US2682910A

US2682910A - Container making machine

Info

Publication number: US2682910A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas E Piazze
Original assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Current assignee: Continental Can Co Inc
Priority date: 1952-09-05
Filing date: 1952-09-05
Publication date: 1954-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-06

Description

July 6,1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 v 10 Sheets-Sheet l y 1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 6, 1954 T. E. PlAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 6, 1954 T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 T. E. PIAZZE CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE July 6, l 954 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 5, 1952 INVENTOR.

BY W July 6, 1954 Filed Sept. 5, 1952 ulilllllllll-l !I l l lIIlIIlll-l-I-I-l IllIIIIlIIII III! I w T. E. PIAZZE CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 7 I NVENTOR.

MKW

July 6, 1954 T. E. PlAZZE CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 IN V EN TOR.

T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

10 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 6, 1954 CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1952 y 1954 I I T. E. PIAZZE 2,682,910

CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5,1952 1o Sheets-Sheet 1o Q H i 1" INVENTOR. v m 19; 7? f F BY Patented July 6, 1954 ,ATENT OFFICE CONTAINER MAKING MACHINE Thomas E. Piazze, Mount Vernon, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 5, 1952, Serial No. 308,061

21 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and machines for making containers and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a method and machine for fabrication from tubular stock successive individual containers which may be used for packaging a variety of merchandise.

It is the general object of the invention to provide a method and a machine for fabricating from flattened tubular stock a plurality of successive containers wherein the stock is cut into sections of the desired length, each successive section is fed to one of a series of clamping devices mounted on an endless conveyor by means of which the tubular sections are carried past a series of stations having mechanisms associated therewith which close one end of each section to form therefrom a flat tubular container.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for forming bags of flexible plastic tubular material having heat sealing characteristics in which the tubular stock is divided into successive bag lengths and each bag length is sealed across one end, first with a relatively narrow flat heat seal, and subsequently with a bead-like end seal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of forming a tubular container in which a continuous supply of tubular stock in flattened condition is cut into sections of desired length and each section is provided at one end with a cross seal formed by subjecting the edges of the section first to a flat seal forming device and subsequently to a second sealing device which forms the flat seal into a bead seal.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a mechanism for forming bags in which a plurality of clamping frames or carriers are provided on an endless conveyor, the clamping frames being adapted to receive bag forming sections of heat sealable tubular material, and in which sealing stations are provided along the path of travel of the clamping frames having mechanism for forming in one end of each tube section a transverse fiat seal and thereafter for melting a predetermined portion of the material at the end of the section, including the flat sealed portion, to form a beaded end closure seam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a bag making machine which comprises a plurality of clamp-like carriers or forms mounted on a conveyor for movement in an endless path in combination with a flat seal forming device and a radiant heat sealing device spaced along the path of movement of the carriers, the flat seal forming device being arranged to engage one end of a bag forming section of flattened tubular material clamped in each of the carriers to form therein an initial flat seal and the radiant heat sealing device being arranged in operative relation to the path of travel of the fiat sealed end of the section to subsequently form thereon a bead seal.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a method of fabricating flat pouches or bags wherein heat sealable tubular material in flattened condition is divided into successive bag forming lengths, one end of each length is provided with a flat transverse heat seal and thereafter the flat heat sealed end is subjected to radiant heat sufficient to melt back the end material a predetermined distance and form thereon a beaded end closure seam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of forming successive bags or pouches from heat sealable tubular stock, particularly, polyethylene tubing, wherein successive cut lengths of the tube stock are clamped in a holder with an end portion thereof extending beyond the face of the holder, a flat heat seal is placed transversely across the end portion which terminates on a line spaced outwardly of the face of the holder and thereafter the extended portion of the material is melted back to the face of the holder to form thereon an integral end seam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pouch fabricating mechanism comprising a series of clamping frames mounted on an endless conveyor which are moved by the conveyor in a curved path, a mechanism mounted adjacent the path of movement for feeding cutting and delivering successive lengths of heat sealable flattened tubular material to successive clamping frames a flat heat seal forming mech-' anism mountedfor engaging the end margins of the lengths of material to form across each length an initial fiat seal, a mechanism for fusing the end portion of each length of the material, including the initial flat sealed area, to form thereon an integral bead seal and mechanism for delivering the completed pouches from the clamping frames.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in apouch fabricating machine of the type described automatic means for moving the radiant heat sealing mechanism out of seal forming position upon failure of the power supply for the machine.

These and. other objects and advantages of the mechanism and method constituting the invention will be apparent from consideration of the following description of the apparatus, which is shown by way of example, in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mechanism incorporating therein the principal features of the applicants invention, with portions thereof broken away;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, to an enlarged scale, of a portion of the machine, the View being taken on the line 2--2 as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, which shows the web feeding and cutting mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a partial cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line l--4 of Fig. l which shows the fiat seal forming mechanism operating on the top of a bag section;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross section, to an enlarged scale, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 showing the bead seal forming mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a partial cross section, taken on the line 6% of Fig. 1, showing the finished bag delivery mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section, taken generally on the line l''! of Fig. 1, with portions broken away;

Fig. 8 is a partial end elevation, looking in the same direction as in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9' is a partial side elevation, taken gen erally on the line 9 in Fig. 1, with portions broken away;

Fig. 10 is a partial section taken generally on line lEi-l0 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a detail section taken on line H--ll in Fig. 2;

Figs. 12 and 13 are schematic views illustrating the steps involved in the formation of the bag; and

Figs. 14, 15 and 16 are enlarged fragmentary perspective views illustrating the formation of the bead seal.

