US2606850A - Sealing machine and method - Google Patents

Sealing machine and method Download PDF

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Publication number
US2606850A
US2606850A US131030A US13103049A US2606850A US 2606850 A US2606850 A US 2606850A US 131030 A US131030 A US 131030A US 13103049 A US13103049 A US 13103049A US 2606850 A US2606850 A US 2606850A
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United States
Prior art keywords
bag
bands
cooling
relation
heating element
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Expired - Lifetime
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US131030A
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Thomas E Piazze
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Shellmar Products Corp
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Shellmar Products Corp
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/24—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof to produce bead seals
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/14—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation
    • B29C65/1429—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation characterised by the way of heating the interface
    • B29C65/1445—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation characterised by the way of heating the interface heating both sides of the joint
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/02—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure
    • B29C65/14—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation
    • B29C65/1429—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation characterised by the way of heating the interface
    • B29C65/1448—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor by heating, with or without pressure using wave energy, i.e. electromagnetic radiation, or particle radiation characterised by the way of heating the interface radiating the edges of the parts to be joined, e.g. for curing a layer of adhesive placed between two flat parts to be joined, e.g. for making CDs or DVDs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C65/00—Joining or sealing of preformed parts, e.g. welding of plastics materials; Apparatus therefor
    • B29C65/78—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus
    • B29C65/7858—Means for handling the parts to be joined, e.g. for making containers or hollow articles, e.g. means for handling sheets, plates, web-like materials, tubular articles, hollow articles or elements to be joined therewith; Means for discharging the joined articles from the joining apparatus characterised by the feeding movement of the parts to be joined
    • B29C65/7861—In-line machines, i.e. feeding, joining and discharging are in one production line
    • B29C65/787—In-line machines, i.e. feeding, joining and discharging are in one production line using conveyor belts or conveyor chains
    • B29C65/7873—In-line machines, i.e. feeding, joining and discharging are in one production line using conveyor belts or conveyor chains using cooperating conveyor belts or cooperating conveyor chains
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/11—Joint cross-sections comprising a single joint-segment, i.e. one of the parts to be joined comprising a single joint-segment in the joint cross-section
    • B29C66/112—Single lapped joints
    • B29C66/1122—Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/05—Particular design of joint configurations
    • B29C66/10—Particular design of joint configurations particular design of the joint cross-sections
    • B29C66/13—Single flanged joints; Fin-type joints; Single hem joints; Edge joints; Interpenetrating fingered joints; Other specific particular designs of joint cross-sections not provided for in groups B29C66/11 - B29C66/12
    • B29C66/137—Beaded-edge joints or bead seals
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/01—General aspects dealing with the joint area or with the area to be joined
    • B29C66/348—Avoiding melting or weakening of the zone directly next to the joint area, e.g. by cooling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/40—General aspects of joining substantially flat articles, e.g. plates, sheets or web-like materials; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles; Joining single elements to substantially flat surfaces
    • B29C66/41—Joining substantially flat articles ; Making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles
    • B29C66/43—Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles
    • B29C66/431—Joining the articles to themselves
    • B29C66/4312—Joining the articles to themselves for making flat seams in tubular or hollow articles, e.g. transversal seams
    • B29C66/43121—Closing the ends of tubular or hollow single articles, e.g. closing the ends of bags
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/816—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the mounting of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/8161—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the mounting of the pressing elements, e.g. of the welding jaws or clamps said pressing elements being supported or backed-up by springs or by resilient material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/818—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps
    • B29C66/8181—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects
    • B29C66/81815—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects of the clamps
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/81—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps
    • B29C66/818—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps
    • B29C66/8182—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the thermal insulating constructional aspects
    • B29C66/81821—General aspects of the pressing elements, i.e. the elements applying pressure on the parts to be joined in the area to be joined, e.g. the welding jaws or clamps characterised by the cooling constructional aspects, or by the thermal or electrical insulating or conducting constructional aspects of the welding jaws or of the clamps ; comprising means for compensating for the thermal expansion of the welding jaws or of the clamps characterised by the thermal insulating constructional aspects of the welding jaws
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/836—Moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined, e.g. transversely to the displacement of the parts to be joined, e.g. using a X-Y table
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/70—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material
    • B29C66/73—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/739—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset
    • B29C66/7392—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
    • B29C66/73921—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts characterised by the composition, physical properties or the structure of the material of the parts to be joined; Joining with non-plastics material characterised by the intensive physical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the optical properties of the material of the parts to be joined, by the extensive physical properties of the parts to be joined, by the state of the material of the parts to be joined or by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of the parts to be joined being a thermoplastic or a thermoset characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C66/00—General aspects of processes or apparatus for joining preformed parts
    • B29C66/80—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof
    • B29C66/83—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools
    • B29C66/834—General aspects of machine operations or constructions and parts thereof characterised by the movement of the joining or pressing tools moving with the parts to be joined
    • B29C66/8341—Roller, cylinder or drum types; Band or belt types; Ball types
    • B29C66/83421—Roller, cylinder or drum types; Band or belt types; Ball types band or belt types
    • B29C66/83423—Roller, cylinder or drum types; Band or belt types; Ball types band or belt types cooperating bands or belts
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29L—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
    • B29L2031/00—Other particular articles
    • B29L2031/712—Containers; Packaging elements or accessories, Packages
    • B29L2031/7128—Bags, sacks, sachets

Definitions

  • Thi invention relates to bag closing andsealing and is more particularly concerned with im-: provementsin methods and mechanisms for automatically closing the end of a bag and providing the same with a transverse seal.
  • It is a further object of the invention to provide a bag sealing machine which comprises, in combination, a conveyor for transporting bags in a generally horizontal path, with the top edges of the respective bags uppermost and in closed 40 reverse fold is formed therein to provide a-uni-' 10 Claims. (01. 154542) relation, a radiant heater disposed along thepath of movement of the bag and in spaced relation to the uppermost extremities of the tops thereof for melting the material in a marginal transverse area'acros s the respective bag tops and cooling members engaging the bag tops in predetermined spaced relation inwardly relative to the uppermostedges thereof whereby to limit the area of the material melted and provide therein a transverse seal.
  • It is another objectof the invention to provide a heat sealing machine comprising a pair of traveling cooling bands adapted to engage the top ofa bag along apredetermined transverse line spaced below the upper margins thereof and a radiant heat sealer arranged in generally parallel spaced relation above the path of travel of the cooling bands for fusing portions of the bag top extending upwardly of the cooling bands and forming therein a bead-like seal formation.
  • Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a sealing machine incorporating the principles of the invention, with the bottom cover members removed therefrom;
  • Fig. 2 is a cross section to an enlarged scale, taken generally on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a side elevation with portions thereof in section
  • Fig. 4 is a transverse cross section, taken generally on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the top of abag having a transverse seal applied by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4;
  • Fig. 6 is a plan view, partially schematic, of
  • Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 6;
  • Fig. 8 is a cross section, taken generally on the line 88 of Fig. 6, to an enlarged scale;
  • Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the top of a bag incorporating the transverse seal provided with the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 to 8.
  • a transverse heat seal is applied to the marginal edges of the end of a bag formation, the bag end being formed of a mater al. such as for example, polyethylene film, which material is characterized by its ability when an edge or fold thereof is subjected to radiant heat r to melt along the edges or fold and thereafter to cool in a bead-like formation.
  • the mechanism comprises a base 10 which may be a metal casting formed in a conventional manner.
  • the base In supports in depending relation thereon a sealing mechanism H and a bag top folding mechanism l2 which are adapted tooperate on bags l3 conveyed beneath the frame H) by an endless conveyor 14.
  • the conveyor may be supported in any conventional manner beneath the sealing and folding mechanisms H and I2 and operated by a separate driving mechanism (not shown) or it may be driven by the same power device which operates the sealing and folding mechanism.
  • The-conveyor it is adapted to convey the bags l3 through the folding and sealing mechanisms l2 and H with the top marginal portions l5 of thebags I3 in upstanding relation and with opposite walls thereof flattened or brought together on each other, either with or without a bellows fold.
  • a bellows fold i6 is employed to reduce the length of the seal and facilitate the folding and sealing operations.
  • the bag top folding mechanism I2 is supported partially by a pair of laterally spaced bracket members I? and (8 which project horizontally at one end of the base H3 and are bolted or otherwise secured thereto.
  • the opposed edges of the brackets l1 and [8 are arranged in spaced relation to the longitudinal center lined the machine providing a slot IQ for receiving the bag top l5.
  • a pair of cooperating bag top folding members and 2! are secured to the bracket members l8 and i1, respectively.
  • the folder member 20 comprises a relatively long narrow vertical blade extending generally along the center line of the machine and an angular bracket forming horizontal portion 22 secured to the supporting bracket member [8.
  • comprises a relatively long narrow blade portion arranged in parallel spaced relation to the blade 20 and having a reversely turned triangular folder portion 23 which progressively folds the upwardly extending bag top l5 downwardly around the folder blade 2U as'the bag approaches the sealing mechanism H.
  • is secured to the supporting bracket H by means of an angle plate portion 24.
  • Thebag top i5 is engaged and carried through the folder members 20 and 2
  • the belts 25 and 26 are supported on their outer ends on pulleys 21 and 28 which are rotatably mounted on sub shafts 29 and 38 depending from the bracket members I! and [8, respectively.
  • the belts 25 and 26 are supported on a pair of pulleys 3i and 32 which are rotatably mounted on stub shafts 33 and 34 depending from the base In of the machine.
  • the belt25 is slightly shorter than the belt 26 to facilitate engagement with the bag top 15.
  • a plurality of idler pulleys 35 are arranged in back-up relation to the opposed runsof the belts 25 and 26 to hold the same in gripping relation with the bag top I5.
  • the bag top 15 is delivered from the feed-in belts 25 and 26 to a pair of cooling and conveying bands 36 and 31.
  • the cooling bands 36 and 31 are supported at one end on the pulleys 3
  • the bands 36 and 31 are supported on pulleys 38 and 39 which are mounted on shafts 4B and rotatably journaled in bosses 42 and 23 depending from the base I0.
  • extend above the upper surface of the base In and are connected in rotatable relation by a pair of gears Hand 45.
  • the shaft 40 ex tends above the gear 44 to receive a driving pulley 46 which is connected by a belt 4'!
  • the motor 58 and accompanying change-speed device 49 may be supported on the'upper surface of the base It or on a bracket or other structure supporting the base It and any accompanying mechanism.
  • the cooling bands 36 and 37 are arranged with the opposed runs which engage the folded bag top (5 at opposite sides and hold the same in folded relation while it is carried through the machine.
  • the bands 36 and 31 are cooled by engagement with a pair of elongate cooling members 5! and 52.
  • the cooling element 5! is supported by bolts 53 engaging bosses 54 depending from the base i0 and having a spacer member 55 to position the cooling member 5
  • Hose connections 56 are preferably provided at opposite ends of the member 5
  • the cooling member 52 is resiliently supported relative to the cooling member 5
  • the plate 51 is recessed or cut away at its opposite ends and the longitudinal edges of the recessed ends are engaged by compression springs 61 which are mounted in recesses in blocks 62.
  • the blocks 62 are secured in fixed relation on the; supporting plate 60.
  • the cooling member '52 is also preferably provided with hose connections 63 at opposite ends for connecting the same to a supply of cooling liquid or other cooling medium. Other means for maintaining the cooling members at the desired cooling temperature may-be employed.
  • a radiant heating member 54 which may be an electrical resistance wire, or the like, is mounted in a longitudinally-extending recess 65 in a heat insulating block (it-which is secured by means of a bracket 67 to a depending portion 68 on the base In and extends in parallel relation to the upper edges of the cooling bands 36 and 3! with the element 64 at a pred-etermineddistance above the same.
  • the heating-element 64 is connected to a current supply with suitable temperature control devices.
  • the top edge of the bag after it is folded over by the folding mechanism [2 is carried through the machine between the cooling bands 36 and 31 in spaced relation to the heating element 64 and the uppermost edge thereof which extends above the bands 36 and 31 is subjected to radiant heat by the element 64 throughout its length.
  • the bag travels at a speed which permits the folded top edge to be fused or melted by the heat from the element 64.
  • the bag to-p material is cooled where it is contacted by the bands 36 and 3'! which limits the extent of the melted portion to a relatively narrow transversely extending area.
  • the fused or melted edge forms into a bead which cools when it progresses beyond the element 64 and forms an integral bead-like seal 69 (Fig. '5).
  • the sealed bag is released from themachine as the top passes from between the cooling bands 36 and 3''! at the discharge end of the. machine and is carried away by the conveyor M.
  • a pair of metal bands .70 are arranged in parallel relation and supported onlongitudinally spaced pairs of end pulleys H and 12 which are mounted at opposite ends of a supporting base 13 on pairs of depending shafts l4 and 75, respectively.
  • the pulleys at either end may be driven by pow-er mechanism of the same character as shown in connection with the preferred form of the device.
  • the opposed inner runs of the metal bands mare guided by a plurality of pres sure rollers 1:6 arranged on opposite sides of the bands along the center line of the machine.
  • the bags Tl to be sealed are carried on a parallel conveyor in the same manner as in the preferred form which operates in timed relation to the movement of the bands 10.
