US2649674A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1949 m y T'TOIQNEBX/ N mm @m Aug. 25, 1953 B E T 2,649,674

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Shet 2 1 m it Q N i CA-H-romay Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE 9 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed June 15, 1949 Q-Iq wild kn W TTOIQJUE-YL/ Aug. 25, 1953' H. BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 13,1949

Aug. 25, 1953 H. "L. BARTELT 2,649,674

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet 5- NYEvN'TOmd CA orzNaY/ Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT 7 PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 13, 1949 9 Sheets-Sheet'S INYEZ-NTOH-s "Aw-rompvf Aug. 25,, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 15-, 192% MEI? 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 NVELN'TO Wow-chi L.. A. Gui P 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed June..13 1.949

Aug. 25, 1953 H. L. BARTELT PACKAGIN MACHINE QSheets-Sheet 9 Filed June 13, 1949 Patented Aug. 25, 1953 PACKAGING MACHINE Harold L. Bartelt, Rockford, IlL, assignor of forty-five per cent to Donald E. Bartelt Application June 13, 1949, Serial No. 98,660

16 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a machine for operating on a pair of layers or strips of paper or other flexible material as they are advanced along a predetermined path to form bags or envelopes and then fill and close the individual bags.

The general object is to provide a machine of the above character which is of simplified and improved construction, which may be operated at high speed to package a wide variety of articles or materials, and which may be adapted readily to produce bags of widely varying lengths and widths.

Another object is to provide a machine of the above character in which the flexible strips and the bags formed therefrom are advanced step by step along a predetermined path, and the operating mechanisms in their active strokes move transversely of the path but are adapted for adjustment along the path to vary the width of the bag.

Still another object is to provide for filling each bag after it has been formed and severed from the leading end of the advancing strips.

The invention also resides in the novel structural character of the actuators for the various forming and sealing mechanisms, of the strip folding mechanism, of the bag filling mechanism, and of the auxiliary conveyor for handling the completed bags.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front elevational View of a packaging machine embodying the novel feature of the invention, the frame cover being broken away.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the various bag forming steps.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the bags.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the strip feeding mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating steps in the folding of the bags.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of one of the filled bags.

Figs. 7, S and 9 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively along the lines '!l, 8-6 and 9-9 of Fi 2.

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views taken along the lines lt-Hl and iI-H respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary longitudinal elevational view of the right-hand portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fi 13 is a fr gm n y p an view as viewed 2 in the direction of the arrows I3I3 shown on Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Hl|4 of Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line i5l5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 15 with a filling mechanism shown in section.

Fig. 1'7 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line !'i-Il' of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line l8--l8 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 19 is an elevational right end view of the machine with certain of the parts broken away.

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view of the discharge end of the machine.

Figs. 21 and 22 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively along the lines 2i-2l and 22-22 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line Eli-23 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a modified form of bag.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment. It is to be understood, however, that I do not intend to limit the invention by such disclosure but aim to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The machine shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration is particularly adapted for use in converting one'or more continuous strips or ribbons IQ of flexible material such as paper, plastic, or the like, into a bag or envelope II (Figs. 3, 6 and 24), filling the same with one or more measured quantities of material or articles 12 (Fig. 6), and closing the bags. The latter, in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 6, is rectangular in shape having side walls I3 adhesively joined at their side margins by seams I4 at the the bottom by a fold. or pleat l5, and across the top by an adhesive seam l6. To increase the capacity of this form of envelope, the fold I5 is of the bellows type having sides ll of narrow width converging upwardly into the bag proper and secured at their ends to the walls I 3 but not to each other. The inverted V-shaped fold. permits expansion of the bag bottom as shown in Fig. 6 or collapse of the same when the bag is empty.

'As an alternative, the envelope may, as shown in Fig. 24, be formed with one transparent side wall 13 through which the articles I2 are visible. Such an envelope may be formed from two strips of different materials, closed by the side and top seals :4 and i6, and at the bottom by a seam I8 similar to and parelleling the top seam.

The adhesive used to form the seals is preferably a thermosenstive plastic material applied as a thin coating on the side of the paper which forms the inner surfaces of the bag walls. As is well known in the art, such adhesive softens quickly upon heating to the proper temperature after which the walls may be united by the application of pressure momentarily. Where one or both bag walls are themselves formed of.

thermoplastic material, no such additional coating is required.

Generally stated, the improved machine shown in the drawings operates to draw a length of bag material, such as paper or the like, off from a roll 20 and double the strip as it passes through a mechanism 2! (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) to formtwo side strips disposed side by side after which the folded strip it is pushed horizontally step by step through a station 22 (Fig. at which the strip is cross-sealed at 23 to form intervening pockets and a station 24 (Figs. 11, 12, 13) at which the cross-seal is severed along a line 25 to form the side scams [4 of adjacent bags. Before being cut off from the leading end of the folded strip, the bag is delivered to a transfer station 25 where it is picked up by a conveyor 2! by which its step-by-step advance is continued to present the bag to one or more filling stations 28 (Figs. 1, at which the bag is opened and measured quantities of the articles I2 are dropped therein. Finally, before the filled bag is discharged from the remote end of the conveyor 27, it is sealed across its upper end at a station 30 (Figs. 1 and 21) to form the seam It.

It will be understood that the number, character, and sequence of the operations will'vary considerably depending on the nature, size and shape of the material or article or the number of different kinds of articles or materials to be packed. For certain packages, it may be desirable to print directions or advertising matter on one or both sides of the envelope, this being accomplished at a special printing station 3| (Fig. 2) disposed ahead of the sealing station 22. Or, in the case of very flexible plastic materials, more than one mechanism may be required for feeding the folded strip forwardly, these being spaced along the path of advance of the strip.

The various operating stations are spaced along the top of an elongated frame 32 supported-by legs 33 on side members 34 connected rigidly by crossbars and having parallel top rails 35 on which the operating mechanisms at the various stations are mounted and along which certain of the mechanisms are adjustable to vary the width of the bags.