The method involved in the manufacture of the bags is illustrated schematically in Figs. 12 and 13. The bags are formed from a flattened tube of heat scalable material, such as polyethylene, or similar material. The tube stock If! is fed between a pair of feed rollers ll and [2 to position the leading end thereof within the operating area of a clamping mechanism 13 comprising relatively movable arms or frames which close on the tube It and grip the portion l4 which is to form the bag. The clamping mechanism It is mounted for intermittent movement in a generally circular path past a series of work stations at which various operations are performed on the bag. These work stations are indicated by capital letters on Figs. 12 and 13. The initial tube feeding and cutting station is indicated at A. At station A the clamping mechanism. i3 is positioned in open position and a cutting mechanism is arranged as indicated at [5, to engage and cut the leading bag forming portion I i from the tubular stock Iii. A plurality of the clamping frames or mechanisms I3 are mounted on an endless carrier which operates intermittently to move them from one work station to the next. The lettered stations which are shown do not constitute all the stations around the path of the carrier, only those being shown which are necessary to describe the operations, performed on the end of the bag section. The tubular section 14 is severed by cutting mechanism [5 and clamped; in the frame l3 which is then moved to station B where the marginal portions it of the end of the bag forming section Hi which extend above the clamping frame l3 are engaged in sealing relation by a flat seal forming mechanism ll. Thereafter the section It with the flat end seal it is moved through a series of cooling stations (not shown) to a radiant heat sealing mechanism H} which is indicated at stations 0 and D. The flat sealed top margins it of the section [4 are subject to the heating effect of the mechanism It as the section is moved through a series of stations extending from C to D, which raises the temperature sufiiciently to melt the material extending above the upper limits of the clamping mechanism l3 and form a final bead-like cross seal or closure seam [9.

After the bead seal I9 is formed the bag section id is moved beyond the radiant heat sealing mechanism It through a series of stations which permit the seal to cool until it reaches the station F at which it is released from the clamping frame it and removed by a delivery mechanism which is indicated at 25 and the successive bags are piled in a stack on a delivery table indicated at G (Fig. 12).

fhe purpose in applying double seals to the bag section is, of course, to obtain a more eiiicient seam. in order to form satisfactorily a beaded end seam by a radiant heat sealing mechanism it is necessary that the web sections or edges of the material be held in a closely contacting relationship. At the same time sufficient of the margin of the material must extend beyond the clamping elements to permit the material to be melted and form the bead-like seal. formation thereon. In bead seal forming operations as heretofore practiced the material to be sealed has merely been held in contacting relationship by clamping elements and difficulty has been encountered in producing a satisfactory seam because the material is not in close surface contact all the way across the area to which the seam is applied. This may be due to irregularities in the material or to the fact that suliicient material must extend beyond the clamping elements in unclamped and unsupported relation to be melted to form a bead of substantial cross section. This difficulty is overcome with the present invention by first forming a flat seal or seam area It of a conventional nature at the marginal edges of the material (Fig. 14) and subsequently forming the final bead seal 19. The fiat seal it extends from the marginal edge of the material inwardly a predetermined distance and holds the material in close surface contact. The seal area I6 does not extend to the clamping mechanism l3 but terminates short of the upper faces of the clamping frame members. When the extended and sealed margins of the sections are moved or advanced beneath the radiant heating mechanism 18 the extended material is melted by the heat and due to the nature of the material involved forms a bead along the end edge of the tube section. The material is subject to the radiant heating mechanism [8 for a sufficient length of time to cause it to melt back to the upper or outer faces of the clamping frame members. The formation of the preliminary flat seal or seam iii and the arrangement of the tubular section in the clamping mechanism 13 results in the formation of a beaded end seal or scam I?) which does not have any weak spots or areas in it due to the fact that the material melts and coalesces as though it were a single thickness, the two thicknesses of the material being held in close surface relation by the initial flat seal l6. 7

Referring to Figs. 1-11 of the drawings there is illustrated a machine which incorporates therein mechanism for forming a bag or pouch following the steps of the method heretofore described. The machine comprises a horizontally disposed conveyor 2! (Fig. l) which is mounted for movement in an elliptical path and which carries a plurality of spaced clamping mechanisms or frames IS in which the bag lengths I4 are held during the end sealing operations. The mechanisms for performing the operations on the top end of the successive bag lengths are arranged around the path of the conveyor 2|. The feeding and cutting mechanism 22 for the tube stock I0, which includes feed rollers H, l2 and cutting knives I5 is arranged at the forward side of the machine as shown in Fig. l. The flat seal forming mechanism 1'! is arranged immediately adjacent to the feeding and cutting mechanism 22. The radiant heating mechanism I8 is arranged at the opposite side of the machine and the finished bag delivery mechanism is ar ranged at the forward side of the machine adjacent to the tube feeding and cutting mechanism 22.

The endless conveyor 2| and the associated stock feeding and cutting and seal forming mechanisms arranged around it are all mounted on a main supporting frame comprising parallel oppositely disposed upright side frame plates 23 and 24 (Figs. 6 to 9). For convenience in describing the machine the side of the machine on which the feeding and cutting mechanism is located' will be designated the front of the machine and the

frame plates

23 and 24 will be referred to as front and rear frame plates, respectively. Longitudinally extending upright frame plates or

rails

25 and 25 are arranged on the top edges of the side frame plates 23 and. 24, respectively, on which the various operating mechanisms are mounted. The frame side rails 25 and 26 are connected by cross bars 2i, 23 and 29 (Fig. '7) on which the conveyor 2i is mounted.