  • the folded or collapsed tops 18 of the bags Tl pass between the pulleys H at the receiving end of the-machine and are engaged between the opposed runs of the bands 70. 3
  • a pair of slitting wheels 19 and 89 are arranged above the bands 10 and spaced inwardly of the receiving end of the machine.
  • the slitting wheels 19 and 89 are mounted on shafts 8! and 82 depending fromthe base 13. They engage the bag top 18 at a predetermined spaced distance above the upper edges of the bands (0 and trim the top thereof to provide a uniform top edge 33.
  • The. waste material trimmed from the top of the bag may be conveniently removed by a belt 84 which engages at one end in a groove 85 in the slitting wheel 19.
  • the belt 84 engages a pulley 86 depending from the base 13 and driven along 6 with the trimming wheels 19 and 80 at the speed of the bands I0. As the bag top 18 moves beyond the trimming wheels 19 and 80 it passes beneath a radiant heating device 81.
  • the radiant heating device 81 (Fig. 8) comprises a heat resisting block 88 having a longitudinal slot or groove 89 in its bottom face and'a suitable heating element 90 positioned in the groove 89 in spaced relation above the upper edges of the bands 10.
  • are arranged on opposite sides of the bands 10 along the radiant heating device 81 and in spaced relation below the same. toward the other by springs 92 seated in recesses in supporting blocks 93 fixed'to the base 13;
  • the cooling. devices 9! are provided with hose connections 94 for supplying the same with a cooling liquid.
  • hold the bands 10in engagement with the top 18 of the bag.
  • a relatively narrow marginal portion of the bag top 18 extends above the bands 10 which is fused or melted by the radiant heating device 81.
  • the cooling device 95 may be in the form of a tank with a circulated cooling medium of any desired character. After the bag 18 has passed beneath the cooling device 95 it is discharged from the machine as it passes between the end pulleys l2.
  • the sealed bag 11 as shown in Fig. 9 isprovided along the upper margin of the top portion 18 with a seam 96 which is integral with the material forming the walls of the bag and which is bead-like in formation.
  • the extent of the seam is controlled by varying the amount of material permitted to extend above the cooling belts.
  • the material which forms the seam is held in closely contacting relation by the cooling belts as it, is subjected to the radiant heat.
  • the melting of the material to form the seam .tends'to eliminate the effect of any small particles of the contents of the bag which might adhere to the walls during the filling operation.
  • While the mechanism is particularly adapted for sealing bags formed of polyethylene film material, it may beused for-sealing bags of any material having'similar melting or seam forming characteristics.
  • the top of the sealed bag is provided with a transverse seam which is integral with the bag material, which is bead-like in formation and which. is of substantially uniform or-oss'secticn andfs-trength across the fullwidth of the bag top.
  • the mechanism may be used also to form a seal or seam on empty bags or to join the edges of two or more pieces of sheet material, the cooling belts being adapted to convey the material along beneath the radiant heating device in proper relation to insure that the material will be properly melted to form the bead-likeseam.
  • the bags or other work being sealed are carried along with the edges of the material to be sealed uppermost, but it will be understood that the mechanism may be otherwise arranged relative to the work. It may be positioned so that the work is carried on one side or above the mechanism. In thev latter One of the cooling devices 9
  • a bag top sealing machine means for conveying a filled bag in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its. open top uppermost, means for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into fiat folded relation, cooling bands mounted for. horizontal movement and arranged to engage the bag top with a relatively narrow portion thereof projecting above the upper edges of said bands, and a radiant heating element arranged in generally parallel vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said bands whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation upon being conveyed beneath said heating element,
  • a bag top sealing machine means for carrying a filled ba forward in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top edge uppermost, means for bringing opposite Walls of the top of the bag into flat folded relation, means for forming a transverse fold in the marginal portion of the bag top, a pair of cooperating relatively narrow band members mounted for horizontal movement and arranged to engage the folded portion of the bag top with a relatively small portion of the fold projecting above the upper edges of said band members, and a radiant heating element ar-' ranged in generally parallel vertically spaced rela tion to the upper edges of said band members whereby the projecting portion only of said fold is fused into a bead-like formation when said bag is carried forward beneath said heating element.
  • a bag top sealing machine means for conveying a filled bag in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its top edge uppermost, means for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into flat folded relation, means for forming a transverse fold in the marginal portion of the bag top, endless traveling metal belts mounted for horizontal movement and arranged to engage the folded marginal portion of the bag top with a relatively small portion of the fold extending above the upper edges of said belts, a radiant heating element arranged in generally parallel vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said belts, and means adjacent said heating element for cooling said belts whereby the portion of said fold extending above said belts is subjected to heat from said heating element as the bag is conveyed beneath the same.
  • a bag top sealing machine comprising means for carrying a filled bag forward in a substantially horizontal direction Withpthe bag in upright position and its top portion in fiattenedupstanding relation, a pair of endless traveling bands mounted for horizontal movement and arranged with confronting runs engaging the bag top on opposite sides with a relatively narrow marginal area of the bag top projecting above the upper edges of said bands, resilient means for urging the confronting runs of the bands into engage-i ment with the bag top, and a radiant heating means extending in vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said bands, whereby the projecting marginal portion of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation when it is carried beneath said heating means.
  • a conveyor for carrying a filled bag along a predetermined pathwith the bag in upright position and its top upper most, means to bring the top-marginal portions of said bag into fiat engagement, means to trim the uppermost portion of said bag top along a uniform line extending transversely of the bag, cooling belts having opposed runs for engaging said bag top on opposite sides and in vertically spaced relation to the upper extremity of the trimmed edge of said bag top as said bag is carried along a portion of its path, and a radiant heating device arranged'alon said portion of the path of travel and in spaced relation to the upper extremity of said bag edge.
  • a pair of cooperating endless belts having opposed runs thereof arranged for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into fiat folded relation, a second pair of endless bands arranged to engage the bag top between opposed runs thereof witha relatively narrow portion of the bag top projecting above theupper edges of said bands, cooling members resiliently engaging said second pair of endless bands and radiant heating means for melting the projecting portion of said bag top, whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation.
  • a bag top sealing machine means for conveying a filled bag in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top uppermost, means for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into fiat folded relation, means for engaging the flattened top of the bag along a line transversely of the same to form thereon a uniform marginal edge, cooling bands, means for mounting said coolingbands for horizontal movement into engagement.
