US2676442A - Bag filling and closing machine - Google Patents

Description

p 1954' R. J. GAUBERT 2,676,442

BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 1 &

INVEN TOR. Pgne J. Gaub er-f ATTOPNE Y5 .April 27, 1954 R, GAUBERT 2,676,442

BAG FILLING AND CLQSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ne .1 auber/ wad/4w I) TTORNE V5 April 27, 1954 R. J. GAUBERT 2 67 ,4

BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 lllllllllllllIllllllllllll ATTORNEYS April 27, 1954 R. J. G AUBERT BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 M hrrokwf Y5 INVEN TOR.

@906 J Gal/bar) Filed 001:. 19, 1948 April 1954 R. J. GAUBERT 2,676,442

BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19/1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 PIEJEI;

INVENTO R. .Pene J Gauberf 3;? LN navy/W ATTQRNEYS April 27, 1954 R. J. $AUBERT BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 FllEi LJ l98 I w /92 /9/ 2 6 23a 22 2 22/ I 285 24 g 1 r 2/'/ I fi L .2/2 I 94 206, 208

' /7/ 25/ 259 /06 237 /05 D] 232 207 305 362 24/ "55, HZ; .3% 303 o 26 B I r;a 302 306 I62 3 INVENTOR. Rene J Gauberf ATTORNEYS April 27, 1954 R. J- GAUBERT 2,676,442

BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1948 14 SheetsSheet 8 FJJS LE.' FJJ5 J E By ejauber) April 1 R. J. GAUBERT 2,676,442

BAG FILLING AND CLQSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 19, 1948 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. 6m: J 6auber/ ATTORNEY-5 April 27, 1954 R. J. GAUBERT BAG FILLING AND CLOSINGMACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 12 Filed 001,. I9, 1948 FIIEi EE INVENTOD. gem? J Gauberf \ZZZV W ATTORNEYS April 7', 1954 R, J. GAUBERT 2,676,442

BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Filed 061;. 19, 1948 l4 Sheets-Sheet l3 ATTORNEYS April 27, 1954 R. J. GAUBERT BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHiNE l4 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Oct. 19, 1948 FlEi E 'L INVENTOR J Glen/barf ?,/-M

l ehe' ATTOVRN EY s Patented Apr. 27, 1954 2,676,442 BAG FILLING AND CLOSING MACHINE Rene J. Gaubert,

Oakland, Galih, assignor to Simplex Packaging Machinery, Inc., a corporation of California Application October 19, 1948, Serial N 0. 55,395

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bagging machines of the type used in establishments where products such as candy, nuts and the like are packaged and sold in bags.

In the past various methods and machines have been used for carrying out large scale packaging operations. A common procedure is to fill the individual bags by hand, weigh the contents on balancing scales, add or remove from the sack until the desired weight is obtained, and then close the bag by hand sealing. In an effort to save labor some of these operations have been mechanized by providing a machine for delivering measured amounts of the product, and which has a lower discharge spout over which the mouth of the bag can be fitted. A trip is then operated which discharges a measured quantity of the product into the sack, after which the bag is generally check weighed, and articles added or subtracted to secure the desired weight, after which the bag is sealed as a separate manual operation. It will be evident that this modified procedure is time consuming, it retains many manual operations and it continues to require manual positioning of the bags.

Where it is desired to fill only one small bag size, as in the marketing of peanuts, machines have been used successfully which continuously form a tube of bag material such as moistureproof cellophane, into which measured charges of peanuts are successively delivered, in conjunction with sealing means which forms a crimped seal at regular intervals on the formed tube, thus aifording individual bags which can be severed by suitable cutting means. This type of automatic apparatus however is not adaptable to a wide variety of articles or to various types of bags.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic bagging machine which will overcome many of the disadvantages of prior bag ging machines, and which in particular is usable for a wide variety of products and bag sizes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bagging machine which is relatively simple in its automatic cycle and in the mechanism employed, and which will not be subject to spill or bag breakage.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic machine, the automatic cycle of which includes the making of individual bags of a suitable material such as Pliofilm or moisture-proof cellophane, and the automatic filling of the bags at the same rate at which the bags are made.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic bagging machine having means for automatically sealing the bag after it is filled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic machine as described above characterized by the fact that it packages the product in relatively strong bags having adequate longitudinal seams and end seals.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic bagging machine having novel provision to facilitate proper opening of the bag for the filling operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above character having novel means to prevent delivery of a charge of material to the bag, in the event the mouth of the bag is not properly opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel type of intermittent movement transfer and conveying means for the bags, which will pass the bags through the various automatic operations without injury or spill.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel type of transfer and conveying means which affords any desired number of stations to accommodate the carrying out of numerous operations as desired.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from the following description in which the preferred embodiment has been illustrated in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view illustrating a machine incorporating the present invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine.