The endless conveyor mechanism 2! comprises a pair of horizontally arranged upper and lower chains 30 and 31 (Fig. 7) which are carried on'a pair of upper and lower driven sprockets 32 and 33 at one end of the machine and on a pair of upper and lower idler sprockets 34 and 35 at the other end of the machine. The sprockets 32 and 33 are secured in vertically spaced relation on a vertically extending driven shaft 35 while the sprockets 34 and 35 are secured in vertically spaced relation on a vertically extending idler shaft 31 which is journaled between vertically spaced upper and lower frame plates 38 and 35. The

frame plates

38 and 39 extend longitudinally in approximately the center of the machine. Vertically extending posts connect the

plates

38 and 39 in spaced relation. The lower plate 39 is supported by vertically extending posts 41 from a longitudinally extending support plate 42 which is in turn mounted on short cross support blocks 33 resting on the cross frame bars 21, 28 and 29 which connect the side frame rails 25 and 25. The driven shaft 35 is journaled in the upper and lower plates 38 and 3S and extends at the lower end below the base plate 42. A beveled gear M is secured on its bottom end and engages in driving relation with a beveled gear on a driven cross shaft 45 which is journaled in the

side frame plates

23 and 24. The

cross shaft 46 is provided with a driving gear 41 (Figs. 6, 7 and 9) which is connected in driving relation with a gear 48 on an intermittently driven cross shaft 49. The cross shaft 49 extends through the frame plate 24 and carries the driven element 50 of a Geneva movement. The driving element 5| of the Geneva mechanism is mounted on a cross shaft 52 which is also'journaled in the

side frame plates

23 and 24. The cross shaft 52 is driven from a secondary drive shaft 53 through connecting

gears

54 and 55 located inside the rear side frame plate 24. The secondary drive shaft 53 is connected in driving relation with the main drive shaft 56 by gear 51 and pinion 58 located inside the front side frame plate 23. The main drive shaft is connected in driving relation with a power shaft 59 by gear 55 and pinion 6| (Fig. 9). The power shaft 59 carries a pulley 62 which is connected by a drive belt 53 with the pulley 64 on motor 55, the latter being supported in any convenient manner on the main supporting frame of the machine.

The conveyor chains 55 and 3! support in spaced relation the clamping mechanisms [3. Each of theclamping mechanisms is carried on the chains by a pair of pivot support pins'65 which extend between links of the chains 30 and 3| which carry on their upper and lower ends guide rollers 61 and 68. Longitudinally extending upper guide channels 69, H1 are provided for the guide rollers 61 which are supported on the 'end cross plates H and 72 while lower guide channels I3, 74 for the guide rollers 58 are supported on end cross plates l5, 15. The cross plates H, 12 and i5, 16 are secured to the longitudinal

conveyor frame plates

38 and 39. The guide channels 69, Ill and 13, 14 prevent the chains from moving out of alignment while they carry the clamping mechanisms l3 along the front and rear sides of the machine. This control is unnecessary at the ends where the chains engage with the supporting sprockets. The pivot support members 66 are connected by a bracket ll with a vertically extending base plate l8 which forms the base or fixed portion of the clamping mechanism l3. Each clamping mechanism l3 comprises the base plate or fixed jaw forming member 18 and a movable frame member 79 which constitutes the movable jaw. The frame member '59 is generally U-shaped (Figs. 2 and d) with the ends of the legs secured to a pivot shaft which is mounted in bearing ears 8: on the lower end of the base plate 78. The pivot shaft 85 carries at its center an arm 82 which extends through a suitable aperture in the base plate 78 and is provided with a cam roller 33 on its inner end. The jaw forming frame members '58 and 72 are urged toward each other by torsion springs 85 on the pivot shaft 85. The jaw forming members 13 and F9 are provided at their upper ends with coopcrating gripper bar members 35, 85, respectively.

The torsion springs 8 normally urge the cam roller 83 downwardly and the gripper bar or

jaw members

85, 86 toward each other and into gripping relation with the bag forming tube section id. Suitable cam mechanisms are provided for engaging the roller 33 to open the

jaw members

85, 85, which will be described subsequently.

The tube stock is fed and out by the mechanism 22 (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) which comprises transversely extending upright spaced side support plates 53, 9! secured at the top of

upright bracket plates

92, 33 which are in turn secured to a longitudinally extending front side plate 94 projecting above the

front frame members

23 and 25. A supply of the tube stock I is supported on a reel (not shown) attached to the front frame in any conventional manner. The stock I0 is fed over a guide roller 95 journaled between the sup port plates 99, 9i to a pair of cooperating upper and

lower feed rollers

93, 9? which are mounted on

shafts

98, 99. The lower shaft 99 is journaled between the

support plates

90, 9| and the upper shaft 99 is journaled in spring pressed end bearings I00 in bearing brackets IilI extending above the support plates 95, 9i. The