  • a bag top sealing machine means for carrying a filled bag forward in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top uppermost, means for bringing opposite top Wall portions of the bag into fiat folded relation, means for engaging the top portion of the bag along a line transversely of the same to form a uniform top marginal edge thereon, a pair of cooperating narrow band members, means mounting said band members for engagementwith the bag top along a line below the top marginal edge with a relatively small marginal area of the bag projecting above the upper edges of said band members, a radiant heating element, and means for mounting said heating element in generally parallel vertically spaced relation with the upper edges of said band members whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation when said bag is carried forward beneath said heating element.
  • cooling belts having opposed runs engaging said bag top on opposite sides and in spaced relation inwardly relative to the extremity of the trimmed top of the bag as it is carried along a portion of its path, and a radiant heating device arranged along said portion of the path of travel and in spaced "relation outwardly relative to the extremity of the trimmed edge of said bag top.
  • a bag top sealing machine means for carrying a filled bag forward in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in generally upright position and its open top uppermost, meansfor bringing opposite top wall portions of the bag into flat folded relation, a pair of slitting wheels arranged to trim the top portion of the bag along a line transversely of the same to form a uniform top marginal edge thereon, a pair of relatively narrow band members, means mounting said band members for horizontal movement into engagement with the bag top along a narrow line spaced below the trimmed edge thereof with a relatively small marginal area of the bag pro- -jecting above said band members, a radiant heating element, and means mounting said heating element in generally parallel vertically spaced relation with said band members whereby the portion of said bag top projecting above said band members is fused into a bead-like formation when said bag is carried forward beneath said heating element.

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Description

Aug. 12, 1952 Filed Dec. 3, 1949 1'. E. PIAZZE 2,606,850
SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. V
BY MQWM' VW Aug. 12, 1952 1-. E. PIAZZE SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 5. 1949 Aug. 12, 1952 T. E. PIAZZE SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD 3 Sheecg-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 5, 1949 INVENTOR. mlflaj% Patented Aug. 12, 1952 .SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD Thomas E. Pia'zze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor to Shellmar Products Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application December 3, 1949, Serial No. 131,030
Thi invention relates to bag closing andsealing and is more particularly concerned with im-: provementsin methods and mechanisms for automatically closing the end of a bag and providing the same with a transverse seal. a J
It is a general object of the invention to provide improvements in methods and mechanisms for conveying a bag in a predetermined path, for automatically closing the top margins of the bag opening and for thereafter sealing the same by a transverse heat seal.
It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an improved method and mechanism for heat sealing the end of a bag whichcomprises end portions of heat scalable material, which ma terial is characterized by its ability to melt along an edge or fold thereof when subjected to radiant heat and thereafter to cool in an integral beadlike formation along-the melted edge or fold.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and machine for heat sealing theend of a bag formation which comprises heat sealable material, said material being characterized by its ability, when melted along an edge or fold, to cool in bead-like formation along said edge or fold wherein the material at the end of the bag is brought into flat folded relation to provide a marginal edge or fold extending in a substantially uniform line across the bag end, the marginal edge or fold is subjected to radiant heat sufficient to melt the material along a relatively narrow end area, the melting being confined to said end area by cooling means engaging the folded material inwardly of said area and the melted material is thereafter cooled to form a bead-like closure seam.
It is another object of the invention to provide a'method and machine for heat sealing the end of a'bag of the type described wherein the'bag end is brought into flat folded relation and a closure seam.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a bag sealing machine which comprises, in combination, a conveyor for transporting bags in a generally horizontal path, with the top edges of the respective bags uppermost and in closed 40 reverse fold is formed therein to provide a-uni-' 10 Claims. (01. 154542) relation, a radiant heater disposed along thepath of movement of the bag and in spaced relation to the uppermost extremities of the tops thereof for melting the material in a marginal transverse area'acros s the respective bag tops and cooling members engaging the bag tops in predetermined spaced relation inwardly relative to the uppermostedges thereof whereby to limit the area of the material melted and provide therein a transverse seal.
It is another objectof the invention to provide a heat sealing machine comprising a pair of traveling cooling bands adapted to engage the top ofa bag along apredetermined transverse line spaced below the upper margins thereof and a radiant heat sealer arranged in generally parallel spaced relation above the path of travel of the cooling bands for fusing portions of the bag top extending upwardly of the cooling bands and forming therein a bead-like seal formation.
It is another object of the invention to provide in combination with a conveyor for transporting a bag with its top edges uppermost along a generally horizontal path, a pair of generally parallel traveling cooling belts arranged in spaced relation to the conveyor and engaging the top ofthe bag at a predetermined inwardly spaced distance from the uppermost edges thereof and a radiant heating element arranged in generally parallel relation with the cooling belts and spaced above the upper edges of the bag. a distance sufficient to melt the upwardly projecting portions of a bag top engaged by the cooling belts and form therein a bead-like seal. a
It is another object of the invention to provide in combination with a sealing machine of the type described a cutting device for trimming the upper margins of the has top to provide a uniform edge to facilitate formation of the heat seal.
It is another object of the invention to provide in combination with the sealing machine of the type described a folding device for folding over marginal portions of a bag top to provide therein a reverse fold with the folded edge uppermost and positioned above the uppermost edges of the cooling belts in the sealing machine.
It isanother object of the invention to provide in a bag sealing machine of the type described a pair of cooling belts adapted to engage the bag top at a spaced distance below the uppermost margin thereof and resilient means for mounting one of the belts relative to the other to provide pressure between the belt surfaces which contact V the bag top.
These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the mechanisms shown by Way of example in the accom panying drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a sealing machine incorporating the principles of the invention, with the bottom cover members removed therefrom; I
Fig. 2 is a cross section to an enlarged scale, taken generally on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation with portions thereof in section;
Fig. 4 is a transverse cross section, taken generally on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the top of abag having a transverse seal applied by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 to 4;
Fig. 6 is a plan view, partially schematic, of
a modified form of the machine;
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 6;
Fig. 8 is a cross section, taken generally on the line 88 of Fig. 6, to an enlarged scale;
and
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the top of a bag incorporating the transverse seal provided with the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 to 8.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a method and mechanism incorporating therein the principles of the invention wherein a transverse heat seal is applied to the marginal edges of the end of a bag formation, the bag end being formed of a mater al. such as for example, polyethylene film, which material is characterized by its ability when an edge or fold thereof is subjected to radiant heat r to melt along the edges or fold and thereafter to cool in a bead-like formation. The mechanism comprises a base 10 which may be a metal casting formed in a conventional manner. The base In supports in depending relation thereon a sealing mechanism H and a bag top folding mechanism l2 which are adapted tooperate on bags l3 conveyed beneath the frame H) by an endless conveyor 14.