Figure 3 is a detail on an enlarged scale, showing certain parts at the same end of the machine illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2, showing some of the same parts illustrated in Figure 1, including particularly the means for conveying bags from the bag making machine to the transfer and conveying means.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 6A is a detail in section showing the way in which a bag is engaged by the belts 48, 50.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 1-! of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail I means. The intermittent conveying means 3 taken along the line 83 of Figure 2, and illustrating a portion of the pneumatic means employed to prevent. the fill of a bag which has improperly opened.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional detail taken along the line 9--9 of Figure 8, and likewise showing parts of the pneumatic means employed to prevent fill of a bag which has not properly opened.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line iB-l of Figure 2, showing various parts of the machine, including parts of the transfer and conveying means and the bag filling means.

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line H-H of Figure 2, and showing various parts of the machine including certain of the driving elements.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line i2-l2 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line l3-l3 of Figure 11.

Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I i-l4 of Figure 10.

Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line |-i5 of Figure 2.

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line l6-i B of Figure 2.

Figure 17 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail taken along the line ll-l7 of Figure 16.

Figure 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line iii-l8 of Figure 10.

Figures 19 to 23 inclusive are diagrammatic views for the purpose of illustrating the manner in which the operating units for the bag engaging elements are actuated to intermittently move the bags from one station to the next.

Figures 24 to 26 inclusive are diagrammatic details in section illustrating the operation of parts in a bag filling operation.

Figures 27 and 28 are side and edge views respectively shcwing a typical bag such as manufactured by the bag making unit of my Patent No. 2,347,902.

Figure 29 is a front view of a portion of my machine, particularly the parts constituting the intermittent conveying means 23, other parts being removed for clarity.

Figure 30 is a plan view of the same parts illustrated in Figure 29.

Figures 31 and 32 are side elevational views in section, illustrating another embodiment of the bag filling means, and showing the same in two different operating positions.

Figure 33 is a side elevational view in section, illustrating another embodiment of the bag filling means.

Figure 34 is a plan view of the bag filling means illustrated in Figure 33.

In general the preferred form of the invention as illustrated consists of a plurality of units which functionally cooperate as a single machine. The automatic cycle of this machine involves the successive manufacture of bags of suitable sizes from material such as moisture-proof cellophane or Pliofilm, and from which the bags are successively delivered to an intermittent conveying serves to successively present the bags to a bag filling means, where the bags are automatically opened, and a measured amount of a product introduced into the same. Where it is desired to check weigh, the bags are then transferred from the bag filling means to a check weigh station, where the operator may observe the weight of the bag and contents, and introduce or remove small pieces of product as may be desired. While the 4 bags from this point may be handled manually for a closure or sealing operation, I preferably provide automatic means to which the bag is next presented, and which automatically performs a heat sealing operation.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing, the machine illustrated includes the bag making unit 2|, conveying means 22 which receives the bags from the bag making unit, intermittent conveying means 23 which receives the bags and presents them to the several operating stations, the measuring and bag filling unit 24, the weigh check station 25, and the sealing unit 26.

For the bag making unit I prefer to use a machine which will prepare the bags from a web of material, and present them successively to the conveying means 23. A suitable machine for this purpose is disclosed and claimed in my Patent No. 2,347,962, entitled Bag Making Machine and Method. Thus as illustrated in the drawing the bag making unit comprises a frame 3! which can be suitably attached to the main frame 32 of the machine, and which provides a working table 33. The rear end of the machine is arranged to support the roll 34 of suitable bag making material such as moisture-proof cellophane or Pliofilm, and the web 36 from this roll is shown extending over the rolls 3?, 38 and 39, and from thence under the rear end of the former mandrel M. This mandrel corresponds to the mandrel 91 of Patent 2,347,902. Overlying the mandrel 4! there is an electrically heated sealer 42, the lower surface of which is T shaped. The sealer is periodically reciprocated to perform sealing operations on the bottom end of the bag, and for making the longitudinal seam.