feed roller shafts

93, 99 are extended at one end beyond the outer face of the side support plate BI and gears !92 and I03 are secured thereon which connect the shafts in driving relation. The lower feed roller shaft 99 connects at its end with a one way clutch I04 which is mounted between the side support plate SI and a laterally extending U-shaped bracket I95, the latter having its legs secured to the outer face of the plate 9 I. The clutch mechanism I94 includes a driving pinion I95 in operative engagement with a gear segment I91. The gear segment IN is secured on a shaft I98 which is journaled in the outer wall of the bracket member I05 and oscillated by means of an arm 09 secured at the one end to the outer end of shaft I08 and pivotally connected at the other end to the upper end of a vertically extending link or pitman I I0 which carries at its lower end a pivot member III (Fig. 2) adjustably secured in a radial slot H2 in the eccentric arm H3 which is secured to a short stub shaft I I4 journaled in the bearing H5 which bearing is mounted on the front face of vertical support plate 94. The stub shaft I I4 carries at its other end a gear I it which is in operative engagement with a gear if? on a front cam shaft II8. The front cam shaft I58 extends lengthwise of the machine along the upper edge of the front frame plate 23 and is supported in longitudinally spaced bearings H9 and I20 mounted thereon. The cam shaft H9 is driven in a manner which will be described subsequently. The lower feed roller shaft 99 is extended at the other end outside the support plate 90 and a sprocket I2I is mounted thereon which is connected by a chain I22 with a sprocket I23 on the forward shaft I24 journaled between the

plates

90, 9| and supporting a guide roller I25. The shaft I24 is extended outside plate 9! and a driving gear I25 is mounted thereon which is connected in driving relation with an idler pinion I2! on a stub shaft I28 journaled in the side plate iii. The idler gear I2? is connected in driving relation with a gear I29 on a cross shaft I30 which is journaled between the side plates 90, BI and which carries one of a pair of tension feed rollers I I, i2. The other feed roller I2 is mounted for swinging movement on a cross shaft I3 I which is journaled in the lower ends of a pair of upright support arms I32. The support arms I32 are mounted intermediate their ends on a cross bar I33 which is journaled between the

frame plates

90, 9|. The roller shaft I3I extends at the one end through an aperture I34 in the plate 9I and carries a gear-I35 which meshes with the driving gear I29 on the roller shaft I30 when the feed rollers II and I2 are in operative relation. The roller I2 is urged toward the roller II by a tension spring I36 which is connected at one end to he upper end of one of the roller supporting arms I32 and at the other end to a post I37 on the frame member 9| A stock guide plate I38 is pivotally supported on the cross bar I33 forwardly of the guide roller I25 and above the roller I2 to facilitate threading the stock material I0 between the feed rollers I I and I2. The amount or length of stock I0 which is fed may be varied by adjusting the pivot I I I in the slot I I2 to vary the length of the path of movement of the segment IN. The tension feed rolls II, I2 are rotated at a faster speed than the stock feed rolls 96 and 9! and keep any slack from developing in the material being fed. The

side plates

90, 9| are provided on their oppositely disposed inner faces with aligned slots or guideway forming recesses I39 in which there is mounted a sliding cross plate I40. The slide plate I40 provided with a downwardly extending ear I4I which is pivotally connected by link I42 to the upper end of a vertically extending operating arm I43. The arm I43 is mounted at its other end on a cross shaft I44 (Figs. 2, 3 and 11) journaled between the vertical s

pport plates

92 and 93. The shaft I44 has a downwardly extending operating arm I45 on the lower end of which there is mounted a cam roller I46 held in engagement with a cam I4'I mounted on the front cam shaft II8 by a tension spring I48 connected at one end to the arm I43 and at the other end to a cross bar between the

plates

90, 9|. At its forward end the feed plate I49 is provided with an upper guide plate I49 which is adapted to engage the stock material I0 beneath the feed rollers II and I2 as the plate I49 is moved forwardly by operation of the cam I41.

The feed plate I40 also carries at its forward end a lower plate I50 which forms at its forward edge one of the knives of the cutting mechanism E5. The other knife I5I is carried on the end of a sliding cross plate member I52 which is mounted in oppositely disposed guideway forming slots or recesses I53 in the forward ends of the

side plates

90 and 9|. The slide plate I52 is pro vided with an upstanding ear I54 to which there is pivotally connected one end of a link I55, the other end of the link being pivotally connected to the lower end of a depending arm I55 which is mounted on a cross shaft I51 journaled between the plates 90 and. SI. At one end the shaft 35'! is provided with an arm I58 which is pivotally connected at I59 to a horizontally extending link I69. The other end of link I60 is pivotally connected at I6I to an upwardly extending arm :62 of a bell crank which is pivotally mounted at I63 on the vertical support plate 93. The other arm I54 of the bell crank carries a cam roller I65 at its lower end engageable with an operating cam I66 mounted on the front cam shaft H3. The cam roller I65 is held in engagement with cam I56 by tension spring I62 secured at one end to arm I62 and at the other end to the frame plate 9 I.

