US2768489A

US2768489A - Process and apparatus for banding and packaging paper bags and the like

Info

Publication number: US2768489A
Application number: US391882A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Ralph A Brown; Wagner P Thielens; Guy J Sanders
Original assignee: Gulf States Paper Corp
Current assignee: Gulf States Paper Corp
Priority date: 1953-11-13
Filing date: 1953-11-13
Publication date: 1956-10-30
Anticipated expiration: 1973-10-30

Description

R. A. BROWN, JR.. ET AL 2,768,489

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING Filed Nov. 15, 1955 PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE l2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS RALPH A. BROWMJ'R WIGA/Ef P. TIILNS our J? SANDERS Oct. 30, 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR., ET AL 2,768,489 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 13, 1953 ,4 inn-5;"

. INVENTORS WHGIYEK 2 7/1/54 5N5 RALPH A. BROWN,JR.

BY GUY \I'SHNDERS 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR.,' ETAL ,7

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1953 l2 Sh eetsSheet 3 F" 1 INVENTORS "Mi/vie A rv/zuszvs RALPH n. BROWMJR BY GUY .I smvouas R. A. BROWN, JR., PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING Oct. 30, 1956 ETAL 2,768,489

PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE l2 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 13, 1953 Illl'Ill.

Oct. 30,

Filed Nov.

1956 R. A. BROWN, JR., ET AL 2,768,439

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE 15, 1955 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/ll/ E INVENTORS mmvze 2 71/545: RfiLPH A. BRO WN,JR. BY GUY I SANDERS irrakzvrs INVENTORS' i Oct.30, 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR., ET AL 9 PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheeb 6 [lg/ 1910 Z58 7 I i I I 4 Guy J: SANDERS A IMMGNEK A 7204- 6;

7 By RHLP/vi H. BADYVMJR. F1 8 W flrfaklvars Oct. 30, 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR.. ET AL 2,768,439

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 13 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 it q Q INVENTORS MY snlvozns 4/4/ 9. snow/gm.

Oct. 30, 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR., ET AL 2,768,439

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Nov. 13, 1953 R. 3% s mam n D 0 Nme m H. 0 Sim. w a I Yd P Mm R Y 3 B 1 8 O w m 88mm a. m M Zr. 3. I ll 7. M a "E 3 H. z mm 4 7 w mm m. m 4 w z W M 2 M o o ||||||l. M m 6 W Oct. 30, 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR. ET AL 2,768,489

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Nov. 13, 1955 pmlulu mm {W Hill I INVENTORS I 5R @W 5 M: f 4 mm? M WED Z e .B w f 7 x 5\ K M? g WRG Y B mm. J A v Q 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR., ET AL ,7

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 15, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 v 1 l u l j v INVENTORS- 1 I mam/4 A 77/545:

RHLPH H. BROWN J'R. BY GUY .J: (SANDERS 1956 R. A. BROWN, JR., ET AL 2,758,489

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 Filed Nov. 1 5, 1953 uh mm H l IN VEN TORS IVIWV Tfl/EAE 5 RA L PH 1968,90 win 5R. BYGUY J. SANDERS 06L 1956 R A. BROWN, JR. ET AL 2,768,489

PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANI DING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed NOV. 13, 1953 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 I .383 4 7 444 j/Z 4 4 6 4 8 E1 I /4/ 4 4 IL "'5L"- 3&6

393 J I I INVENTORS may/me R rfi/ELfil/S RALPH A. BROWN JR. By guy J: selves/e3- United States Patent PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR BANDING AND PACKAGING PAPER BAGS AND THE LIKE Ralph A. Brown, Jr., Wagner P. Thielens, and Guy J. Sanders, Tuscaloosa, Ala., assignors to Gulf States Paper Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application November 13, 1953, Serial No. 391,882

25 Claims. (Cl. 53-26) Our present invention relates to a process and apparatus for packaging paper bags and the like, and more particularly to a process and apparatus for packing bags as they are delivered from a high speed bag making machine.

In my prior Patent No. 2,612,737, dated October 7, 1952, Method and Apparatus for Packaging Paper Bags and the Like, is shown, described and claimed a method and apparatus for packaging paper bags. The method and apparatus of said patent related to receiving bags from a bag machine and assembling the bags into groups and tying a band or the like thereabout. The invention of the present application is an improvement over that prior patent in several important respects which will be come apparent as the description of the present invention proceeds.