As explained in said Patent 2,347,902 the machine incorporates means for folding a projecting portion of the bag material over the forward end of the mandrel, immediately preceding the sealing operation, together with means for thereafter reciprocating the mandrel to translate the finished end of the bag into engagement with the rollers 43 and 44, which correspond to the rollers 116, 117 of Patent 2,347,902. In addition knives (not shown in detail) are provided in proximity with the feed rolls 43 and M, which sever the finished bag from the remainder of the material along a line adjacent to but spaced from a vertical plane coincident with the axes of rollers 43, 44.

The cycle of operation of the bag making machine is clearly disclosed in my Patent 2,347,902. Briefly, as the web of material is drawn beneath the mandrel 4|, the two side margins of the web are folded over the top of the mandrel into overlapping relation. Assuming that a previous bag has been completed, the overlapping portions of the web will be heat sealed for a substantial distance from the cut end of the material, so that in effect there is a tube of bag forming material about the mandrel. A sufficient amount of material projects beyond the end of the mandrel 4|, to form the bottom of a bag. Folding means turns the projecting end of the material over the top of the end of the mandrel, and immediately thereafter the heat sealing means 42 is depressed to heat seal the bottom of the bag. and at the same time to extend the length of the longitudinal seam. The mandrel is then reciprocated so that the folded over and heat sealed end of the bag is translated into engagement with the rollers 43 and M, and at the same time these rollers are rotated in opposite directions to draw a predetermined length of material from.

the mandrel. The rollers are then-separated-a sufficient amount to release their grip upon the bag, and then the cutting means severs the bag a short distance from rollers 43, it. During this cutting operation rotation of the rollers 43, 44 is interrupted, but immediately after the bag is cut, the rollers are rotated again for a short interval to advance the cut bag by the conveying means to be presently described. This last rotation occurs during a. sealing operation for forming the next bag. As will be presently explained a common drive is provided for the bag making unit and other parts of the bagging machine, whereby the bags are made at a rate corresponding to the rate with which the bags are received and successively filled by the remainder of the machine. The means for rotating and releasing rollers 43, 44, and the construction of the completed bags, will be presently described in greater detail.

The conveying means 22 is so constructed that it takes the individual bags from the bag making unit, and delivers them successively to a rceiving station of the conveying means 23. The construction of the conveying means 22 can be best seen in Figures and 6, taken together with Figure 2. The roller d3 is shown provided with a plurality of grooves d'i serving to track the looped ends of the laterally spaced belts 48.

Roller 44 is provided with grooves 29 for tracking the laterally spaced belts 56].

A pair of laterally spaced parallel rollers 5! and 52 are rotatably carried by the mounting brackets 53 and 54. Roller 5i is provided with grooves 55 for tracking the belts d2. Roller 52 is provided with grooves 5% for tracking the belts 50. In this particular instance there are three belts E8, and four belts 58, and the two sets of belts are in interposed vertical planes as shown in Figure 6. The upper runs of the belts 59 preferably have light contact with the transverse roller iii. The lower runs of the belts 50 engage a portion of the periphery of roller 5i between the grooves 56. The belts 48 and 50 can be made of suitable material such as resilient rubber, or as endless helicoid wire springs as illustrated. The upper runs of the bolts 48, and the lower runs of the belts 5d, are preferably slightly interleaved whereby when a bag I progresses to the left from engagement with the rollers 43 and 44 (Figures 6 and 6A), the bag is caused to assume a corrugated form whereby it is held in light frictional engagement with the belts.