The strip and bag feeding, sealing, out-off, and filling mechanisms are actuated by motions derived from a camshaft 38 extending along the frame and journaled in spaced bearings 31. This shaft is driven through a belt 4 from an electric motor 38 (Fig. l) and a speed-reducer 39 of well known construction adapted to be adjusted manually to vary the speed of the shaft and therefore the output capacity of the machine.

In the present instance, the paper strip is unwound from the roll 2!], drawn through the folding mechanism and pushed onto the sealing and cut-ofi" stations by rollers 42 and t3 engageable with opposite sides of the folded strip and driven 5 intermittently from the camshaft 35. Herein, the roller 43 is mounted in fixed bearings on an inverted U-shaped bracket 44 (Figs. 1 and 4) while the rollerAZ is carriedby a yoke 55 which is'pi-voted on the bracket and adjustable by a 10 suitable set screw toward and away from the fixed roller to produce the pressure which is required to advance the folded strip without substantial slippage. At their lower ends, the rollers carry meshing gears 46 and a bevel gear fast on '15' the shaft of the fixed roller meshes with a gear 47 (Fig; 4) on a shaft 48 which is coupled through a' one-way clutch 49 (Fig. 23) to an arm 5 loose on the shaft. The clutch may be a simple ratchet "but preferably is a so-called Sprag clutch. The free end of the arm 5 is joined by a link M to the pin 520i a cranket fast on the camsha ft 3fi. By' turning'a screw 54, the pin 52 maybeadjusted along the crank to vary the throw of'the' crank and therefore the distance through which the folded strip will be advanced during the half revolution of the crank in which the link 5| is lowered with a gradually accelerated and then decelerated motion. Objectionable slippage of the friction drive is thus avoided to so that the bags may be formed of the desired uniform width simply by-adjusting the length of the feeding motion produced by the angular displacement of the rollers 42, 43.

The paper roll 2 is mounted on a shaft journaled at opposite ends in standards 55 (Fig. 1) at the extremeleft end of the frame. The strip unwound from the roll is led beneath a plate 55 (Fig. 4) 'havinga flat triangular bottom inclined downwardly and merging at its side margins oxwith upright sides 51. The latter converge toward each other and merge into closely spaced plates 58 (Figsi'l; 8 arid'Q) which converge toward each other very gradually. The lower edges of these plates are spaced apart and ooact with the upwardly inclined upper edge of a blade 60 (see Figs. 2 and 7) to form the bellows fold I5 along the'center line of the paper strip as the opposite side'portions ii! of the latter are guided along the plates 58 to form opposite side 5Q walls l3 of the bag. Such guiding is effected by rigid pins 59 upstanding from the frame adjacent the junction of the sides Gland the plates 58.

With the arrangement thus described, the flat paper sheet leaving the roll is shaped progres sively as illustrated in Fig. 5 into the desired cross-sectional shape of the bag to be produced. Thus, the bottom plate 56 and the sides 53 con vert the sheet into a rectangle which decreases progressively in width while increasing in depth 60 up to the junction of the sides-5T and the plates '58, the depth of the folded strip then corresponding to the desired depth of the bag. Then, as, the advance of the paper continues, the gradual convergence of the plates 58 allows just enough contraction of the bottom fold to permit progressive upward or infolding by the blade to to form the bellows fold l5.

Novel means are provided for pressing the bag walls against the plates 58 so as to hold the paper strip centered accurately relative to the forming mechanism and thus produce bag walls of equal depth. in spite of the shifting of parts of the paper as is required during the progressive formation of the bottom fold 15 by the action '76. of the blade 60, As shown iniFigs. 1, 2 and 9,

this means includes two relatively narrow rollers 6| having yieldable surfaces bearing against the paper at points disposed between the guide pins 59 and the feed rolls 42 and 43 and spaced substantially above the bottom fold, the rollers being rotatable in a plane which slopes upwardly in the direction of advance of the folded strip. Herein, the rollers are journaled on the free ends of arms 62 (Figs. 1 and 9) swingable about vertical stationary studs 63 on the feed roller supporting bracket. Torsion springs 64 act on the arms 62 to urge the rollers toward each other.

The other part of the centering means comprises two elongated shoes 55 (Figs. 1, 3, Band 9) urged against opposite walls of the bag along the lower edge of the plates 58 beginning at a point a short distance beyond the guide pins 59. These shoes are pivoted intermediate their ends on the ends of horizontal arms 6'! (Fig. 9) pivoted on the studs 63 and drawn toward each other by a spring 66 which extends through the blade 69 beneath the folded strip.

It will be apparent that the shoes exert on the paper frictional forces which resist lateral creeping of the strip along that portion of the former plates 53 where the bottom fold l5 in the bag is formed by the coaction of the blade 60. At the same time, the rollers Si, by virtue of their inclination, exert upwardly directed forces on the bag walls and thus hold the paper strip stretched quite tightly around the surfaces of the former during the final formation of the bottom fold. As a result, the doubled strip, when the paper roll 29 is centered properly relative to the forming mechanism, is held accurately against lateral creeping resulting in folding of the strip with sides of equal depth and coinciding closely with each other at their upper ends.

After being folded to the desired symmetrical cross-section as described above, the folded strip passes between the feed rolls 5?, 43 by which the several folds are collapsed and the entire strip is thus stiffened sufllciently to enable it to be pushed forwardly by the rollers Without buckling. During its advance to the sealing station 22, the strip slides along a horizontal track 68 (Fig, 1) and the upper and lower edges are held between pairs of guide bars 69.