An object of our invention is to provide a process and apparatus for packaging bags which shall be fully automatic to assemble the bags into groups, band the groups, and then to form a bundle of a multiple number of the banded groups and finally to wrap the bundle in a sheet of paper or the like.

Another object is to provide a process of assembling paper bags and the like into groups which comprises moving the bags in a downward direction and in moving the bags laterally of the initial downward. direction to assemble the same into groups, moving the groups in straight line motion from the group assembly stationsto a package assembly station, assemblingthe groups of bags. and lapping the same whereby the thick bottoms thereof are at opposite ends of the package, then handing the package by moving the same in a straight line motion relative to banding mechanism, and finally, superimposing a plurality of the banded packages on top of each to form the. bundle and wrapping paper around the bundle.

A further object of our invention is to provide a process of the character designated in which the, packages of bags are assembled to form the bundle by adding, the groups to the bottom of the bundle until the complete bundle has been formed.

Another object is to provide apparatus of the character designated in which the parts of the machine are open, facilitating the inspection and maintenance of the machine and further to provide a machine which is characterized by the absence of adjustments and the like.

Another object is to provide a bag wrapping apparatus in which the bags may be visually inspected while the package thereof is. in the machine and in which the packages may be removed and replaced from the machine as the same are moving therethrough.

Another object is to provide a bundle wrapping mechanism which is automatically actuated only when there are the desired number of packages or bags in place in the machine, thus assuring that each bundle contains the proper number of packages.

A still further object is to provide means which auto matically compensates for variations in the thickness of the package both at the package assembly station and at the bundle assembly station, thus eliminating the possiice bility of jamming the machine when packaging bags made from paper which varies in thickness.

Apparatus illustrating the features of our invention and which also may be used to carry out our improved process is shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application in which:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view, partly broken away and in section, showing a bundle of bags formed in our improved apparatus;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view partly broken away;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3a is a view taken along the line IIIa-IIIa of Fig. 3;

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view looking at the bundle forming end of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view taken generally along line VV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line VI-VI of Fig. 3 and showing the group pickup units or grippers in inward, or group pickup positions;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view of one of the group assembly stations, the view being taken generally along VII-VII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an isometric view partially in section showing the drive and control gears, cams and the like;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view showing the draw roller for the taping mechanism and its mounting;

Fig. 10 is. a fragmental view of the tape knife;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view showing a form of clutch or overload protector with which our improved apparatus may be equipped;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a gripper in position about a group of bags as the same appears at the group assembly station;

Fig. 13 is a plan view of the gripper shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detail sectional view taken generally along 1ine;XIV'-X1V ofFig. 15;

Fig. 15 is a detail sectional view taken generally along line XV-XV of Fig. 13-;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken generally along line XVIXVI' of Fig. 13;

Figs. 17 to 24, inclusive, are wholly diagrammatic views illustrating the functioning of our improved apparatus and illustrating also the steps of our improved process; and,

Fig. 25 is a wiring diagram.

Our improved machine comprises a framework which may be made of plates and standard shapes. Thus, we may provide end plates or frames 10 and 11 having a lower portion 12. The frame may have a horizontally disposed plate 13'which has a notch therein as will presently be explained; Also, the necessary number of side plates are provided-as indicated at 14- and 16. The plate 13 forms what may be called a general working deck. or level.

The frame also is provided with the usual number of braces and it: may be assembled by means of welding, by suitable bolts, or the like.

As, bestshown in Figs. 2 and 6 the individual bags 17 are delivered to' our improved machine by belts 18 and. 19 from, a bag machine. Our machine is provided. with a lower driven belt 21 which passes over a roller 22 on a driven shaft 23. The lower belt 21 passes over an idler roller 24' carriedon the end of an arm 26. The arm 26 is pivoted as at 27. Connectedto the arm is a-screw 28. The screw 28 may be operated by a hand crank 29, thus to tighten the lower belt 21. The belt 21 next passes over a roller 31 hence upwardly over a larger roller 32. and finally over a roller 30.

The upper belt 33" passes over an idler roller 34 mounted between-brackets36 carried on the frame of the v3 machine. Also mounted between the brackets 36 is another roller 37 under which the belt 33 passes. The

belts

21 and 33 pass together over the

rollers

30 and 32 and between

rollers

31 and 38. The belt 33 then separates from belt 21 and passes upwardly over the idler 38, another idler 39 and then over a belt tightening idler 41. The idler 41 is carried in the end of an arm 42 which is pivoted at 43 and has an extension 44. Extension 44 is connected to a screw 46 which may be operated by a hand crank 47.