As previously explained in the operation of the machine the rollers 53 and at are rotated in a particular manner for the purpose of withdrawing the finished bag from the forming mandrel, and for advancing it to the conveying means 23. The mechanism for effecting this rotation is shown in Figure 2. At one side of the bag making machine the shaft for the lower roller 43% is cou pled to an overrunning clutch t5, and on the other side is coupled to a second overrunning clutch 61. The drive shafts of the two overrum ning clutches 6t, 6? are connected to pinions (not shown) which in turn are operated by the recip rocating racks '58, 89. rack 68 corresponds with the gear rack Hi2 of my Patent 2,347,992 (see Figure. 8 of that patent) and is operatively ttached to an adjustable throw crank, which in turn is mounted upon the main transverse shaft i2 of the bag making machine, all as shown in said Patent 2,347,902. Thus for each bag making cycle reciprocation of the rack 88 causes a prede- 6 termined amount of rotation of the roller 33 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure 1.

Upon the other side of the bag making machine (see Figure 8) the rack 69 is similarly connected to a crank disc 1 I, which in turn is mounted upon the same transverse shaft 72. The stroke of rack 69 is arranged whereby after rack 68 has caused rotation of roller 53, and there has been a period of pause, during which the bag is being severed, rack 69 causes a further amount of rotation of roller 43, which motion occurs during the heat sealing operation of the next bag making cycle. As described in said Patent 2,347,902 the means for bringing the two rollers 43 and 44 together into gripping engagement with a bag, and forseparating these rollers to release the bag, includes cam means carried by the same shaft i2. This means operates to press the rollers 43 and 44 upon the bag during the rotation caused by rack 68, and then the rollers are separated and remain in this relation during rotation by rack 69, and until the rollers are caused to engage the next bag.

It will be evident that as the finished bag is being conveyed by the belts 48 and 5t, it is caused to be bent over the roller 5! and then discharged downwardly in a substantially vertical plane intermediate the axes of rollers '55 and 52. In order to aid the proper downward discharge of the bag I provide stripper fingers i5 and ii which are attached to an adjacent stationary part of the machine, and which have curved upper ends accommodated in the supplemental grooves i8 and iii, provided in the rollers 51 and 52 (see Figure 6). In addition spaced guide plates 23 and 32 can be provided to afford a discharge slot through which the bags are caused to pass.

The conveying means designated generally at 23 receives the finished bags from the bag making machine, and then intermittently progresses these bags through the various operating stations, including for example automatic filling, weighing and sealing. The detailed construction illustrated includes a horizontal table or counter 85 which extends along the front of the machine, and which is attached to the upper ends of the vertical threaded standards iii (Figure 5). The standards 87 are sliclably carried by the castings 33, each of which contains a pinion threaded upon thcassociated standard 8? and gearing associated with the pinion for operatively connecting the same to the horizontal shaft lit. At one end of the machine the shaft 89 can be connected to a hand crank to enable raising or lowering of the table 536 to a desired level. Plates a, 86b and 860 (Figure 2) are shown forming the actual horizontal surface over the bag is trav ersed. The plates $3501 and Biic are directly attached to and form a part of the table 35. The intermediate plate 86?) is vetrically movable and is attachred to weighing means as will be presently described.

Mechanism is provided, including a plurality of bag engaging elements, which intermittently engage and advance the bags along the length oi the table St. These elements include th fingers 9i and E22 (Figures 2, 29 and 30), together with the elements 93 to be inclusive. They are caused to traverse a substantially rectangular locus for the purpose of engaging and advancing each bag a predetermined distance, then retracting from engagement with the bag, and returning cycli cally for the next intermittent movement. For

' convenience in engaging the bag before it is. filled there are two fingers 9i and two fingers e2, which are vertically spaced. Elements 93 to 95 are made to larger dimensions to provide more substantial surfaces for engaging one side of the filled bag. The elements SI to 96 are cooperatively connected with operating units 9'I to I62 inclusive respectively, which are each substantially duplicates. Figures 7, 10 and 11 illustrate the operating units, and a description of one unit will suffice for all. Briefly it consists of a housing I 3 having an upper pair of rollers I05, which engage the stationary horizontal guide bar I28. The lower end of the housing H34 is provided with guide rollers IIl'I which engage opposite sides of the fixed horizontal guide rod I03. Additional rollers Ills engage the top of the guide rod I08.

Housing I94 also carries a pair of vertically spaced horizontal gear racks MB, III, which within the housing engage the teeth of the pinions H2, H3. The teeth of these pinions are in direct engagement so that the two racks I I0, I I I are constrained to reciprocate horizontally in unison. The pinion H3 is attached to a horizontal drive shaft H4 which extends the length of the machine between the guide bars IE5, Hi8. Corresponding ends of the racks IIG, Iii are attached to the vertical bar IIG, which in turn forms a mounting for the bag engaging means which in this instance is formed by element 32.