The conveyor (4 may be supported in any conventional manner beneath the sealing and folding mechanisms H and I2 and operated by a separate driving mechanism (not shown) or it may be driven by the same power device which operates the sealing and folding mechanism. The-conveyor it is adapted to convey the bags l3 through the folding and sealing mechanisms l2 and H with the top marginal portions l5 of thebags I3 in upstanding relation and with opposite walls thereof flattened or brought together on each other, either with or without a bellows fold. In theillustrated form a bellows fold i6 is employed to reduce the length of the seal and facilitate the folding and sealing operations. v
The bag top folding mechanism I2 is supported partially by a pair of laterally spaced bracket members I? and (8 which project horizontally at one end of the base H3 and are bolted or otherwise secured thereto. The opposed edges of the brackets l1 and [8 are arranged in spaced relation to the longitudinal center lined the machine providing a slot IQ for receiving the bag top l5. a
A pair of cooperating bag top folding members and 2! are secured to the bracket members l8 and i1, respectively. The folder member 20 comprises a relatively long narrow vertical blade extending generally along the center line of the machine and an angular bracket forming horizontal portion 22 secured to the supporting bracket member [8. The folder member 2| comprises a relatively long narrow blade portion arranged in parallel spaced relation to the blade 20 and having a reversely turned triangular folder portion 23 which progressively folds the upwardly extending bag top l5 downwardly around the folder blade 2U as'the bag approaches the sealing mechanism H. V The folder member 2| is secured to the supporting bracket H by means of an angle plate portion 24.
Thebag top i5 is engaged and carried through the folder members 20 and 2| by a pair of cooperating endless belts 25 and 28 having their inner runs in opposed relation. The belts 25 and 26 are supported on their outer ends on pulleys 21 and 28 which are rotatably mounted on sub shafts 29 and 38 depending from the bracket members I! and [8, respectively. At their inner ends the belts 25 and 26 are supported on a pair of pulleys 3i and 32 which are rotatably mounted on stub shafts 33 and 34 depending from the base In of the machine. The belt25 is slightly shorter than the belt 26 to facilitate engagement with the bag top 15. A plurality of idler pulleys 35 are arranged in back-up relation to the opposed runsof the belts 25 and 26 to hold the same in gripping relation with the bag top I5.
The bag top 15 is delivered from the feed-in belts 25 and 26 to a pair of cooling and conveying bands 36 and 31. The cooling bands 36 and 31 are supported at one end on the pulleys 3| and 32 which carry the inner end of the feedin belts 25 and 26. At the other end of the machine the bands 36 and 31 are supported on pulleys 38 and 39 which are mounted on shafts 4B and rotatably journaled in bosses 42 and 23 depending from the base I0. The shafts and-4| extend above the upper surface of the base In and are connected in rotatable relation by a pair of gears Hand 45. The shaft 40 ex tends above the gear 44 to receive a driving pulley 46 which is connected by a belt 4'! with a pulley 48 on a change-speed device 49 which is driven by the motor 59. The motor 58 and accompanying change-speed device 49 may be supported on the'upper surface of the base It or on a bracket or other structure supporting the base It and any accompanying mechanism.
The cooling bands 36 and 37 are arranged with the opposed runs which engage the folded bag top (5 at opposite sides and hold the same in folded relation while it is carried through the machine. The bands 36 and 31 are cooled by engagement with a pair of elongate cooling members 5! and 52. The cooling element 5! is supported by bolts 53 engaging bosses 54 depending from the base i0 and having a spacer member 55 to position the cooling member 5| in proper relation to the band 38. Hose connections 56 are preferably provided at opposite ends of the member 5| to supply the same with a cooling fluid. The cooling member 52 is resiliently supported relative to the cooling member 5| being secured to a plate 51 which extends parallel to the base 10 beneath the same and which is slidably supported thereon by means of a headed bolt 58 which is slidable in a slot 59 in a supporting plate 68 which is secured to the base H). The plate 51 is recessed or cut away at its opposite ends and the longitudinal edges of the recessed ends are engaged by compression springs 61 which are mounted in recesses in blocks 62. The blocks 62 are secured in fixed relation on the; supporting plate 60.
The cooling member '52 is also preferably provided with hose connections 63 at opposite ends for connecting the same to a supply of cooling liquid or other cooling medium. Other means for maintaining the cooling members at the desired cooling temperature may-be employed.
A radiant heating member 54 which may be an electrical resistance wire, or the like, is mounted in a longitudinally-extending recess 65 in a heat insulating block (it-which is secured by means of a bracket 67 to a depending portion 68 on the base In and extends in parallel relation to the upper edges of the cooling bands 36 and 3! with the element 64 at a pred-etermineddistance above the same. The heating-element 64 is connected to a current supply with suitable temperature control devices.
The top edge of the bag after it is folded over by the folding mechanism [2 is carried through the machine between the cooling bands 36 and 31 in spaced relation to the heating element 64 and the uppermost edge thereof which extends above the bands 36 and 31 is subjected to radiant heat by the element 64 throughout its length. The bag travels at a speed which permits the folded top edge to be fused or melted by the heat from the element 64. The bag to-p material is cooled where it is contacted by the bands 36 and 3'! which limits the extent of the melted portion to a relatively narrow transversely extending area. As it passes beneath the heating element 64 the fused or melted edge forms into a bead which cools when it progresses beyond the element 64 and forms an integral bead-like seal 69 (Fig. '5). The sealed bag is released from themachine as the top passes from between the cooling bands 36 and 3''! at the discharge end of the. machine and is carried away by the conveyor M.
Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, there is illustrated a modified form of the invention in which the mechanism is shown partially schematic. In this form, a pair of metal bands .70 are arranged in parallel relation and supported onlongitudinally spaced pairs of end pulleys H and 12 which are mounted at opposite ends of a supporting base 13 on pairs of depending shafts l4 and 75, respectively. The pulleys at either end may be driven by pow-er mechanism of the same character as shown in connection with the preferred form of the device. The opposed inner runs of the metal bands mare guided by a plurality of pres sure rollers 1:6 arranged on opposite sides of the bands along the center line of the machine.
The bags Tl to be sealed are carried on a parallel conveyor in the same manner as in the preferred form which operates in timed relation to the movement of the bands 10. The folded or collapsed tops 18 of the bags Tl pass between the pulleys H at the receiving end of the-machine and are engaged between the opposed runs of the bands 70. 3
A pair of slitting wheels 19 and 89 are arranged above the bands 10 and spaced inwardly of the receiving end of the machine. The slitting wheels 19 and 89 are mounted on shafts 8! and 82 depending fromthe base 13. They engage the bag top 18 at a predetermined spaced distance above the upper edges of the bands (0 and trim the top thereof to provide a uniform top edge 33. The. waste material trimmed from the top of the bag may be conveniently removed by a belt 84 which engages at one end in a groove 85 in the slitting wheel 19. The belt 84 engages a pulley 86 depending from the base 13 and driven along 6 with the trimming wheels 19 and 80 at the speed of the bands I0. As the bag top 18 moves beyond the trimming wheels 19 and 80 it passes beneath a radiant heating device 81.