It will be seen that the bags being delivered by the belts 18 and 19 are picked up by the

belts

21 and 33 and are delivered in a downward direction to group assembly stations located under the

rollers

31 and 38 and which presently will be described. Belt 21 is driven by a chain 48 which passes over a sprocket 49 fast on the shaft 23. Chain 48 also drives a roller 51 supporting the belt 19. The chain passes under an idler 52. The chain is driven from a suitable part of the bag machine, not shown, whereby all of the mechanism to be described herein opcrates in definite timed synchronism with the production and delivery of bags. The chain 48 also passes over a sprocket 53 fast on a shaft 54. See Fig. 8. By this means shaft 54 is driven in timed relation with the formation and delivery of the bags.

As a safety measure to prevent damage to the apparatus in the event of jamming, we prefer to drive the same through the medium of an over-load clutch type of drive indicated generally by the numeral 55 and which is placed on a shaft 56. See Fig. 8. Secured to the shaft 54 is a pinion 57. Fast on the shaft 56 is a gear 58 in mesh with pinion 57. As best shown in Fig. 11, shaft 56 has a slightly enlarged section 59 thereon. The section 59 is provided with threads 61. The shaft also is provided with a further slightly enlarged section 62. Surrounding the section 59 of the shaft is a sleeve 63 having an annular flange 64. The sleeve abuts against a shoulder 66 and is held in place by means of a nut 67 screwed onto the threads 61. On the end of sleeve 63 opposite flange 64 are ball retaining housings 68. In the housings are balls 69 which normally rest in sockets 71 therefore.

Slidably mounted in the flange 64 are pins 72 which carry enlarged end members 73 fitting into the ball housings 69. The pins project through the flange 64 and carry a disc 74 on their outer ends. Springs 76 surround the pins and bias them to the right as seen in Fig. 11.

Keyed to the shaft 56 is a pinion 77 which drives a gear 78 fast on a shaft 79. See Fig. 8. The gear 58 is provided with an elongated boss 81 which carries the member having the seats 71 therein. A protective housing 82 may be provided over the springs, balls, and pins as shown. A hand wheel 86 may be provided on the end of shaft 56 so that when desired the machine may be turned slowly by hand.

A switch 83 which controls the electric drive motor of the bag machine is located with its control arm 84 disposed closely adjacent the disc 74. The switch 83 normally is closed and when opened stops the bag machine, consequently stopping our apparatus.

The operation of the clutch mechanism just described is as follows:

Pinion 57 drives gear 58 and pinion 77 in turn drives gear 78. When the machine is operating normally without overload the balls 69 remain seated in the seats 71 and rotation of gear 58 drives shaft 56 through the balls and, sleeve member 63 which, as will be understood, is keyed to the shaft 56. However, should the machine become overloaded for any reason the balls are pushed out of their respective seats 71 against the force of their springs 76, thus stopping the rotation of shaft 56.

Bag group forming mechanism As before stated the bags are formed into separate groups G directly under the

rollers

31 and 38, that is, as soon as they are dropped downward from between the

belts

21 and 33. Mounted at one end in a portion of the end plate 10 and at the other end in a bracket is a shaft 91. Loosely surrounding the shaft 91 is a sleeve 92. Upstanding from the sleeve 92 are

brackets

93 and 94 which are connected across their upper end by means of a. cross member 96. Mounted on the cross member 96 is a relatively wide, wedge shaped separator member 97.

Secured under the cross member 96 is a connector member 98. Pivotally connected to the member 98 is a connecting rod 99. At its lower end arm 99 is connected to a crank section 101 carried by shaft 54. It will thus be seen that the upper, sharp end of the member 97 oscillates about shaft 91 to either side of the downward delivery path of the bags emerging from between

belts

21 and 33, just below

rollers

31 and 38.

The bags are delivered with their bottoms downward and accumulate in groups on either side of the separator. The groups are formed in compartments located on either side of the separator 97 which comprise spaced bars 102 secured to lengths of angle bar 103 which in turn is secured to portions 104 of the framework. The bars project through openings 106 in the separator member 97. The bags are delivered downwardly between vertical channel shaped guides 105. The guides are notched out at 105a to provide space for the ends of the gripper arms to engage the groups, as will later appear.