At one end of the machine (Figure 2) shaft H4 is extended, and is provided with a bearing assembly H8 (Figure 4) This assembly includes a threaded sleeve II9 within which shaft us may rotate and which is adjustably engaged by the nut I'M. A gear rack I22 is attached to the nut I2 I, and is slidably fitted in the gear housing I23. The gears within the housing I23 (Figures- 3 and 4) include a pinion I24 which engages the rack I22, and additional gear elements operatively connecting this gear with a reciprocating rack I26. Rack I26 has its lower end connected at I27 to the disc I28, which is attached to the main shaft I29. The casting I30 through which rack I26 extends, may oscillate about the counter shaft I3I of the gearing. As shaft I29 rotates, rack I26 is reciprocated through the casting I30 and as a result the rack I22 is reciprocated to reciprocate the horizontal rod H4.

The means provided for rotating the rod II I includes a gear rack I32 (Figure 3) which is slidably guided in the housing I33. This housing is journaled upon the rod H4, and carries a pinion which is splined to the rod, whereby when the rack I32 is reciprocated, the rod is rotated.

Shaft I29 carries a cam I34, the surface of which is engaged by a cam roller I35, carried by the adjustable throw cam lever I36. This lever is pivotally mounted upon the frame of the machine at I31, and is provided with a slot I38, forming an adjustable means for the pivotal attachment I4! to the rack I32. A tension spring I42 urges the arm I36 in a direction to maintain the roller I35 against the cam surface. In place of utilizing such a return spring I may employ a cam provided with a groove for positive return movement.

It will be evident from the foregoing that as the shaft I23 rotates, the rod H4 is reciprocated horizontally in the direction of its length over a predetermined distance, and in addition it is rotated angularly in opposite directions. The contouring and angular displacement of the cam I34 is such that rod I I4 is rotated to effect reciprocation of the racks III], III at the end of its (rod H4) reciprocating movement in a horizontal direction. Therefore the bag engaging elements carried by the racks H0, III have a locus of movement which is rectangular.

In addition to the bag engaging elements, vertical bag supporting surfaces are provided which are reciprocated in a horizontal direction. The members forming such vertical surfaces may vary in different instances, according to the setup of the machine and the type of material and size of bags being handled. For the location where the bag is being received the unit 91 is shown provided with a bracket I5I, to support the vertical plate I52. This plate is disposed immediately behind a vertical guide plate I53, which is of limited height to permit the spaced fingers 9| to pass above and below the same. In front of the plate I53 there is another guide plate I54 which for convenience may be made of transparent material, and which is adjustably carried by suitable means such as brackets I56. As shown in Figure I the bag is received between the plates I53 and I55, for advancement to the filling station. It is desirable adjacent this location to provide a supplemental guide groove 151a (Figures 1 and 30) for the lower end of the bag, and which is in alignment with like grooves I5'Ib and I510.

The next unit 98 is similarly provided with a bracket I52, serving to support the vertical plate ltl. Similarly the operating unit 99 which is disposed adjacent the filling means, is provided with a bracket I62 serving to support the plate I53. Units I0 1, IEI and I92 similarly are provided with brackets I24, I and I66, serving respectively to support the plates I61, I68 and I69. A strip or rail Ill (Figure 29) extends along the path of movement of the bags, through all of the operating stations.

Figures 19 to 23 inclusive serve to diagrammatically illustrate the manner in which the bag engaging elements serve to move the bags progressively from station to station. Figure 19 illustrates a number of bags in the successive stations 0. to g inclusive. The bag engaging elements are in their retracted position. A bag I has just been deposited in station a and the preceding bag has been transferred to station 27. In station 0 a bag is being filled. In stations (1 to g the filled bags are being advanced step by step. Figure 20 illustrates the bag engaging elements projected and in preparation for moving the bags to their next respective stations. Figure 2I illustrates the bags being moved by horizontal movement of all of the bag engaging elements in unison. Figure 22 illustrates all of the bags in their next successive stations, immediately prior to retraction of the bag engaging elements. Figure 23 illustrates the same position of the bags shown in Figure 22, but with the bag engaging elements retracted. From the position of parts shown in Figure 23, the bag engaging elements return to the initial positions illustrated in Figure 19.