The radiant heating device 81 (Fig. 8) comprises a heat resisting block 88 having a longitudinal slot or groove 89 in its bottom face and'a suitable heating element 90 positioned in the groove 89 in spaced relation above the upper edges of the bands 10.
A pair of cooling devices 9| are arranged on opposite sides of the bands 10 along the radiant heating device 81 and in spaced relation below the same. toward the other by springs 92 seated in recesses in supporting blocks 93 fixed'to the base 13; The cooling. devices 9! are provided with hose connections 94 for supplying the same with a cooling liquid. The cooling devices 9| hold the bands 10in engagement with the top 18 of the bag. A relatively narrow marginal portion of the bag top 18 extends above the bands 10 which is fused or melted by the radiant heating device 81.
As the bag 18 passes beyond the radiant heating device 81 it moves beneath a seam cooling device 95 which isspaced sufficiently far above the upper edge of the bands 10 to avoid contact with the projecting melted or fused seam forming portion 96 of the has top 18. The cooling device 95 may be in the form of a tank with a circulated cooling medium of any desired character. After the bag 18 has passed beneath the cooling device 95 it is discharged from the machine as it passes between the end pulleys l2.
The sealed bag 11 as shown in Fig. 9 isprovided along the upper margin of the top portion 18 with a seam 96 which is integral with the material forming the walls of the bag and which is bead-like in formation.
In both forms of the machine which are illustrated the extent of the seam is controlled by varying the amount of material permitted to extend above the cooling belts. The material which forms the seam is held in closely contacting relation by the cooling belts as it, is subjected to the radiant heat. The melting of the material to form the seam .tends'to eliminate the effect of any small particles of the contents of the bag which might adhere to the walls during the filling operation.
While the mechanism is particularly adapted for sealing bags formed of polyethylene film material, it may beused for-sealing bags of any material having'similar melting or seam forming characteristics. The top of the sealed bag is provided with a transverse seam which is integral with the bag material, which is bead-like in formation and which. is of substantially uniform or-oss'secticn andfs-trength across the fullwidth of the bag top.
The mechanism may be used also to form a seal or seam on empty bags or to join the edges of two or more pieces of sheet material, the cooling belts being adapted to convey the material along beneath the radiant heating device in proper relation to insure that the material will be properly melted to form the bead-likeseam.
In the illustrated forms of the machine the bags or other work being sealed are carried along with the edges of the material to be sealed uppermost, but it will be understood that the mechanism may be otherwise arranged relative to the work. It may be positioned so that the work is carried on one side or above the mechanism. In thev latter One of the cooling devices 9| is urgedposition the mechanism would merely be in-' verted.
I claim: 4
1. In a bag top sealing machine, means for conveying a filled bag in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its. open top uppermost, means for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into fiat folded relation, cooling bands mounted for. horizontal movement and arranged to engage the bag top with a relatively narrow portion thereof projecting above the upper edges of said bands, and a radiant heating element arranged in generally parallel vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said bands whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation upon being conveyed beneath said heating element,
' 2. In a bag top sealing machine, means for carrying a filled ba forward in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top edge uppermost, means for bringing opposite Walls of the top of the bag into flat folded relation, means for forming a transverse fold in the marginal portion of the bag top, a pair of cooperating relatively narrow band members mounted for horizontal movement and arranged to engage the folded portion of the bag top with a relatively small portion of the fold projecting above the upper edges of said band members, and a radiant heating element ar-' ranged in generally parallel vertically spaced rela tion to the upper edges of said band members whereby the projecting portion only of said fold is fused into a bead-like formation when said bag is carried forward beneath said heating element.
'3. In a bag top sealing machine, means for conveying a filled bag in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its top edge uppermost, means for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into flat folded relation, means for forming a transverse fold in the marginal portion of the bag top, endless traveling metal belts mounted for horizontal movement and arranged to engage the folded marginal portion of the bag top with a relatively small portion of the fold extending above the upper edges of said belts, a radiant heating element arranged in generally parallel vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said belts, and means adjacent said heating element for cooling said belts whereby the portion of said fold extending above said belts is subjected to heat from said heating element as the bag is conveyed beneath the same.
4. A bag top sealing machine comprising means for carrying a filled bag forward in a substantially horizontal direction Withpthe bag in upright position and its top portion in fiattenedupstanding relation, a pair of endless traveling bands mounted for horizontal movement and arranged with confronting runs engaging the bag top on opposite sides with a relatively narrow marginal area of the bag top projecting above the upper edges of said bands, resilient means for urging the confronting runs of the bands into engage-i ment with the bag top, and a radiant heating means extending in vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said bands, whereby the projecting marginal portion of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation when it is carried beneath said heating means.
5. In a bag top sealing machine, a conveyor for carrying a filled bag along a predetermined pathwith the bag in upright position and its top upper most, means to bring the top-marginal portions of said bag into fiat engagement, means to trim the uppermost portion of said bag top along a uniform line extending transversely of the bag, cooling belts having opposed runs for engaging said bag top on opposite sides and in vertically spaced relation to the upper extremity of the trimmed edge of said bag top as said bag is carried along a portion of its path, and a radiant heating device arranged'alon said portion of the path of travel and in spaced relation to the upper extremity of said bag edge.
6. In a bag top sealing machine wherein a filled bag is carried in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top uppermost, a pair of cooperating endless belts having opposed runs thereof arranged for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into fiat folded relation, a second pair of endless bands arranged to engage the bag top between opposed runs thereof witha relatively narrow portion of the bag top projecting above theupper edges of said bands, cooling members resiliently engaging said second pair of endless bands and radiant heating means for melting the projecting portion of said bag top, whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation. v
7. In a bag top sealing machine, means for conveying a filled bag in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top uppermost, means for bringing opposite walls of the top of the bag into fiat folded relation, means for engaging the flattened top of the bag along a line transversely of the same to form thereon a uniform marginal edge, cooling bands, means for mounting said coolingbands for horizontal movement into engagement. with said bag top at a predetermined distance below the top marginal edge thereof whereby a relatively narrow marginal area of said bag top projects above the upper edges of said bands, and a radiant heating element arranged in generally parallel vertically spaced relation to the upper edges of said bands whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation upon being conveyed beneath said heating element.