As the feed mechanism 22 is operated to feed a length of the stock It downwardly between the feed rollers II, I2 a clamping frame I3 is moved into position beneath the rollers ii and 52 by the conveyor 2 I. The jaw members and 35 are moved apart, into open position, by the cam roller 83 on the actuating arm 82 engaging with a longitudinally extending cam plate I57 (Figs. 3 and 10) which is mounted on a longitudinally extending horizontal supporting plate @555 extending between the cross frame bars 25 and 29. The cam plate I61 terminates short of the feeding station so that at the end of the movement of the conveyor which brings the clamping frame I3 into position for receiving the cut section id of the stock I0 the cam roller 83 passes from plate cam I6! to a supporting trip arm E59. The trip arm I69 extends through suitable apertures or slots in the side plates '94 and 25 and is secured to a rock shaft I'I0 which is journaled between the

frame plates

92 and 93. The rock shaft I79 has a depending arm I'II with a cam roller I72 on the end thereof in engagement with a cam I73 mounted on the front cam shaft H6. The trip arm I69 holds the

jaws

96 and 96 of the clamping frame I 3 in open position until the stock has been fed a sufiicient distance to provide a bag length It and the cutting mechanism I is actuated. to cut off the bag length. Thereupon the arm I69 is rocked by cam I79 to drop the roller 99 a sufiicient distance to allow the clamping

jaws

85 and 96 to close under the action of the torsion springs 84 on the clamping mechanism IS. The feeding mechanism 22 for the stock I9 and the cutting mechanism I5 are, of course, operated intermittently in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor 2|.

From the tube stock feeding and cutting station each successive clamping frame I 9 is moved by the conveyor 2I to the next adjacent station where the flat seam I6 is applied to the portion of the cut tube section which extends above the upper faces of the clamping

jaws

85 and 86 by the flat seal forming mechanism I7. The fiat seal forming mechanism I7 is mounted on an upwardly extending plate bracket I74 (Figs. 2 and 4) which is secured to the front frame member 23. It comprises a pair of cooperating sealing irons I75 and I76 which are mounted for movement toward and from each other above the clamping frame I3. The clamping and sealing irons I75 and I76 are mounted on the ends of pairs of spaced depending arms or supports I77 and I78. The arms of each pair of the supports I77 and I78 are pivotally mounted at I79 and I89 on spaced support plates IBI, I92 which extend forwardly from and are secured at the upper end of the bracket plate I 7 and which are held in parallel relation by suitable connecting tie rods. Each of the support plates I6I and i82 is provided in its top edge with a pair of spaced upwardly opening notches or slots I89 and I89 to permit movement of tie rods I85 and I86 which connect the upper ends of the support arms I77 and I79 and extend parallel to the sealing irons I75 and I 76. Tension springs I87 connect the upper extremities of the support arms I'll, 579 which are pivoted on the outside faces of the plates NH and I82, respectively, and normally urge the sealing irons I75 and I76 out of sealing engagement. The tie rods or cross shafts 86 and I86 each carry a cam roller I88 located between the plates {9| and I62 which engages with a cam I89 on a rock shaft I99 journaled between the plates I6I and I82. The one end of rock shaft I99 is extended beyond support plate WI and provided with an operating arm I9I which is pivotally connected at I92 with a link I96 extending forwardly beyond the support bracket I74 and pivotally connected to the upper end of a vertical arm I94. The arm I99 is mounted on a short shaft I95 journaled in brackets I96 extending outwardly of bracket plate I79. Shaft I565 is provided with a cam arm I97 which carries at its outer end a cam roller I98 in engagement with cam I99 mounted on the front cam shaft H8. The cam I99 as it is rotated on the cam shaft II8 rocks the shaft I99 through the op erating linkage described and causes cam I89 to move the supporting arms I77 and I78 to bring the sealing irons I76 and I76 toward each other. The operation of cam I99 is timed so as to engage the top margins of the bag section I4 with the sealing irons I75 and I76 a sufficient length of time to form therein the flat seal or sea-m I6.

19 Thereafter the sealing irons I75 and IE6 are moved apart to free the bag section 59 and the clamping mechanism I3 is moved away from the sealing station by the conveyor 25. The clamping mechanism I3 thereafter moves through or around the end of the machine to the radiant heat sealing mechanism i8 which is located on the opposite, or back side, of the machine frame.

The radiant heat sealing mechanism l9 (Figs. 1 and 5) is mounted on a pair of arms 299 and 29I which extend horizontally across the top of the machine and which are supported on a cross shaft 292 mounted between the feeding

mechanism support plates

99 and 95. An elongate support member 293 is arranged at the outer end of the arms 299 and 29I and is provided on its bottom face with a resistance coil, forming a heating element 294, which is seated in a suitable recess extending the length of the support 293. The support member 263 is secured to the ends of arms 299, 29I by a bracket plate 295 having inwardly extending arms 295' adjacent the opposite ends which are rovided with adjusting stop screws 296 which engage the top surface of a part of the supporting frame of the conveyor 2! to limit the downward positioning of the heating mechanism.