The bag filling means illustrated makes use of conventional means for weighing or measuring out predetermined amounts of material to be in troduced into the bags. Thus a hopper I86 is shown (Figure 2) which is employed in conjunction with a rotary member I81 which is provided with circumferentially spaced measuring pockets I38. The intermittent rotation of member I81 serves to recurrently deliver measured quantities of a product into the depending conduit I89 (Figure 10). Conduit I39 has slidable telescopic engagement with a conduit I9I, the lower end of which is adapted to deliver the product to the bags. Shaft I92 is. a part of the measuring de-- vice, and serves to turn the member I 97 by angular increments sufficient to successively register the measuring pockets 599 with the conduit I89. The tubular standard l93 (Figure serves to support the hopper I99 and associated parts of the measuring device, and the lower end of this standard is carried by the mounting I 99. Mounting I94 is adjustably clamped to the vertical tubular support member I99, the lower end of which is secured to a casting I97, forming a part of the machine frame. Support I99 carries a gear rack I98, which is engaged by a pinion carried by shaft I99, the latter extending laterally of the mounting I94. Manual turning of shaft I99 facilitates raising or lowering of the mounting I94. Located below the mounting I94 there is another mounting 29I which serves to support certain parts associated with the conduit I 9| The conduit I9I (Figures 10 and 12) is secured to a head 206 which is adapted to reciprocate vertically. Below the head 299 (Figure 10) the conduit 59!, or an extension of the same, is cut off on a bias to form the filling spout 291. Within the head 206 there is a slidable valve gate 299, which is adapted to be moved between open and closed positions by means to be presently described. The head 296 is mounted upon a vertically disposed structure 209 (Figure 12) which in turn is attached to the two vertically extending and laterally spaced gear racks 2| I. Racks 2! I are retained within vertical guideways formed in portions 2 E2 of the mounting 295. Portions 2 i2 also enclose pinions (not shown) which engage the racks 2 I I, and which are secured to the common shaft 2| 3. Shaft 2 l3 is turned in opposite directions by means including a pinion mounted upon the shaft and enclosed in the housing 2 I6 (Figure 10). The pinion is engaged and rotated by the reciprocating gear rack ZI'l (Figures 10 and 12) which extends slidably within the housing H9, and which has an operative connection 2H3 with the adjustable throw crank 259. Link 22I (Figure 10) serves to connect the crank arm 2E9 with a cam lever 222, which is journaled at 223 to the main frame of the machine. Arm 222 is provided with a cam roller 224, which engages the cam surface of cam 229. The cam roller is urged against the surface of the cam by the tension spring 221. Cam 229 is mounted upon the samedrive shaft E29 as the cam I34.

Adjacent to the spout 29? (Figure 11) the machine is provided with forward and rear bars 23 I 232 which are adapted to occupy positions in front of and to the rear of a bag in the filling operation. Bar 253i is adapted to be reciprocated relative to the bar 232. As will be presently explained each bar incorporates a suction nozzle to aid in opening the bag, and to provide a. safety means. Bar 23I is shown mounted upon the forward ends of a pair of spaced horizontal racks 233 (Figure 14). These racks are slidably carried by the mounting 29!, and engage a pair of pinions which are mounted upon the shaft 234 (Figure 11). This shaft in turn carries a pinion within a housing 235, and which engages the operating rack 23%. The rack 299 has an adjustable connection 231 with the adjustable throw lever 238, which in turn is pivotally attached at 299 to the mounting 29L Link 22! serves to connect lever 233 with a cam arm 242, which in turn has a pivotal connection 223 with the frame of the machine. A cam roller 249 carried by arm 242 chgages the surface of cam 245, which in turn is mounted upon the shaft I29. Tension spring 229 serves to urge the roller 294 in cam engaged position. As the shaft I29 rotates the rocking of arms 242 and 298 reciprocates rack 229, and as a result the shaft 234 is turned in opposite directions to project and retract the gear racks 299 together with the bar 2911. Bar 222 is carried by the adjacent portion of the mounting immediately behind the spout 20?, when the latter is in its lowered position (Figure 11).