Cross-sealing of the folded strip is effected at the station by momentarily pressing the strip between a yieldab-le backing surface 10 (Fig. 10) and a shoe TH heated to a temperature sufficiently high to soften the thermosensitive coating on the opposed surfaces of the paper. The backing 10 is supported on pins projecting through holes in a post "it upstanding from a cross-member 12 adjustable along the frame rails 35 to which it is xed by clamps 53. The shoe '5! is a metallic block having an electrical heater embedded therein. It is secured to the upper end of a vertically disposed lever '15 pivoted intermediate its ends on a pin it which is supported by the crossmember if and is disposed beneath the advancpaper strip. Rocking of the heater shoe is effected by a cam ll fast on the shaft 36 and engageable with a follower roller 18 on the lower end of the lever 75. A spring [9 acts on the lever to hold the follower against the cam and retract the heated shoe when the low part of the cam is presented to the follower. A rise Ti on the cam swings the lever to move the shoe against the folded strip i9 and press the latter against the backing it. Under the resulting heat and pressure, the areas of the paper equal to the size of the shoe face are heat sealed together as indi- 6 oated at 23 (Fig. 2). The cam 10 is made of substantial axial length so as-to permit of a wide range of adjustment of the sealing unit along the frame without necessitating adjustment of the cam along the shaft. Preferably the sides of the folded strip are separated by a finger (Fig. 2) located in advance of the sealing station 22.

The vertical length of the shoe H is at least equal to the width of the folded strip so that the seal 23 extends entirely across the strip and. therefore the full length of the bags including the bottom fold I5. However, since the paper is coated only on the inner surfaces of the folded strip, the external surfaces of the bottom fold do not become sealed together. Thus, the bag bottom is free to expand as shown in Fig. 6 by straightening of the fold 15 when the articles are introduced therein.

The width of the seal 23, as determined by the width of the shoe H, is double the desired width of the bag side seams It so that the latter seams of two adjacent bags are formed by severing the folded strip along the center line of the seal. Such cutting of the seal is effected at the station 24 by blades 8! and 82 (see Figs. 11 and 13) operable with a scissors action and relatively movable transversely of the folded strip after the latter has been pushed endwise between the blades when the latter are separated. Herein, the edge of the fixed blade 8| is disposed adjacent one side of the folded strip and the blade is on a standard 83 projecting upwardly from a cross member 34 spanning the frame rails and adapted to be secured to the latter by clamps 85' which when loosened permit the scissor blades to be adjusted horizontally along the strip I0 to vary the cut-off point. The latter is spaced along the strip from the center of the sealing shoe H a multiple of the feeding movement produced by the rollers 42, 43. As a result, the center of one seal 23 is, by each advance of the strip, brought to a position directly opposite the cutter blade 82.

Cut-off is then effected by swinging of the blade 82 across the path of the strip to carry its inclined cutting edge across the edge of the fixed blade to the position shown in phantom in Fig. 11. For this purpose, the blade 8! is held under the pressure of springs 86 (Figs. 12 and 13) against the side of a block on the upper end of an upright lever 81 having a follower roller 88 at its lower end and urged by a spring 89 against a cam 90 on the shaft 36. The lever is fast on a rock shaft H6 disposed beneath the cross member 84 in the'plane of the folded strip and journaled on this member. When the follower 88 is engaging the low part of the cam, the blade 82 is retracted and the strip may be advanced between the blades to present the next seal 23 opposite the cutting edges. Then, as the cam turns, the rise thereof engages the follower and swings the lever to carry the blade edge across the stationary edge and thus sever the folded strip along the center line of the seal 23. Like the cam 18, the cam 91] is made of substantial axial length to allow adjustment of the cutter along the frame to accommodate a relatively wide range of bag widths.

It will be observed that the active motions of the sealing and cut-off elements H and 82 are in the same direction and occur substantially simultaneously. Therefore, both of these elements may, if desired, be mounted on a frame rocked by a single cam.

In each advance of the folded strip, the leading end portion thereof is moved past the cutoif'position and onto the secondary conveyor 21 above *referred to (Figs. 1 and 12) which grips the bag prior to cut-off and then advances the bag step-by-step to the filling and final sealing stations 28 and 30. While this conveyor may take various forms, it comprises in the present instance an endless chainBl of the ordinary roller type extending around sprockets 92 and 93 having uniformly spaced therealong gripping devices 94 which are closed and opened automatically and which, while gripping the bag, carry it along a horizontal track on which the bag bottom rests, the track being formed by a bar 95. The upper straight run of the chain is thus disposed alongside the line of advance of the bags and above the bar which is supported by frame crosspieces, one of which supports the bearing 98 (Fig. 13) for the sprocket 92.

The upper run of the chain is supported and. guided for endwise movement at the proper height above the bar 95. Herein, this is accomplished by rails 91 (Fig. 18) supported by the cross pieces 32 and engaging the tops and bottoms of the chain rollers 98 and also the side members of the links.

Preferably, the conveyor 21 is indexed forwardly through steps which are somewhat longer than the width of the widest bag to be made.

so that the conveyor will handle all of the bag sizes without changing the length of its stroke. Such advance of the chain may be effected by a crank 99 (Figs. 12 and 19) fixed on the far end of the camshaft 36 and connected to one end of a rod H90 whose other end (see Figs. 19 and 20) carries a pawl it! which is held by a spring in engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel I62. The latter is fast on a shaft connected to the shaft of the sprocket 93 through bevel gears IE3. It will be apparent that during each upward movement of the rod i 00, the chain will be advanced through a fixed distance and all of the bags H held in the gripping devices 94 of the upper chain run will be moved correspondingly. The crank 99 is so positioned on the shaft 36 that the indexing movement of the conveyor 21 will occur while the folded strip at the sealing and cut-off stations is stationary and immediately after the blade '82 has been advanced by its cam to cut-off the strip. The

conveyor motion is completed before the blade is retracted and the subsequent feeding of the folded strip initiated.

In the present instance, the gripping devices 9 each comprise a block I04 (Figs. 13 and 18) secured to extensions of the pivot pins of adjacent chain links and disposed at the side of the chain with the exposed surface of the block H34 disposed close to the path of advance of the folded strip. Cooperating with the block surface to form a clamp is a jaw I05 bent from a strip of metal and supported by two vertically spaced screws H36 projecting from the block and loosely through the fiat intermediate portion of the jaw I95 so as to permit rocking of the latter away fro-m the block. Springs 101 acting against heads on the outer ends of the screws H36 urge the jaw I95 toward closed position against the block surface. The trailing end I68 of the jaw is bent outwardly and cooperates with the beveled end wa of the block to guide the entry of the leading end of the folded strip into the gripping device.