8. In a bag top sealing machine, means for carrying a filled bag forward in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in upright position and its open top uppermost, means for bringing opposite top Wall portions of the bag into fiat folded relation, means for engaging the top portion of the bag along a line transversely of the same to form a uniform top marginal edge thereon, a pair of cooperating narrow band members, means mounting said band members for engagementwith the bag top along a line below the top marginal edge with a relatively small marginal area of the bag projecting above the upper edges of said band members, a radiant heating element, and means for mounting said heating element in generally parallel vertically spaced relation with the upper edges of said band members whereby the projecting portion only of said bag top is fused into a bead-like formation when said bag is carried forward beneath said heating element. I
9. In a bag top sealing machine, a conveyor for carrying a filled bag along apredetermined path with the bag in upright position and its top uppermost, means to bring the top marginal portions of said'bag into fiat engagement, a
of said bag top along a uniform line extending transversely of the bag, cooling belts having opposed runs engaging said bag top on opposite sides and in spaced relation inwardly relative to the extremity of the trimmed top of the bag as it is carried along a portion of its path, and a radiant heating device arranged along said portion of the path of travel and in spaced "relation outwardly relative to the extremity of the trimmed edge of said bag top.
10. In a bag top sealing machine, means for carrying a filled bag forward in a substantially horizontal direction with the bag in generally upright position and its open top uppermost, meansfor bringing opposite top wall portions of the bag into flat folded relation, a pair of slitting wheels arranged to trim the top portion of the bag along a line transversely of the same to form a uniform top marginal edge thereon, a pair of relatively narrow band members, means mounting said band members for horizontal movement into engagement with the bag top along a narrow line spaced below the trimmed edge thereof with a relatively small marginal area of the bag pro- -jecting above said band members, a radiant heating element, and means mounting said heating element in generally parallel vertically spaced relation with said band members whereby the portion of said bag top projecting above said band members is fused into a bead-like formation when said bag is carried forward beneath said heating element.
THOMAS E. PIAZZE.
REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Zehr Oct. 3,

Claims (1)

1. IN A BAG TOP SEALING MACHINE, MEANS FOR CONVEYING A FILLED BAG IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL DIRECTION WITH THE BAG IN UPRIGHT POSITION AND ITS OPEN TOP UPPERMOST, MEANS FOR BRINGING OPPOSITE WALLS OF THE TOP OF THE BAG INTO FLAT FOLDED RELATION, COOLING BANDS MOUNTED FOR HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT AND ARRANGED TO ENGAGE THE BAG TOP WITH A RELATIVELY NARROW PORTION THEREOF PROJECTING ABOVE THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID BANDS, AND A RADIANT HEATING ELEMENT ARRANGED IN GENERALLY PARALLEL VERTICALLY SPACED RELATION TO THE UPPER EDGES OF SAID BANDS WHEREBY THE PROJECTING PORTION ONLY OF SAID BAG TOP IS FUSED INTO A BEAD-LIKE FORMATION UPON BEING CONVEYED BENEATH SAID HEATING ELEMENT.
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Cited By (34)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2691474A (en) * 1953-06-15 1954-10-12 Edward A Olson Method of and apparatus for forming a fluid-tight seal in thermoplastic material
US2796912A (en) * 1952-11-12 1957-06-25 Singer Mfg Co Sealing dielectric materials by the application of a radio-frequency arc
US2822653A (en) * 1954-02-19 1958-02-11 Zinn Apparatus for closing and sealing containers
US2913863A (en) * 1958-03-19 1959-11-24 Amsco Packaging Machinery Inc Machine for forming edge seal closures on bags
US2928218A (en) * 1954-11-19 1960-03-15 American Can Co Machine for closing tubes of plastic material through fusion
US2948999A (en) * 1957-09-24 1960-08-16 American Cyanamid Co Manufacture of suture packages
US3008862A (en) * 1956-06-29 1961-11-14 Union Carbide Corp Extruded bead sealing
US3015920A (en) * 1957-11-29 1962-01-09 Pneumatic Scale Corp Method and apparatus for trimming and sealing plastic bags
US3061991A (en) * 1959-01-22 1962-11-06 Pfizer & Co C Tube-sealing method and apparatus
US3087845A (en) * 1958-09-18 1963-04-30 Grace W R & Co Method of forming seals in plastic articles
US3191474A (en) * 1962-10-19 1965-06-29 Doughboy Ind Inc Trimming apparatus with divergent scrap removal
US3220161A (en) * 1962-01-30 1965-11-30 Hesser Ag Maschf Apparatus for closing bags of heat sealable packaging material
US3243330A (en) * 1963-12-05 1966-03-29 Weldotron Corp Continuous heat sealing and cutting apparatus
US3247644A (en) * 1962-08-20 1966-04-26 Johnson Co Gordon Parts packaging machine
US3286433A (en) * 1963-02-14 1966-11-22 Bemis Co Inc Bag top sealing machine and method for forming a bag top closure
US3304217A (en) * 1962-12-05 1967-02-14 Basf Ag Apparatus for the production of welded bags from thermoplastic tubular sheeting
US3315439A (en) * 1962-08-21 1967-04-25 Potasse & Engrais Chimiques Machine for heat sealing thermoplastic bags
US3340129A (en) * 1964-07-28 1967-09-05 Doughboy Ind Inc Sealing apparatus
US3347014A (en) * 1963-01-11 1967-10-17 Metal Box Co Ltd Sealing of cartons
US3347729A (en) * 1964-10-23 1967-10-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Apparatus for sealing thermoplastic materials including a radiant heater and a reflector
US3413175A (en) * 1962-04-12 1968-11-26 Windmoeller & Hoelscher Device for welding together the terminal edges of superposed layers of thermoplastic material
US3461021A (en) * 1965-03-09 1969-08-12 Windmoeller & Hoelscher Apparatus for cooling and compressing the hot fused beads of plies of plastic material which have been heat-sealed
DE1479930B1 (en) * 1963-12-18 1972-05-04 American Can Co METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY MANUFACTURING A PIPE FROM A FLAT WEB OF A BENDABLE, WELDABLE MATERIAL