The valve gate 298 is preferably operated in unison with the reciprocation of the bar 23L Thus an arm 29? extends from the bar 23!, and serves to mount the vertical pin 229, which slidably extends through an aperture in the gate 298. This arrangement permits raising or lowering of the head 299, while at the same time enabling reciprocation to be applied to the bar 29I to effect opening and closing of the gate 299.

Previous reference has been made to the use of pneumatic suction nozzles in conjunction with the bars 23I, 232. Thus each bar 23E, 232 (Figure 18) is provided with a centrally located port or nozzle 25!, 252, and these ports are normally covered by the perforated plates or screens 253, 259. Port 25! is connected to a duct 259, which in turn is connected by the flexible hose 29? with the duct 259 in the bar 232. Duct 252 connects with a pipe 2-59 which extends to the rotary valve 26! (Figure 19). This valve in turn connects to a source of pneumatic suction, as will be presently explained, whereby at predetermined intervals suction is applied to both the nozzles or ports 225i, 252, to cause the adjacent side portions of the bag to adhere to the bars 29 I, 232.

Pipe 292 serves to connect the valve 2m with a source of suction, and the valve in this instance is operated between open and closed positions by suitable means including a reciprocating member 293 (Figure 10) which has its upper end pivotally "connected at 264 with the. rotary operating part of the valve 29!. The lower end of member 263 is forked at 266 to accommodate the shaft E29, and is also provided with a cam roller 251, engaging a cam 298. Cam 298 is likewise secured to the shaft :29. A tension spring 299 serves to urge the member 269 downwardly, to maintain the roller against the surface of the cam 268.

The source of suction can be a suitable suction pump 2H (Figure 9) driven continuously by the electric motor 272, and connected by pipe 213 and hose 219 with the pipe 282 of the valve 26!.

Previous reference has been made to turning of shaft M2 at regular intervals for the purpose of causing the measuring apparatu to deliver measured quantities of the product into the conduit 599. Operating means for recurrently turning the shaft I92 is shown in Figure 14. Thus shaft 592 is shown attached to a ratchet wheel 295 which is adapted to be locked against counterclockwise rotation by the spring pressed pawl 282. A member 289 is journaled upon shaft I92 and carries a spring pressed pawl 224 which is adapted to engage the-teeth of wheel 22!, and turn the same in a clockwise direction. Member 293 is connected to an operating link 28% which extends rearwardly to the wheel or disc 29?. Disc 29? is mounted upon a vertical rotating shaft and carries a pin 299 which engages in an L shaped opening or slot 29I provided in the corresponding end of the link 239. A tension spring 292 applied between link 285 and pin 289 nor" mally urges the link to engage the pin 289 in that leg of the slot 29I illustrated in Figure 14,

to thereby secure full movement of link 230 as disc 201 rotates. However when link 280 is shifted against the tension of spring 292 so that the pin 289 rides in the other leg of slot 29! (i. e. that leg parallel to the length of link 286) the throw imparted to the link 280 and the corresponding angular movement applied to member 203 is substantially less and insufficient to enable pawl 234 to engage the next successive shoulder of the ratchet wheel 28!. Therefore under such circumstances continued turning of the disc 281 does not cause corresponding recurrent rotation of the ratchet wheel 28!. This is a part of the safety means to prevent or disable the measuring device under certain circumstances, and which will be presently described in greater detail. To shift the link 2% laterally with respect to pin 289, it is attached to a second link 293 which connects with the solenoid 204.

To review operation of the measuring and bag filling means, when the machine is in continuous automatic operation and the bags are being successively supplied in position to be filled (between the members 23!, 232 and below the spout 201) the shaft I52 extending to the measuring means is being recurrently rotated a predetermined angular amount, so that successive measured charges of the product are delivered downwardly through the conduits i853 and !9! to be temporarily held from entering the spout 201 by the gate valve 200. Figure 24 diagrammatically illustrates the positioning of a bag with its upper end between the members 23! and 232 and immediately below the spout 201. When the bag arrives in this position the rotary valve 26! is actuated to apply suction to both of the nozzles 25!, 252, and as a result the two adjacent side walls of the bag are sucked tight against the perforated plates 253, 254. Immediately upon application of suction in this manner, member 23! starts its outward movement away from the member 232, and with the commencement of this movement (see Figure 25) the spout 20'! starts downwardly whereby its lower end enters the upper partially open end of the bag. These motions continue until the member 23! reaches the limit of its movement, and at the same time the spout 201 reaches its downward limit. Simultaneously with downward movement of the spout 201 and opening movement of the bag, the gate 208 is opened, whereby the charge of the product is delivered downwardly through the spout into the open bag.