The heating mechanism I8 is adapted to be manually lowered into operative position and to be lifted out of operative position by a counterweighted shaft arrangement which comprises the cross shaft 297 (Figs. 1 and 5) journaled in upstanding end support plates 298 and 299 projecting above a top cross frame plate 2 I 9. The shaft 297 is provided at one end With a rocking arm 2II which is pivotally connected to the top end of a link 2I2 the other end of which is pivotally connected to a rod 2I3 extending between the arms 299 and 29I supporting the sealing mechanism I9. The shaft 297 carries adjacent its center an outwardly extending counter-weight support arm 2 IA on the outer end of which there is secured a suitable counter-weight 2I5. With this arrangement the counter-weight 2I5 tends to rock the shaft 297 to lift the sealingmechanism I9 out of sealing position. The frame support plate 2I9 is secured at one end to the top bar 2I6 of a top cross supporting frame 2! I which also supports portions of the finished bag delivery mechanism. The plate 2I9 is secured to the bar 2I6 by an upstanding post 2I9. The shaft 297 is provided with a hand Wheel 2I9 for manual rotation and is held against rotation by means of a depending latching finger 229 having a hooked end 22I which is adapted to engage an abutment 222 on a latching bar 223 which is pivotally connected at 229 to the cross frame bar 2 I 6 and which is slidably and pivotally connected at its other end by means of a dependinglink 225 with the depending arm 229 of a solenoid 227. The link is bifurcated at its lower end and receives a slidin pivot pin 228 on the latch bar 223. The pivot 228 is connected to one end of a coil spring 229, the other end of the spring 229 being connected to the link 225. The link 225 is pivoted at 239 to the depending arm 229 of solenoid 227 and the latter is controlled by a switch 23I located above the shaft 297. The solenoid 227 is supported on an upstanding angular bracket 292. The shaft 297 carries a cam 263 which is adapted to operate the switch 23I upon rotation of the shaft 297 to position the heating member I8 in operative relation relative to the top of the clamping mechanism I3. In this position the latching arm 229 is engaged with the latch bar 223 and the solenoid arm 226 is retracted. Upon failure of the power supplied to the solenoid 221 the arm 226 will drop and engagement of the latch arm 2H8 with the latch bar 223 will be broken. The counter-weight 255 then causes rotation or rocking of the shaft 20? to lift the sealing mechanism l8 out of operative position.

After the formation of the bead seal closure [9 by movement of the bag section I4 beneath the radiant heat sealing mechanism it the clamping frame I3 is carried around the end of the machine by the conveyor 2| with sufficient time elapsing for the heat seal [9 to cool before the completed bag is removed from the clampingframe l3. As the clamping frame 3 arrives at the discharge or delivery station the cam roller 83 on the clampin frame [3 moves into position over a trip mechanism which comprises an inwardly extending trip arm 249. The trip arm 240 is mounted on a relatively short rock shaft 2 2! journaled in bearing support 242 secured on the front side frame plate 25. The rock shaft 2M carries an actuating arm 243 on the end of which there is a cam roller 2% engageable with a cam 245 on the front cam shaft H8. The cam 245 operates the arm 249 in timed relation to the movement of the clamping frame E3 to open. the clamping

jaws

85 and 86 at the proper time for release of the completed bag 54.

The delivery mechanism comprises a pair of suction cups 248 mounted on a block 24? depending from a carrier member 2&8 which is slidable on a pair of guide rods 24%) extending between the

upright members

250 and 25! of the top frame 211. The carrier 248 is reciprocated on the guide rods 249 by means of a long link member 252 which is pivotally connected at one end 253 to the carrier 248 and at the other end 255 to the top of a crank arm 255 which is projected upwardly from a longitudinally extending rock shaft 256 at the rear side of the machine. An air hose 25'! connects the suction cups 246 through the carrier bracket 248 and the supporting block 2, with a suitable vacuum device. The carriage 2&8 moves across the bars 249 and carries the bag i above a delivery table 253. The bag moves beneath a delivery or hold down arm 259 above the table 258 which is pivoted at 2653 to the frame member 25! and which has connected therewith an operating arm 26! pivotally connected at 262 to the end of an upstanding link 253 which is pivotally connected at its other end 254 to a cam arm 265 carrying the cam roller 2% and pivotally mounted on the rock shaft 2 The cam roller 266 engages an operatin cam 2t? mounted on the front cam shaft H8. The vacuum mechanism is controlled by a suitable valve operated by cam 253 which is mounted on an auxiliary shaft 259, the latter being connected by a sprocket and chain drive 216 with the drive shaft H3. The shaft 269 is journalled in bearings on a braciret 21! supported on the front frame plate 23.

The rock shaft 256 which extends longitudinally of the back plate 24 of the main frame of the machine is supported on bearing brackets 212, 273 (Fig. 9). The shaft 256 is extended at the one end and provided with an arm 214 (Fig. 3) which is pivotally connected at its outer end 215 to an upstanding link 276. The link 2'16 is pivotally connected at its lower end at 21'! to an eccentric 218 which is mounted on the end of a driven shaft H9. The shaft 279 is supported in bearing-

s

280, 28! on the back plate 24 of the 12 main frame. A bevel gear 282 on the inner end thereof is connected with a bevel gear 283 on a cross shaft 284. The cross shaft 284 is connected adjacent the opposite end in driving relation with the main drive shaft 56 by gear 285 and pinion 285 on the shaft 56.

The shaft 219 carries a sprocket 287 which is connected by a drive chain 288 with a sprocket 289 on front cam shaft 1 l8.

While the specific mechanism illustrated in the drawings is preferred for fabricating bags in accordance with the method heretofore described it will be understood that modifications are contemplated within the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material which material is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, said machine comprising an endless conveyor, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive cut sections of said flattened tubular material to said frames, flat heat sealing means spaced along said conveyor adjacent said web feeding and cutting means for successively engaging portions of the cut sections of material projecting from said frames and forming a relatively narrow fiat heat sealed seam, and radiant heating means supported along said conveyor in spaced relation to said heat sealing means in the direction of advance of said conveyor, said radiant heating means being positioned laterally of the path of movement of the sections of tubular material to form the fiat heat sealed seams into bead seals.

2. In a machine for sealing the ends of cut sections of flattened tubular bag forming material, endless conveyor means having bag holding clamp members spaced therealong, means for delivering cut sections of said tubular material to said clamp members with the end margins of each section extending a predetermined distance outwardly of said clamp members, seal forming means for engaging said extending end margins to form a fiat marginal seal therein and radiant heating means spaced from said flat seal forming means and operative on said extending end margins to melt the same and form thereon a bead seal.