The leading end portion of the jaw N15 is inclined outwardly and away from the block Hi l to permit the jaw to be; rocked by a force applied to the curved end [.09 and directed laterally of the path of advance of the gripping devices and the bags thereon. Herein, the force is derived from the cam shaft and applied by a finger in the form of an adjustable screw H0 (Figs. 12, 13 and 14) projecting from the upper end portion of a lever Ill swingable about a pivot H2 supported by a bearing on a frame crosspiece. The depending end portion of the lever is slotted as indicated at H3 in Fig. 14 to receive a pin H i projecting laterally from the end of a crank H5 (Figs. 11 and 13) which is fast on the rockshaft H6 which carries the cut-off lever 82 above described. The arrangement is such that when the cut-off blade is retracted as shown in Fig. 13, the crank H5 will be disposed in the position shown in phantom in Fig. 14, and the finger H0 will be swung to the left against the end 569 of the jaw I05 then disposed at the transfer station thereby holding the latter inwardly so as to rock the outer end of the jaw outwardly and hold the gripping device open. Then, when the knife blade 82 is advanced by the cam to cut off the leading end portion of the folded strip and form a bag, the lever II is swung with the cutoff lever to retract the finger HQ and allow the jaw M5 to close under the action of the springs m. The leading end of the bag bottom is thus gripped and clamped to the chain 9i so as to be carried forwardly in the next advance of the latter which occurs before the cutter blade 82 is retracted and the clamp opening finger H0 again projected forwardly. In this way, the cam 96 is utilized to perform the additional function of opening the terminal gripping device and later allowing it to close after it has received the next bag to be cut off.

It is preferred for several reasons to fill each bag H after it has been severed and while it is supported by the conveyor 27. Such filling is effected at one or more stations after the bag has been opened to receive the articles on a chute through which they are discharged. To open the bag, the side walls l3 thereof are separated through the use of suction cups ill (see Figs. 12, 13, 15 and 16) which are moved against the outer surfaces of the bag walls, subjected to a vacuum, and then moved outwardly all in timed relation to the indexing movements of the con veyor 27 and the operation of the associated filling mechanism.

The cups H! which are made of soft rubber material are mounted on the ends of horizontally disposed tubes H8 rigid with the upper ends of upstanding arms I E9 of bell crank levers l2t disposed on opposite sides of the bag at the filling station 28 and swingable about a common pivot IZI. Such swinging is effected in the present instance through links l22 connecting the outer ends of the bell cranks with a slide 523 guide-d for vertical movement in a frame bracket i254 and urged downwardly by a spring 525. On the lower end of the slide is the follower of a cam I26 fast on the shaft 36 and adapted to raise the slide as shown in Fig. 15 and thereby swing the cups inwardly into alinement with each other and against opposite walls of the bag then disposed at the filling station. As the follower rides off from the high point of the cam, the bell cranks swing outwardly to the positions shown in Fig. 16 thereby separating the upper end portions of the bag walls so as to open the bag.

Before such separating of the cups occurs, a vacuum is created therein, preferably by the action of a pump I21 (Fig. 12) which is actuated from the camshaft 36. Herein, the pump comprises a cylinder I28 mounted on the machine frame and communicating at its upper end with flexible conduits I29 connected to the tubes IIB leading to the suction cups. A piston I30 reciprocable in the cylinder has a rod connected by a link I3I to the free end of a crank I32 which is positioned on the shaft so as to initiate downward movement of the piston and the application of a vacuum to the suction cups as soon as the cups are brought against the walls of the bag. The vacuum continues for the remainder of a half revolution of the camshaft during which the cups are separated to open the bag and the latter is filled. As the crank motion reverses, which occurs while the cups are held retracted, the vacuum is relieved and the bag walls are released so that the bag may be pulled forwardly in the next advance of the chain conveyor. The degree of vacuum created by the pump I2I may be varied by adjusting a valve I2'I (Fig. 12).

The filling mechanism for depositing the articles I2 in the bag while the latter is held open will vary in form depending on the number and size of the articles. As shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17, the filler includes a tube I33 slidable vertically along a key I34 in a guideway formed in a bracket I35 secured to the machine frame adjacent the filling station. The tube has a side opening I35 near its upper end for receiving articles I2 gravitating downwardly from one or more inclined chutes I3'I in which the articles are maintained in a row by means well known in the art.

The lower end of the tube I33 is closed by doors I38 of arcuate clam-shell shape suspended from pivot pins I39 on opposite sides of the into abutment as shown in Fig. 15, the doors.

being normally held in this closed position by a spring I43 stretched between pins which project outwardly from opposite sides of the doors. In this closed position, the doors form a receptacle which tapers downwardly substantially to a point and is adapted to enter between the walls of the open bag as the tube is lowered. In the final part of this motion, short arms I4I (Fig. 16) projecting outwardly from the doors encounter vertically adjustable stops I42 and, in the continued movement of the tube, the doors are swung apart to further spread the walls of the bag as shown in Fig. 16 and also to release the batch of articles then held in the receptacle, the articles falling directly into the bag. Then, as the tube is retracted upwardly, the doors are allowed to swing together and close the bottom of the tube ready to receive the next measured batch of articles.

While the lowering of the tube may be effected by a cam on the shaft 36, it is actuated in the present instance by a solenoid I43 (Fig. 15) whose armature is connected to the outer end of a lever I44 pivoted at I45 on the bracket I35 and having a pin and slot connection I46 at its inner end with the tube I33. A spring I41 (Fig. 17) operates to raise the tube when the solenoid is deenergized by opening of a switch I48 (Figs. 1, 12 and 22) by which the energizing circuit for the solenoid is opened and closed. The switch may be actuated at proper times in' the cycle by a cam I49 fast on the shaft 36 and shaped to close the switch just after the bag at the filling station has been opened by the sucion cups and to open the switch after an inter- 10 val long enough to enable all of the articles I2 to fall into the bag.