The sides of the compartments are formed by upper and lower

outstanding guides

107 and 108, respectively. There may be bag retaining springs 109 at each side with the outer ends thereof bent slightly toward each other as shown more clearly in Fig. 7.

With the bags being delivered at say, for instance, 1,000 per minute, the separator member 97 oscillates back and forth at the rate of 1000 times per minute in timed relation relative to the delivery of the bags, pushing the bags alternately past the vertical edges of the guides 105 into the right and left hand or opposed compartments, between the spaced upper and

lower guides

107 and 108. Therefore, there is built up in the group assembly stations two groups of bags. It will be noted that we thus form the groups by moving the bags laterally of their initial direction of delivery, and we effect this separation of the bags simply by means of a single oscillating member 97. We thus simultaneously collect groups of bags which are standing vertically with their bottoms resting on the cross members 102 and supported in stack form by the spring and guide

members

107 and 108.

Group transfer and package assembly mechanism Having now formed the individual groups of bags the next step in the operation is to form a package of the bags and to band the package. Furthermore, it is desired to lay the bottoms of the bags at opposite ends of the package, thus to form a more or less regular shaped package.

On each side of the machine we provide one of our improved group gripping mechanisms indicated generally by the numeral 125. In view of the fact that the units are identical a description of one will suffice for both. Slidably mounted on

rods

126 and 127 are

cross plates

128 and 129. The plates are provided with holes 131 at their centers for passing a cylinder 132. The piston rod 133 of the cylinder 132 connects to a cross head 134 carried by the plate 129. When fluid is admitted to the cylinder, which is double acting, the plates slide on the

rods

126 and 127.

The gripper units are mounted between the

plates

128 and 129 as now will be explained. Passing between the plates and secured therein are rods 136. Pivotally mounted on the rod 136 is a sleeve 137. Upstanding from the sleeve 137 are

arms

138 and 139 and depending from the sleeve 137 is an arm 141 which carries a roller 142 at its end. The roller 142 coacts with a pickup station cam 143 mounted on a shaft 144. In similar manner, there is a cam 143 for the other pickup 5 mechani m h ch s m d n a sha 1 Th shaft 146 is driven from the gear 78 through a pinion 147. Shafit 144 is driven from shaft 146 by means of a gear 148 and a gear 149. Farther down the shaft 144 is a cam 151 which has a relatively long dwell portion 152 thereon, On shaft 146 is a package assembly station earn 153. The function of these cams will presently appear.

On the upper ends of the

arms

138 and 139 is a cross piece 154 which has outstanding lugs 156 thereon. Passing through the lugs 156 is a pin'157 and it is on this pin that the bag pickup mechanism proper is mounted as will be now explained.

The supporting frame for the gripper unit comprises a lower sleeve portion having divided

sections

158 and 159 which fit about and are oscillatable on pin 157. Formed integrally with the

sections

158 and 159 are upstanding brackets 161 and 162. A cross piece 163- connects the arms 161 and 162. Near the upper ends of the brackets 161 and 162 is a cross member 164 which may likewise be integrally formed with the arms 161 and 162.

The

gripper arms

166 and 167 are pivotally mounted on the ends of the cross member 164 on

pins

168 and 169. The outer ends of the arms 166 carry inturned bag gripping lugs 171 which are disposed, as presently will appear, to engage behind the groups G of bags at the assembly station.

Projecting outwardly from the inner surface of the cross plate 164 are inturned lugs 1'72 and 173. Threaded into the

lugs

172 and 173 are bolts 174 and 176. The bolts pass loosely through enlarged holes 177 in the gripper arm members. Coil springs 178 and 179 surround the respective bolts 174 and 176, thus biasing the gripper arms apart as far as permitted by the adjusted length of the bolts. The bolts may be held in place by

nuts

181 and 182 as indicated.

The-gripper arms are provided with slots 133 in which fit the ends of a slidable bag group compression plate member 184. The plate 184 is mounted on a reciprocable rod 186 in turn slidable in a sleeve 187 which projects inwardly from and is carried by the cross plate 164. A spring 188 biases the plate outwardly within the limits permitted by the length of the slots 183 in the gripper arms.

Pivotally mounted on pin 157, between the

sleeves

158 and 159 is a collar-like member 189. The member 189 has lugs 191 thereon which engage against the upper end of the

arms

138 and 139 to limit clockwise movement of the collar as viewed in Figs. 12 and 15 of the drawings. Secured to a central portion of the collar is a spring 192 which has its other end anchored to the arms "138 and 139 as at 193.