US3720565A (en) * 1970-06-29 1973-03-13 M Cavanna Device for longitudinally welding tapes of plastics material - in packaging machines
US3765309A (en) * 1971-08-16 1973-10-16 Universal Machinery Corp Bag bottom construction
JPS4911258Y1 (en) * 1968-07-04 1974-03-18
US3869842A (en) * 1973-08-06 1975-03-11 Henry Verbeke Bag sealing apparatus and method of use
US3910807A (en) * 1973-05-02 1975-10-07 Sig Schweiz Industrieges Seam welding apparatus
US4243449A (en) * 1978-05-22 1981-01-06 Microseal Plastics Corporation Process for sealing a plurality of polybutylene sheets
US4260447A (en) * 1979-04-20 1981-04-07 Save-O-Seal Continuous bag sealing machine
US4272264A (en) * 1974-08-08 1981-06-09 Multiform Desiccant Products, Inc. Adsorbent package
WO1983001926A1 (en) * 1981-12-03 1983-06-09 William Edmund Young Heat welding of thermoplastics
US4502906A (en) * 1981-12-03 1985-03-05 William E. Young Heat welding of thermoplastics
US20070000213A1 (en) * 2005-06-29 2007-01-04 King Francis X Jr Grip belt drive system

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2133716A (en) * 1934-03-24 1938-10-18 Reitzes Herbert Louis Sealing means
US2224017A (en) * 1937-06-16 1940-12-03 Shellmar Products Co Container and method of making same
US2236685A (en) * 1938-08-27 1941-04-01 Harold E Hallman Heat sealing device
US2289618A (en) * 1940-01-16 1942-07-14 Wingfoot Corp Sealing device and method
US2392695A (en) * 1943-05-29 1946-01-08 Howard A Rohdin Method and apparatus for heat sealing
US2459234A (en) * 1945-10-18 1949-01-18 Visking Corp Flame sealing apparatus
US2488212A (en) * 1945-10-18 1949-11-15 Visking Corp Method of sealing thermoplastic material
US2524584A (en) * 1949-10-18 1950-10-03 Shellmar Products Corp Method of forming containers

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2133716A (en) * 1934-03-24 1938-10-18 Reitzes Herbert Louis Sealing means
US2224017A (en) * 1937-06-16 1940-12-03 Shellmar Products Co Container and method of making same
US2236685A (en) * 1938-08-27 1941-04-01 Harold E Hallman Heat sealing device
US2289618A (en) * 1940-01-16 1942-07-14 Wingfoot Corp Sealing device and method
US2392695A (en) * 1943-05-29 1946-01-08 Howard A Rohdin Method and apparatus for heat sealing
US2459234A (en) * 1945-10-18 1949-01-18 Visking Corp Flame sealing apparatus
US2488212A (en) * 1945-10-18 1949-11-15 Visking Corp Method of sealing thermoplastic material
US2524584A (en) * 1949-10-18 1950-10-03 Shellmar Products Corp Method of forming containers

Cited By (35)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2796912A (en) * 1952-11-12 1957-06-25 Singer Mfg Co Sealing dielectric materials by the application of a radio-frequency arc
US2691474A (en) * 1953-06-15 1954-10-12 Edward A Olson Method of and apparatus for forming a fluid-tight seal in thermoplastic material
US2822653A (en) * 1954-02-19 1958-02-11 Zinn Apparatus for closing and sealing containers
US2928218A (en) * 1954-11-19 1960-03-15 American Can Co Machine for closing tubes of plastic material through fusion
US3008862A (en) * 1956-06-29 1961-11-14 Union Carbide Corp Extruded bead sealing
US2948999A (en) * 1957-09-24 1960-08-16 American Cyanamid Co Manufacture of suture packages
US3015920A (en) * 1957-11-29 1962-01-09 Pneumatic Scale Corp Method and apparatus for trimming and sealing plastic bags
US2913863A (en) * 1958-03-19 1959-11-24 Amsco Packaging Machinery Inc Machine for forming edge seal closures on bags
US3087845A (en) * 1958-09-18 1963-04-30 Grace W R & Co Method of forming seals in plastic articles
US3061991A (en) * 1959-01-22 1962-11-06 Pfizer & Co C Tube-sealing method and apparatus
US3220161A (en) * 1962-01-30 1965-11-30 Hesser Ag Maschf Apparatus for closing bags of heat sealable packaging material
US3413175A (en) * 1962-04-12 1968-11-26 Windmoeller & Hoelscher Device for welding together the terminal edges of superposed layers of thermoplastic material
US3247644A (en) * 1962-08-20 1966-04-26 Johnson Co Gordon Parts packaging machine
US3315439A (en) * 1962-08-21 1967-04-25 Potasse & Engrais Chimiques Machine for heat sealing thermoplastic bags
US3191474A (en) * 1962-10-19 1965-06-29 Doughboy Ind Inc Trimming apparatus with divergent scrap removal
US3304217A (en) * 1962-12-05 1967-02-14 Basf Ag Apparatus for the production of welded bags from thermoplastic tubular sheeting
US3347014A (en) * 1963-01-11 1967-10-17 Metal Box Co Ltd Sealing of cartons
US3286433A (en) * 1963-02-14 1966-11-22 Bemis Co Inc Bag top sealing machine and method for forming a bag top closure
US3243330A (en) * 1963-12-05 1966-03-29 Weldotron Corp Continuous heat sealing and cutting apparatus
DE1479930B1 (en) * 1963-12-18 1972-05-04 American Can Co METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUSLY MANUFACTURING A PIPE FROM A FLAT WEB OF A BENDABLE, WELDABLE MATERIAL
US3340129A (en) * 1964-07-28 1967-09-05 Doughboy Ind Inc Sealing apparatus
US3347729A (en) * 1964-10-23 1967-10-17 Phillips Petroleum Co Apparatus for sealing thermoplastic materials including a radiant heater and a reflector
US3461021A (en) * 1965-03-09 1969-08-12 Windmoeller & Hoelscher Apparatus for cooling and compressing the hot fused beads of plies of plastic material which have been heat-sealed
JPS4911258Y1 (en) * 1968-07-04 1974-03-18
US3720565A (en) * 1970-06-29 1973-03-13 M Cavanna Device for longitudinally welding tapes of plastics material - in packaging machines
US3765309A (en) * 1971-08-16 1973-10-16 Universal Machinery Corp Bag bottom construction
US3910807A (en) * 1973-05-02 1975-10-07 Sig Schweiz Industrieges Seam welding apparatus
US3869842A (en) * 1973-08-06 1975-03-11 Henry Verbeke Bag sealing apparatus and method of use
US4272264A (en) * 1974-08-08 1981-06-09 Multiform Desiccant Products, Inc. Adsorbent package
US4243449A (en) * 1978-05-22 1981-01-06 Microseal Plastics Corporation Process for sealing a plurality of polybutylene sheets
US4260447A (en) * 1979-04-20 1981-04-07 Save-O-Seal Continuous bag sealing machine
WO1983001926A1 (en) * 1981-12-03 1983-06-09 William Edmund Young Heat welding of thermoplastics
US4502906A (en) * 1981-12-03 1985-03-05 William E. Young Heat welding of thermoplastics
US20070000213A1 (en) * 2005-06-29 2007-01-04 King Francis X Jr Grip belt drive system
US7685795B2 (en) * 2005-06-29 2010-03-30 Shanklin Corporation Grip belt drive system

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