If desired, the upward motion of the tube may be utilized to release a new batch of the articles from the chutes I31 and allow the same to gravitate into the tube. To this end, a U-shaped yoke I56 (Fig. 17) having upstanding arms is mounted in the bracket E35 adjacent the tube I33 to slide horizontally and transversely of the chute I3'I. This is effected by a pin I5! projecting from the tube I33 into an inclined slot I52 in the yoke and acting as a :cam on the slot walls to shift the yoke to the right as shown in Fig. 17 as the tube is lowered. In this movement, a finger I53 extending horizontally from the yoke toward the chute I37 is projected across the groove in the latter and thus forms a stop for holding the upper articles in the chute against downward gravitation.

In this same movement of the yoke, a horizontal finger I54 on the yoke is withdrawn from the chute groove to the position shown in Fig. 17, thus allowing the row of articles to slide downwardly until the stop finger I53 is encountered. Now, when the motions are reversed and the tube I33 is raised by the spring I41, the yoke will be camrned to the left to project the finger I54 through the row of articles in the chute I31 and thus form a stop for holding back the articles farther up the chute. At the same time, the finger I53 becomes withdrawn from the chute allowing the articles then disposed between the fingers to gravitate into the tube through the opening I35. The number of articles thus measured into the receptacle is determined by the spacing of the fingers I53 and I54 along the chute.

If a different kind or size of article is also to be deposited in each bag, a second filler mechanism would be located at a subsequent position of the bag in its step-by-step advance by the conveyor 21. At such filling station, the bag opening mechanism above described would be duplicated. In the case of each filler, the supporting bracbet I35 is mounted on the machine frame for some degree of adjustment longitudinally of the path of advance of the bags. By such adjustment, the discharge outlet of the filler may thus be centered between the side edges of the bag II and thus positioned properly in relation to bags of different widths. This adjustment is made after changing the bag widths and is necessary because in the fixed indexing movements of the conveyor 21, the leading edge of bags is brought to fixed positions along the line of advance and therefore the positions of the bag centers will be determined by the widths of the bags.

After passing the filling stations, the bag is moved by the conveyor 21 into the station 30 at which the bag is heat sealed across the top to form the seam I5 and effect final complete closure of the bag. This is accomplished by mechanism similar to that for forming the cross-seals 23 and comprising a, backing block I55 (Figs. 20 and 21) and a heated block I56 between which the upper edge of the bag is pressed momentarily. The block I55 is slidably supported on pins on a frame bracket I51 and urged by springs I58 toward a limit position determined by suitable stops. The block I55 in which a suitable electric heater is embedded is fixed to the upper end of an upright lever I59 swingable about a pivot I60 on the machine frame carrying a follower I6I at its lower end riding a cam I62 on the shaft arisen ill 35. A spring 1'63 holds'the lever against the cam which is shaped to hold the heater retracted during the advance of a bag into sealing position. During the dwell of the bag, the cam advances theblock I56 momentarily against-the bag and presses the top thereof "against the backing I55 thus effecting sealing across the entire width of the bag which is spanned by both the backing and the heated block.

The bag thus sealed'is released from the conveyor2'I after it has passed around the sprocket '93 and starts to move reversely. This may be accomplished conveniently by a stationary cam (Figs. 12 and 20) in the form of a rigid bar I63 projecting from the en'd' of the machine frame 'and'having 'an incline I65 disposedas shown in Fig. 20 in thepath of the curved end portion I09'of the jaw'I05. Thus, as the gripping device witha bag clampedtherein as shown in Fig.1 reaches the cam, the incline I65,'acting on the then leading end I39 of the jaw I05, wedges this endlaterallyof the path of traveland toward, the chain. The jawis thus rocked relative to the block I04 about its fulcrum defined by the screws I06 thereby swinging the other end of the jaw away from'the block so 'as'torelease the clamping pressureonthe then inverted bag allowing the latter to fall into a suitable receptacle. The jaw'is held in-open position as the end I09 rides up the incline onto a straight part of the cam and until the latter has been passed whereupon the jaw is moved back against the block H34. It will fbe 'observed that the cam I84 acts'on the gripping device while the chain link supporting it is'still in mesh and therefore held against lateral displacement by the sprocket 93. g

' Operation The machine above described is prepared for operationby stopping the motor 38 with the camshaft 36 ina positionto separate-the sealing elements and the cutter blades at the stations 22, 2d and 30. A roll of the plastic coated paper of a, width capable of forming bags of the desired height is mountedin centered position in the machine and the leading end is manually pthreaded throu huthe folding mechanism, the

feed rolls, the guides, and between the sealing and cutting elements at the stations 22 and 24. Then, by turnin the screw'54, the throw of the crank 53 isv adjusted to turn the feed rolls e2, 33 and adva nce the folded strip Ii! a distance exactly equal to the bag width desired. Next, the cutter unit is adjustedalong the frame rails 35v to space the knife edges and 82 a distance precisely equal to the envelope width from the first gripping device 94 at the transfer station 250. 31. 1 h n=w 2 snfr m t position wh the leading end of the folded stripoccilpies after being fed forwardlyby the: rollers 42, #3 following operation of thecutter blades. Finally, the bracket n of the cross-sealing mechanism is adjusted tospace the center of the heated shoe II from the knife edge 8I a distance which is a multiple of the wid'th-of the bag and the indexing movement for which the feeding mechanism is set. r

During operationiof the motor with the inachine thus adjusted, .2 length of paper for forming one bag will bedrawn from the'roll 20 and through the folding mechanism during that part of each revolution'of 'the"cam'shaft 36 when the 'link I is'bingl'oweredby the crank 53 to advance' the 'feedf'rolls'jfl, '43. The length of the "folded strip I 0 beyond the rolls will thus be "of the' clamp at the transfer station *2 5.

