -ted into a ba between said on of said eparating sa d menib ag apart and a 'm zonditicn to open fio'w or" electric aid valve and i t to'said one member, a circuit :for causing energization of said power device, and a switch controlling said circuit, said switch being of the self-contained tiltable type and being located adjacent said-members so as to be engaged. and tilted by the upper'end of said bag during said relative telescopic movement.

3. In bag opening and fillingapparatus, a delivery'chute for bulk materiaLa bag opening deviceoperable to spread apart the walls of a bag and to maintain the bag in an open condition beneath said chute, and a supporting means for supporting said bag while the latter is in said open condition and "being filled with said material, said supporting means including an arm forming a bag rest adapted to be engagedby a portion of thehottom of the bag and which-arm is curved downwardly and pivoted for downward swinging'to permit'the filled bag to move downwardly and disengage itself from said opening device.

4. in bag opening and filling apparatus, a delivery chute for bulk material, a bag opening device having a pair of depending members adapted to extend into a bag to be'opened and being capable of relative separating movement for spreading apart the walls of the bag and for maintaining the bag in an open condition beneath said chute, and'a supporting means for supper ing said bag while the latter is in said open condition and receiving a predetermined charge of said material, said supporting means comprising a down ardly curved arm pivoted for downward swinging movement by the bag upon the latter receiving said predetermined charge therein-seas to permit the-charged bag to drop of said depending members of the opening device.

5. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a delivery chute for bulk material, a bag opening'device having a pair of depending membersadapted to extend into a bag telescopically applied thereto, oneci said members being stationary and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, and abag rest spaced from said stationary member and including a downwardly curved arm extending toward said sta tionarymemberand pivoted for swinging in a direction'downwardly and away from said stationary member, the other member of said pair being movable away from the stationary memher for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chutein which a portion of the-bottom of the bag overlaps said curved arm of the bag rest, said bag rest acting to retain the bagon said members during the fil ing operation and being movable by the action of the bag on said curved arm to permit the bag to drop off said members when the bag has been filled.

6. In bag opening andv filling apparatus, a de livery chute for bulk material, a bag opening device having a pair of depending members adapted to extend into a bag telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being stationary and adapted to holdone side wall of the bag substanti ly stationary, and a bag rest spaced from one ry member, the other member of said pair being movable away the stationary member for dist-ending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute in which a portion of the bottom of the bag overlaps the bag rest, said bagrest comprising av pair of connectedarms one of which is a downwardly curved arm adapted to be 'engagedbythe' bagan'd to retain the bag on said members during the filling operation, said rest being pivoted, for downward swinging movement of said curved arm to permit the filled bag to drop off said members, and a counterbalance on the other of said arms for preventing such downward swinging of the curved arm until the bag has been filled, said counterbalance being movable along said other arm for adjusting said rest to be responsive to different bag loads.

7. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material mounted in fixed relation on said frame, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a bag rest spaced from said fixed member, means mounting the other member of said pair on said frame so as to be movable away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute in which the bottom of the bag overlaps the bag rest, a valve comprising a member separate from said chute and movable relative thereto to open and closed positions for controlling the fiow of said bulk material through said chute, and means for concurrently opening said valve and impartin the distending movement to said other member, said bag rest comprising a downwardly curved arm acting to retain the bag on said members during the filling operation and being movable downwardly and laterally to permit the bag to drop off said members when the bag has been filled.

8. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed positions for controlling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam means connected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrently with the movement of said other member, and an electric power device operably connected with said slide.

9. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute, a magnet on said frame and having a core, and an armature connected with the slide and responsive to energization of the magnet for causing a working stroke of said slide, said armature being disposed for movement relative to said core in a substantially vertical direction and having a mass suflicient to counterbalance said slide and cause a return stroke thereof.

10. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed 7 positions for controling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam means connected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrently with the movement of said other member, a magnet on said frame, and an armature connected with the slide and responsive to energization of the magnet for causing a working stroke of said slide, said armature having a mass sufiicient to counterbalance said slide and cause a return stroke thereof.

11. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other-side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed positions for controlling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam means connected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrently with the movement of said, other member, and electric power device operably connected with said slide, a circuit for causing energization of said power device, and a switch controlling said circuit, said switch being of the tiltable type and being located adjacent said fixed member so as to be engaged and tilted to circuit-closing position by the upper end of said bag,

12. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide movable on said frame, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute, a valve movable to open and closed positions for controlling the flow of said bulk material through said chute, cam means connected with said slide and adapted to actuate said valve concurrently with the movement of said other member, an electric power device operably connected with said slide, a circuit for causing energization of said power device, a switch controlling said circuit, said switch being of the tiltable type and being located adjacent said fixed member so as to be engaged and tilted to circuitclosing position by the uplper end of said bag, and holding means adapted to retain said switch in its circuit-closing position while the bag is on said members.

apparatus, a aterial, a pair ers depending extend into a ically applied fixed on said .e wall of the g rest spaced vable on said air being contially parallel mber for dishich the botrest, a valve concurrently member, and nnected with 'etain the bag peration and I drop oil said led.

apparatus, a aterial, a pair rs depending xtend into a fixed on said .e wall of the rest spaced concurrently member, an

actuated to 1' end of said g the switch the bag reart the walls open condining device vable membag by relaaid members ber separate e thereto to ling the flow ute, an electuating said a circuit for evice, and a cally applied :12 switch controlling said circuit, said switch being of the self-contained tiltable type and being located adjacent said bag opening device so as to be engaged and tilted during the final portion ,of said relative telescopic movement.

16. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide mounted on said frame for movement in opposite directions, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath said chute during movement of the slide in one direction, a valve movable to open and closed positions for controlling the flow of said bulk material throughsaid chute, a power device operable to cause actuation of said slide, and means providing an operating connection between said valve and slide for causing openingof said valve in response to movement of said slide in said one direction and closing of said valve in response tomovement of said slide in the opposite direction,

17. In bag opening and filling apparatus, a frame, a delivery chute for bulk material mounted in fixed relation on said frame, a pair of substantially coextending members depending from said frame and adapted to extend into a bag when the latter is telescopically applied thereto, one of said members being fixed on said frame and adapted to hold one side wall of the bag substantially stationary, a slide mounted on said frame for movement in opposite directions, the other member of said pair being connected with said slide for movement away from the fixed member for distending the other side wall of the bag to an open condition beneath sai chute during movement of the slide in one direction, a valve comprising a valve member separate from said chute and movable relative thereto to open and closed positions for controlling the flow of said bull; material through said chute, .a power device operable to cause actuation of said slide, and means providing an operatmg connection between said valve member and slide for causing opening of said valve member in response to movement of said slide in said one direction and closing of said, valve member in response to movement of said slide in the opposite direction.

MICHAEL J. HARRINGTON. SAMUEL E. HAMMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,125,802 Bracy Jan. 19, 1915 2,258,631 Sowden Oct. 14, 1941 2,272,258 Allen Feb, 10, 1942 2,409,626 Harrington et a1. Oct. 22, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 282,510 Great Britain Dec. 29, 1929

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