3. In a machine for sealing the ends of cut sections of flattened tubular bag forming material, endless conveyor means having cooperating gripper assemblies spaced therealong for engaging one end of each of said cut sections, means for delivering the cut sections of said tubular material to said gripper assemblies with a predetermined portion of the end margins of each section extending a predetermined distance outwardly of said gripper assemblies, flat seal form ing means for engaging portions of said extending end margins to form a flat marginal seal therein, and heating means spaced along said conveyor means from said flat seal forming means and operative on said end margins to melt the extending portions and form thereon a bead seal.

4. In a machine for sealing the ends of cut sections of flattened tubular bag forming material, an endless conveyor having frame members spaced therealong, said frame members comprising cooperating relatively movable jaw members, means for delivering cut sections of said tubular material to said jaw members with portions of the end margins of each section extending a predetermined distance outwardly of said jaw members, flat heat seal forming means for engaging said extending end margins to form a flat marginal seal therein and radiant heating means spaced along said conveyor from said flat seal forming means and operative on said extending end margins to melt the portions beyond said jaw members and form a bead seal.

5. In a bag forming machine an endless conveyor, carrying frames arranged along said conveyor and extending laterally of the path thereof, said carrying frames comprising pivotally connected clamp members having cooperating gripper jaws for engaging in clamping relation adjacent one end of a flattened tubular bag forming section, means spaced along said conveyor for pivoting one of said clamp members relative to the other of said clamp members to receive the bag forming section as said carrying frames are moved along the path of said conveyor, and means for delivering successive bag forming sections to said gripper jaws as said carrying frames are moved adjacent said last mentioned means. i

6. In a bag forming machine a horizontally mounted endless conveyor, a series of carrying frames arranged in spaced relation along the periphery of said conveyor, said carrying frames comprising vertically positioned clamp members having cooperating jaws at the upper ends thereof for engaging in clamping relation adjacent the upper end of a flattened tubular bag forming section, said clamp members being pivotally connected at the lower ends thereof and an arm extending horizontally from one of said clamp members operable to pivot the same relative to the other of said clamp members, and cam members arranged at predetermined points around the path of movement of said conveyor to engage said arm whereby to open and close said jaws.

7. In a bag forming machine a horizontal endless chain conveyor, generally vertical carrying frames arranged in spaced relation along said conveyor, said carrying frames comprising generally rectangular clamp members having cooperating jaws at the upper ends for engaging in clamping relation adjacent the upper end of a flattened tubular bag forming section and said clamp members having pivotal connections at the lower ends, laterally extending means on one I of said clamp members adapted to pivot the same relative to the other of said clamp members, and movable control members at predetermined points around the path of movement of said conveyor to engage said last mentioned means in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor and open and close said clamp members.

8. In a bag forming machine a horizontal endless conveyor, a plurality of vertical carrying frames arranged in spaced relation along said conveyor, said carrying frames comprising pivotally connected clamp members having cooper- Iii tion therealong, means for delivering out sec; tions of said tubular material to said clamp members, means to move the respective clamp members to engage said bag sections with the end margins of each section extending a predetermined distance outwardly of said clamp members, seal forming means adjacent said delivering means having movable sealing bars for engaging said extending end margins to form a fiat marginal seal therein and radiant heating means adjacent said fiat seal forming means movable into close proximity to said extending end margins to melt the same and form therein a bead seal.

10. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material Which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, a horizontal endless conveyor, a plurality of carrier frames mounted in depending spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged along said conveyor to feed successive cut sections of said flattened tubular material vertically to said frames, heat sealing means spaced along said conveyor adjacent said web feeding and cutting means for successively engaging trailing end portions of the cut sections of material and for forming therein a relatively narrow flat heat sealed seam, and radiant heating means movably supported along said conveyor, said radiant heating means being spaced from said heat sealing means in the direction of advancin movement of said conveyor and being adjustable relative to the path of movement of the flat sealed portions of the tubular material to form the same into bead seams.

11. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive cut sections of said flattened tubular material to said gripper frames, reciprocable heat sealing jaws adjacent said web feeding and cutting means for successively engaging portions of the cut sections of material projecting from said frames and for forming a relatively narrow flat heat sealed seam therein, radiant heating means supported above said conveyor, said radiant heating means being movable into close proximity to the path of movement of said conveyor and being operative on the flat sealed ends of said sections of tubular material to form the flat heat sealed seams into bead seals, and means to deliver the sealed sections from said gripper frames. 7

12. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, a power operated intermittent horizontal endless conveyor, a plurality of pivotally connected jaw forming gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive cut sections of said flattened tubular material to said gripper frames, fiat heat sealing jaws adjacent said web feeding and cutting means for successively engaging portions of the cut sections of material projecting from said frames and for forming a relatively nar- I row fiat heat sealed seam therein, a radiant heating device pivotally supported above said conveyor, said radiant heating device being swingable into close proximity to the path of said conveyor to position the heating element for melting the flat heat sealed seams and forming therefrom bead seals, and means controlling the positioning of said radiant heating device to automatically swing the same to an inoperative position upon failure of the power means for the endless conveyor.

13. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a hori-- zontal plane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive out sections of said flattened tubular material to said gripper frames with an end margin of each section extending above the upper edges of the gripper frames, reciprocable heat sealing jaws adjacent said web feeding and cutting means for successively engaging outer portions of the end margins extending above said frames and for forming relatively narrow flat heat sealed seams therein, radiant heating means supported above said conveyor, said radiant heating means being movable into close proximity to the path of movement of said conveyor and being operative on the fiat sealed ends of said sections of tubular material for a sufficient length of time to melt the material above the upper edge of the gripper frames and form the same into bead seals, and means to deliver the bead sealed sections from said gripper frames.

14. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, said gripper frames having relatively movable jaw members, web feeding and cutting mechanism arranged to feed cut sections of said fiattened tubular material between said gripper jaw members, pivotally connected heat sealing jaws for engaging portions of the cut sections of material projecting above said frames to form therein a relatively narrow fiat heat sealed seam and elongate radiant heating means supported above said conveyor and movable into close proximity to the path of movement of said conveyor to form the fiat heat sealed seams into bead seals, said radiant heating means being mounted on a counter-weighted frame for movement into and out of sealing relation with said conveyor.

15. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an edge thereof is subjected to radiant heat, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of gripper frames mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, said gripper frames comprising a base member and a movable jaw member, said base member being secured in depending relation to the outer periphery of the conveyor, said movable jaw member being pivoted at its lower end to the lower end of said base member and spring means urging the upper end of said jaw member toward the upper end of said base member, cam means along said conveyor cooperating with said jaw member to open the same, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive out sections of said flattened tubular material between the base members and the jaw members of said gripper frames when the latter are in open position, heat sealing jaws operative adjacent said web feeding and cutting means for forming a relatively narrow flat heat sealed seam on the ends of the cut sections and radiant heating means movable into close proximit to the path of movement of said conveyor to form the flat heat sealed into bead seals.

16. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of frames having pivotally connected gripper jaws mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, and web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive cut sections of said flattened tubular material to said frames, said web feeding and cutting means comprising intermittently operated web feeding rolls, a reciprocating feed plate for positioning the leading end of the web between said gripper jaws and reciprocating cutting elements adjacent said feeding rolls and operating in timed relation to the movement of the web and the conveyor.

17. In a machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flattened tubular material, an endless conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of frames having pivoted gripper jaws thereon mounted in spaced relation along said conveyor, web feeding and cutting means arranged to feed successive out sections of said flattened tubular material to saidgripper jaws, said web feeding and cutting means comprising feed rollers, a movable guide plate beneath the feed rollers for directing the leading end of the material between the gripper jaws, a cutting bar on said guide plate, a cooperating movably mounted cutting bar opposite said guide plate and means for operating said feed rollers, said cutting bars and said gripper jaws, in timed relation, to grip the cut sections of material between said bars.

18. A method of fabricating a bag from a continuous tube of relatively thin, flexible heat sealable material which material is characterized by its ability to melt and form a bead thereon when an edge of the material is heated, said method comprising clamping a section of a flattened tube of the material along a line spaced inwardly of an end thereof, forming a fiat heat sealed seam in said end of the material which flat seam extends from the end edge of the material to a line spaced outwardly of said clamping line and thereafter melting all of the material extending outwardly of said clamping line and forming thereon a bead seal.

19. A method of forming a seal on the end of a section of flattened polyethylene tubing which comprises engaging the section of tubing between clamping and cooling members having the outer edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from the end of said section, placing a fiat heat sealed scam in the end of said section which extends from the end marginal edge and terminates short of the clamping and cooling members, and thereafter melting the end material back to the clamping and cooling members and forming thereon a bead seal.

20. A method of fabricating a bag from a continuous tube of relatively thin, flexible heat seal- 17 able material which material is characterized by its ability to melt and form a bead thereon when an edge of the material is heated, said method comprising clamping a section of a flattened tube of the material between clamping and cooling members having the outer edges thereof spaced a predetermined distance from the end of said section, placing a fiat heat sealed seam in the end of said section which extends from the end marginal edge and terminates short of the clamping and cooling members, and thereafter melting the end material back a sufficient distance toward the clamping and cooling members to form thereon a bead seal.

21. In a. machine for forming receptacles from a continuous length of flat tubular material which is characterized by its ability to melt and form into a bead when an end thereof is subjected to radiant heat, an endless chain conveyor mounted for intermittent movement in a horizontal plane, a plurality of gripping frames spaced along said conveyor, said gripping frames comprising a base member secured in depending relation on the outer periphery of said conveyor, a movable frame member pivoted at its lower end to the lower end of said base member, a spring at the pivotal connection between said frame members for normally holding the frame membars in gripping relation, web feeding and cutting means arranged adjacent the path of said conveyor to feed successive cut sections of the flattened tubular material between the base mem-- her and the movable member of said gripping frame, cam means operative to open and close said frame members against the action of said spring means in timed relation to the operation of said web feeding and cutting means, cooperating flat heat sealing jaws arranged adjacent said Web feeding and cutting means and engageable with the projecting end of the cut sections of said flattened tubular material when said sections are engaged in clamping relation by said gripping frame members, cam means for operating the said heat sealing jaws whereby to form a relatively narrow flat heat sealed seam on the ends of the cut sections, and a radiant heating element arranged along the path of said conveyor in close proximity to the path of movement of the flat sealed ends of said out sections to form the flat heat sealed seam thereon into bead seals.

Referenc s Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,459,234 McDowall Jan. 18, 1949 2,467,879 Billeb Apr. 19, 1949 2,488,212 Lloyd Nov. 15, 1949 2,551,811 Mueller May 8, 1951