pushed -forwardly along the guides and=-i-hrciiie'h shoe 'II andtheblade 82*to; form the seal 2-3 at the station 22 and sever the strip along the median line of thefseal' 23*at the s tati'on 24. The same motion-of theleveriil by the "cam' 'iifl rocks the arm I I I to retract the "finger" III) e and allowthe jaw I 05 of the gripping device 94 atthe transfer station2fi"to"close and thusclamp -the leading lower corner of the cut-off bag to the conveyor' 21. The 'latterisfthen advanced"through one stepfbythe'"ci'ank"99 thereby carrying all of the" bags held in" the gripping devices 'l l' forwardly. The leading" closedbag is moved downwardly around the sprocket93 and reversely past the stationary ca m*l64 by which the" cl'amp94 for this'bag 'is opened to'release "the bag from the conveyor. 7

As soonas the indexing stroke of'the conveyor is completed, the 'cams TI and 93 "allowthe'slioe i I' and theknife'bla'de' 82 to be retracted by their springs, 'the'fing'er' II'O" being projected against the jaw I05 of" the'gripping device thenat't-he transfer station"26,' thus 'openingthis device preparatory 'to""recei ving theend 'of the folded strip I53 in'thenext advance" of thelatter. One revolution of the camshaft and a cycleofthe machine willbavfbeen completed.

In the next adyance' of the "folded strip which starts immediately; vafnew portion of the "strip is movedintd'sealing position'and' anotherhseal 23 into centred" position"relative to the c'u'tT-oif blades. Inthe"fi'nal' partof this movement; the lower end or theseal' 23' at thed'eading' end of the strip entersbetw'een"thethen open jaws' l il5 Clamping ofjfthis end of the"'s'tr ip takes place" when the finger'fI'I 0' is retracted "simultaneouslywith thehe'xt advance of theblade Site cut off'the end portion of'the' 'stripand form the'bag.

'While the conve orzi is" at rest"during'each machine cycle, the bag'atthe' filling station28 is' opened by 'thdadvarie andr"etractionfofthe suction"'cu I I1 "byjthe' cam I26 as 'abovedescribed, and fwhile"theb'ag is "held Openfthe filler mechanism is operated" to deposit ameasured quantity'o'f the'articles I2 iri theb'ag. Since at thistime, only a's'mfall area at the lowercorher of the bag is'clamped in"'theg'ripping"device of the"conveyorfl'the"bellbws"b'ottom foldilFof the bag' is free; toesr and and tnusaceommodate a relatively large number .of the articles. "This i's'also' advantageousin'fthat theu'pp'erends of thebag walls are allowed to comesduarely together when theupp'erpart of the bag is"squeezed between the backihg an heated'shoes",i'55"'ahd moved back and forth transversely of the path of advance of the folded s'triplil and the" completed bags II; "the machinemay --be"easily adapted for making and filling bags of different widths. To effect such a change, it is only necessary to readjust the parts as described above to change the extent of rotation of the feed rolls, the spacing of the cut-off position 24 from the transfer position 26, and the spacing of the heater shoe H from the cut-off position. These are easily accomplished by adjusting the throw of the crank 53 and by shifting the supports 12 and 8 3 along the frame. In addition, small adjustments are made in the position of the suction cups l l! and the filler lengthwise of the machine to center the latter with respect to the new size of bag. No change need be made in the conveyor 21 which is indexed through fixed distances in order to present one of the gripping devices at the transfer station at the termination of each advance.

The machine above described may be modified readily to produce and fill bags of the type shown in Fig. 24. To this end, the blade 60 and associated parts for forming the bellows fold l5 are omitted and two rolls of the different kinds of paper are mounted on the roll shaft or other suitable holder so as to be led side by side between the rollers, each paper strip being of a width equal to the desired depth of the bag. In addition, a second sealing mechanism similar to that at the station 22 is arranged to operate on the folded strip It at a point spaced ahead of or behind the cross-sealing station. The heated shoe of this mechanism is positioned to engage the lower edge portions of the two strips and, when actuated, to form the seam l8 across a length of the strips spanning two adjacent cross-seals M.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a packaging machine, the combination of means supporting a length of bag material including two side strips disposed side by side in a vertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path, feed mechanism engageabie with said strips and operable to advance the same step-by-step along said path, said mechanism being adjustable selectively to vary the length of the advance, a unit engageable with said strips on opposite sides thereof to seal the strips together transversely at spaced points and th reby form a succession of connected bags, a unit engageable with said strips beyond said sealing unit and operable to cut off the strips within a previously formed seal, means supporting said units for adjustment longitudinally of said path to vary the width of the bags, a conveyor alined with said strips and movable along said path, means on said conveyor receiving the leading end of said strips at the end of each advance thereof and before operation of said cut-off unit, and mechanism operable intermittently after operation of said sealing and cut-off units and during dwelling of said strips to advance said conveyor and the previously cut-off bag through a fixed distance greater than the width of the bags.

2. In a packaging machine, the combination of means supporting two flexible strips side by side in a vertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path, a continuously rotating shaft, rollers engageable with opposite sides of said strips, a crank of selectively adjustable length rotatable with said shaft, means providing a one-way drive connection between said crank and said rollers for turning the latter periodically to push the strips endwise stey-by-sWp, sealing mechanism including a pair of shoes extending across the respective strips and movable toward and away from each other into and out of abutting engagement with the strip to seal the engaged areas thereof together, cutter elements spaced therealong a distance correlated with the length of the indexing movement of the strips and relatively movable transversely of the strips to sever the latter within said sealed areas, and cam mechanism actuated by said shaft for operating the movable shoe and cutter element in timed relation to advance of the strips.