Upon completion of the operation described above the spout 201 is immediately elevated, and in fact the timing can be such that this spout starts to elevate as the charge of product is coming to rest in the bag. At the same time the rotary valve 26! cuts on the supply of suction with the result that the sides of the bag are no longer gripped by the nozzles 25!, 252. When the spout 201 has been completely retracted the bag engaging elements come into operation to move the filled bag to the next station, and to move a new bag into position to be filled. Simultaneously with such movements member 23! is again moved inwardly to occupy substantially the position shown in Figure 24, as a new bag comes into place.

In addition to the arrangement for applying suction to the nozzles 25!, 252, means is provided whereby if the side walls of the bag are not properly gripped by suction applied to these nozzles, then the measuring means is temporarily disabled, and the valve gate 208 is not operated.

This serves to avoid objectionable spill of material in the event a bag is not present to be filled or in the event the bag is not in proper position to receive a charge of material. The safety means described above includes a solenoid 30! (Figure 8) in addition to the solenoid 294. A link 302 connects the solenoid 30! with two parallel vertically extending latch arms 303, which have their lower ends pivoted to the frame at 304. A tension spring 306 serves to normally urge both latch arms 303 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 8. The upper ends of arms 303 (Figure 10) are provided with latching shoulders 301, adapted to engage the studs 308 (Figure 12), which form extensions of the pivotal connections between the arm 2!!! and link 22!, and the arm 230 and link 24!. Normally the latch shoulders 301 are not in the path of movement of the studs 300. However when solenoid 30! is energized arms 303 are moved toward the right as viewed in Figure 10, whereby they latch beneath and engage studs 308, to thus prevent the rocking of arms 2!9 and 238 in a clockwise direction. This serves in turn to prevent the lowering of the spout 201, the movement of bar 23 i, and the opening of gate 203.

Both of the solenoids 294 and 30! are connected to a common energizing circuit which is under the control of a diaphragm operated switch 3!! (Figure 9). The operating chamber of the diaphragm switch 3!! is in communication with the pipe 213, whereby when no substantial amount of suction exists within the pipe 213, the contacts are closed to energize the two solenoids 294 and 30!. This occurs when the roller valve 26! opens and there is no bag in proper position for sealing over the two nozzle ports 25!, 252. Thus under such conditions the spout 201 is not lowered into its filling position, and likewise the gate 208 is not opened. The charge of product upon this gate is held over for the next bag. Simultaneously the measuring device is temporarily disabled.

It will be seen from the foregoing that my pneumatic arrangement performs two important functions, namely it insures proper opening of the bag for the filling operation, and secondly it provides safety features to prevent discharge of a measured quantity of product when a bag is not in proper position to receive the material.

The particular type of sealing unit employed is illustrated in Figure 16. Briefly it consists of a mounting 3H5 which is carried by the frame of the machine, and which is provided with a pair of electrically heated sealing bars 3 1, 3 B. These bars are shown connected by conduits 3l9, 32! to the temperature control unit 322. Bar 3!1 is carried by bracket 333 which is fixed to the mounting 3!6. Bar 3!8 is mounted upon the re ciprocating plunger 334, which is connected by link 336 to a crank arm 33'! attached to the vertical shaft 330. A crank arm 339 attached to the lower end of shaft 338 is connected by link 34! to the rocker 342. This rocker carries a cam roller 343, engaging a cam 344, which is mounted upon the shaft I29. Roller 343 is urged toward engaged position by the tension spring 346. Thus during normal operation of the machine the heated bars 3!'!, (H8 are recurrently pressed together to close the upper end of a filled bag, thus providing an adequate heat seal. Timing is such that a filled bag is presented to the machine when the bars 3!1, 3 !8 are open, and thereafter while the bag remains at rest the bars 3!1, 3!8 are clamped together upon the upper open end.

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