3. In a packaging machine, the combination of, means supportinga length of bag material including two side strips disposed side by side in a vertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path, feed mechanism engageable with said strips and operable to advance the same step-by-step along said path, a unit engageable with said strips on opposite sides thereof to seal the strips together transversely at spaced points to form a succession of connected bags, a unit engageable with said strips beyond said sealing unit and operable to out 011? the strips within a previously formed seal, an endless conveyor having a portion extending along said path beyond said strips, mechanism for advancing said conveyor 'step-by-step during the interval of dwell of said strips, gripping devices carried by and spaced along said conveyor distances greater than the width of said bags, the trailing one of said devices along said portion being positioned after each advance of the conveyor to receive the leading end of the strips advanced by said feed mechanism, and means operated in timed relation to the operation of said feed mechanism and said cut-off unit to open said trailing gripping device before the final advance of said strips and close the same before the next advance of the conveyor.

i. In a packaging machine, the combination of, means supporting a length of flexible bag material including two side strips disposed side by side in a vertical plane and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path, feed mechanism engageable with said strips and operable to advance the same step-by-step along said path, said, mechanism being adjustable selectively to vary the length of the advance, a unit engageable with: said strips on opposite sides thereof to seal the: strips together transversely at spaced points to: form a succession of connected bags, a unit en' gageable with said strips beyond said sealing unit; and operable to cut off the strips within a previ-- ously formed seal, means supporting said units for adjustment longitudinally of said path to vary the width of the bags, a conveyor extending along said path beyond said strips, mechanism for advancing said conveyor step-by-step during the intervals of dwell of said strips, gripping devices carried by and uniformly spaced along said conveyor distances greater than the width of said bags, successive ones of said devices being disposed after each advance of the conveyor in a position to receive the leading end of the strips advanced by said feed mechanism, and means operated in timed relation to the operation of said feed mechanism and cut-off unit to open the gripping device in said position before the final advance of said strips and close the same before the next advance of the conveyor.

5. In a packagin machine, the combination of means supporting a length of bag material including two side strips disposed side by side and guiding the same endwise along a predetermined path, feed mechanism operable periodically to advance the strips in successive steps, sealing and cut-off units spaced apart along said path-distances correlatedwiththe length of steps and operable during dwelling of the stripsto cross seal the two together andcut off the leading end portion of the-strips across a previously formed seal and thereby: form a bag, a conveyor extending along said path beyond said strips and movable step-by-step.duringsuccessive dwells of said strips and in timed relation to the operation of said cut-ofi unit, gripping devices carried by and spaced along said conveyor, successive ones of said devices being. operable to receive the leading end of said strips in the final advance thereof, and means actuated; in timed relation to said cut-01f unit to open the gripping device receiving said leading end before advance of said strips and then close the same before operation of said cut-oil unit to sever the strips.

6. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for supporting a length of bag material including two side strips disposed side-by side in a vertical plane and advancing the same endwise step-by-step along apredetermined path, means operable during dwelling of. the strips to seal the same crosswise, means operable during a succeeding dwell of the strips to sever the terminal crossseal intermediate itsedges' and complete a bag, a conveyor beyond the end of said path adapted to receive and grip the leading end portion of the strips before Clltl-Ofi thereof, mechanism for advancing said conveyor step-by-step in timed relation to the advance of said strips, means engageable with a bag. during dwelling thereof in one position of theconveyor to separate the bag walls and thus open the upper end of the bag, a fillill." mechanism operable to deposit a measured quantityofmaterial into the dwelling bag while the latter is open, and means at a subsecuent dwell. position of the bag engageable with the filled bag to seal the latter across its upper end.

'7 In apaclragingmachine, the combination of, mechanism forsupporting two flexible strips side by side andintermittently advancing the same endwise alone a predetermined path, a device disposedalong said path and engageable with spaced areas of said strips on opposite sides thereof during dwelling of. the strips to seal. the engaged areas. together. and divide the strips into a. series of interconnected pockets, a conveyor alined with said strips and movable along said path, means on said, conveyor adapted to grip an edge portion of the-leading one of saidpockets at. the end of each advance of said strips, a cutting device disposed along said. path between said sealing device and said conveyor and operin timed relation to advance of said strips to sever: said leadingpocket from the strips and free the samelfor advance by said-conveyor after the pocket has been. received. in said gripping means, a ii-lling station disposed along said path beyond said cutting; device and including means for depositing a quantity of material, mechanism operable intermittently after operation of said cutting device toadvamce said conveyor and present said freed pocket. tosaid filling station. in a position to: receive the deposited material, and mechanism operated in timed relation to the operation of said depositing means to; move the walls of said freed pocket. apart and the side edges thereof toward eachother whereby to form an opening for receiving said material deposit.

8.. In. baga filling; machine, the combination of, an: endless, conveyon. a filling; station, means for. indexing; said-conveyor step. by steppast said. filling. station gripping devices attached to said conveyoriat. spaced points therealong and. presented diiringithe advance 20fv said conveyor first to a gripping position and'then to said fillin station, each of said-devicesincluding separable jaws normally urged together togrip the edges of a between them'andadapted when separated to receive a bag edge, mechanism for forming and supporting arow of bags connected at their adjacent edges, means for advancing said row ofbagsv endwise step bystep in timed relation to the advance of said conveyor to deliver the leading bag. of the row between thejaws of the device dwelling. in said gripping position, means operating during dwelling of the row of bags to cutthe'two leading bagsapart, and mechanism operated in timed relation to the advance of said conveyor and said cut off means to separate the jaws of each of saiddevices as it reaches said gripping position and then to close the jaws after entry of saidleading bag edge therebetween.

9.. In a bag filling; machine, the combination of, a series of spaced gripping devices each includinga pair of separable j aws adapted to receive and grip a bag edge between them, means for supporting said devices in spaced relation and advancing the series step by step along a predetermined path to present one device to and dwell the same in a filling position and a succeeding device to a grippingposition, means operated in timed relation to the advance of said devices to hold each device open during part of its dwell in said gripping position and then to close the jaws of such device before the next advance thereof, mechanism for supporting a rowof bags joined at their adjacent edges and extendingtoward said gripping position, means operated in timed relation to the advance of saiddevices to index said bags forwardly and project the leading end of the row in between the open jaws of the device dwelling in said gripping position, and means operable during dwelling of the bags to cut the leading two bags apart and leave the leading bag clamped in the grip-ping device.

10. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor, means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, gripping devices on said conveyor at spaced points therealong and presented to a gripping position successively, each of said devices including separable jaws adapted when spread apart to receive a bag between them, the bag-receiving opening formed by said jaws facin longitudinally of said conveyor in a direction opposite to the advance thereof, means for advancing a row of connected bags endwise step by step in timed relation to advance of said conveyor to deliver the leading bag of the row between the jaws of one of said devices dwelling in said gripping position, means operable during dwelling of the row of bags to cut the two leading bags apart, and mechanism operated in timed relation to the advance of said conveyor and cut-off means to hold open the jaws of the device dwelling in said gripping position until entry of said leading bag and then close the jaws before cutting off of such bag.

11. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor, means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, gripping devices on said conveyor at spaced points therealong and presented to a gripping position successively, each of said devices including separable jaws adapted when separated to receive a bag between them, the bag-receiving opening formed by said jaws facing longitudinally of said conveyor in a direction opposite to the advance thereof, means for advancing bags successively step by step in timed relation to advance of said conveyor to deliver the leading bag between the jaws of one of said devices dwelling in said gripping position, a power actuated member mounted adjacent said gripping position and movable back and forth transversely of the direction of ad- Vance of said conveyor to open and close the gripping device in said position, and mechanism for actuating said member in timed relation to the advance of said conveyor to separate the jaws of each of said devices in said gripping position and close the jaws after entry of said leading bag therebetween.

12. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor, means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, gripping devices attached to said conveyor at spaced points therealong and presented to a gripping position successively, each of said devices including a jaw fixed to said conveyor and a movable jaw cooperating therewith to form a bag-receiving opening facing longitudinally of said conveyor and opposite to the direction of advance thereof, means for advancing bags step by step in timed relation to advance of said conveyor to deliver bags one by one between the jaws of one of said devices dwelling in said gripping position, a lever for each of said devices fulcrumed and projectin from said conveyor to swing transversely of the path of advance of said devices, said lever being connected to the movable jaw of the associated device and operable, when pressed in one direction to separate the movable jaw from the fixed jaw, means normally urging said movable jaw of each device toward the fixed jaw to close the gripping device, and mechanism actuated in timed relation to advance of said conveyor to actuate the lever of the device disposed in said gripping position whereby to receive and grip the bag advanced to the conveyor.

13. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an elongated conveyor, a power rotated shaft, means actuated periodically in the rotation of aid shaft to index said conveyor endwise step by step in one direction, gripping devices attached to said conveyor at spaced points therealong and presented to a gripping position successively, each of said devices including separable jaws cooperating to define a bag-receiving opening facing longitudinally of said conveyor and opposite to the direction of advance thereof, means for supporting a series of connected bags in a row terminating at said gripping position, means actuated periodically in the rotation of said shaft to advance the row of bags during dwelling of said conveyor in steps of shorter length than the indexing movements of said conveyor and deliver the leading bag to the one of said devices dwelling in said gripping position, means actuated by said shaft during dwelling of the row of bags to cut the two leading bags apart, and mechanism actuated by said shaft to open the jaws of the device dwelling in said gripping position and then close the jaws after entry of the leading bag edge and prior to the next advance of said conveyor.

14. In a packaging machine, the combination of, an endless conveyor, means for indexing said conveyor step by step in one direction, gripping means on said conveyor at spaced points therealong presented to a gripping position successively in the advance of the conveyor, means for supporting a row of connected bags, mechanism operable during the successive dwells of said conveyor for advancing said bags step by step and dwelling the bags during the advance of the conveyor whereby to deliver the leading bag of the row into the one of said gripping means dwelling in said gripping position, mechanism actuated in timed relation to the advance of the conveyor and operable to maintain the gripping means in said gripping position open during the advance of said row of bags and then to close such gripping means before the next advance of said conveyor, and means actuated in timed relation to the advance of said bags and said conveyor and operable during dwelling of the bags and before the succeeding advance of said conveyor to cut the two leading bags apart whereby to allow the leading bag to be advanced with the conveyor.

15. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for supporting a length of bag material including two side strips disposed side by side in a vertical plane and advancing the same endwise step by step along a predetermined path, means operable during dwelling of the strips to seal the same crosswise, means operable during a succeeding dwell of the strips to sever the terminal cross-seal intermediate its edges and form a bag, a conveyor beyond the end of said path adapted to receive and grip the leading end portion of the strips before cut-off thereof, mechanism for advancing said conveyor step by step during the successive dwells of said strips, a filling mechanism spaced along said conveyor beyond the position of initial gripping of the cutoff bag and alined with the open end of such bag in a subsequent dwell position thereof, means operable during dwelling of said conveyor to deposit material into the bag disposed opposite said filling mechanism, and means disposed at a subsequent dwell position of the filled bag engageable with the open end portion thereof to seal the latter closed.

16. A packaging machine having, in combination, means for converting strip material into a row of bags connected at their adjacent edges and for advancing the bags edgewise along a predetermined path to present the leading bag to a gripping position, means operable after said leading bag has reached said gripping position to separate such bag from said row, a conveyor disposed beyond the end of said path operable to receive and grip the leading bag before cutoff thereof, mechanism for advancing said conveyor to carry the gripped bag along an extension of said path, a filling mechanism for depositing material in a bag supported by said conveyor, and mechanism operable in timed relation to the advance of the conveyor for opening a supported bag thereon and delivering material from said filling mechanism into the bag.

HAROLD L. BARTELT.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,483 Jones Aug. 18, 1936 2,272,251 Robinson Feb. 10, 1942 2,295,335 Cloud Sept. 8, 1942 2,334,256 Eaton Nov. 16, 1943 2,336,962 Salfisberg Dec. 14, 1943 2,350,666 Allen June 6, 1944 2,475,359 Piazze July 5, 1949

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