The collar-like member 189 also is provided with lugs 190 which are disposed to permit free rotation, in' a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 15, of the gripper arms, and the

sleeve members

158 and 159 supporting the same, until the edge 194 of the cross plate 163 contacts said lugs 193.

The

arms

138 and 139 are biased clockwise as viewed in Fig. 12 by means of a spring 196 having one end anchored to the cross plate 154 of the bracket and the other end anchored to a pin 197 carried between the plates v128and129which are slidable on the

rods

126 and 127.

Also fitting about the pin 157, and straddling the collarlike member 189 is a gripper arm lock supporting and releasing member 201. Secured to the member 201 is a somewhat U-shaped plate 202 which has out-turned ends 203 and 204 thereon. The ends 203 and 204 are disposed to engage behind lugs 206 and 207 carried by the

gripper arms

166 and 167, respectively. The member 2011s provided with stops 208 which are disposed to strike adjustable bolts 209, carried in the

arms

138 and 139, when'the gripper mechanism pivots about the pin 157 counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 15. A spring bi e the p e 20. to the l f as iewe in holding the

stops

203 and 204 engaged behind the lugs 206 and 207. However, when the stops 208 engage the bolts 209 the plate member 202 carrying the lugs 2 03 and 204 moves to the right as viewed in Fig. 12, permitting the

arms

166 and 167 to move outwardly, to the limit permitted by the bolts 174 and 176. The bolts are so set that the ends of the

lugs

2,03 and 204 do not ride 011 the faces of the lugs 206 and 207.

The boss 159 of the gripper supporting sleeve carries a depending arm 212 on the end of which is a roller 213. As shown more clearly in Fig. 6 there are guide cams 214 in which the rollers 213 engage when the gripper units move inwardly at the pickup station. It'will be appreciated that when moving inwardly about the bag group G the gripper arms are open. Consequently, we provide rollers 216 disposed in the path of cam-shaped

sections

217 and 218 on the ends of the

arms

166 and 167.

At the package assembly station where the groups G are to be laid over each other in position for handing, there is a cam member 219 on each side of the apparatus in position to engage the roller 213, causing downward rotation of the gripper units as will appear.

It will be understood that the

cams

153 and 151, as already stated, are the cams which cause the

arms

138 and 139 to move inwardly, thus to lay the bags down at the assembly station.

From the description so far given it will be seen that the gripper unit proper whichis pivoted about the pin 157 is somewhat loosely pivoted and that gravity tends to move the same downward, counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 15, until the leading edge 194 of the cross piece 163engages the stops 190. When this occurs spring 192 has sufiicient strength to hold the gripper head or unit, either empty or carrying .a group of bags, against further rotation due to the weight of the unit. The spring 196 holds the entire mechanism including the

arms

138 and 139 against more than a limited amount of downward, inward motion,

In operation the

cross plates

128 and 129 are moved along the

rods

126 and 1 27 by the admission of fluid into the cylinder 132. This moves the gripper units between the group pickup stations and package assembly stations. Assuming that the groups have been formed in the proper number, for instance 50 bags, on each side of the machine, mechanism later to be described automatically admits fluid to position the

cross plates

128 and 129 and hence the gripper units at the group assembly station. In this position the rollers 213 engage in the guideways 214, holding the gripper arms substantially horizontal during their inward movement in response to the action of cams 143 on rollers 142. As will be remembered, during this inward

movement gripper arms

166 and 167 are open. At the proper times the

cam portions

217 and 218 strike the rollers 216, causing the arms to move inwardly about the pivot points 168 and 169, placing the

lugs

203 and 204 behind the lugs 206 and 207. The inner ends of

arms

166 and 167 pass through the notches a in the guide plates 105. This locks the arms inwardly about the package, the presser plate 184 assuring a firm grip on the group of bags.

As the shafts carrying the cams 143 rot-ate, spring 196 moves the arms outwardly until they con-tact a stop 220 carried on the plate 128. Fluid is now admitted to the opposite end of cylinder 132, sliding the grippers with their groups of bags G firmly held therein to the package assembly station. In this position cam 151 engages its associated roller 142, causing the gripping unit to move inwardly with its group of bags. Cam 219 engages the roller 213 of the gripper unit, pivoting the gripper about the pin 157 causing the stops 208 to engage the bolts 209 whereupon the

lugs

203 and 204 move from behind the lugs 206 and 207, permitting

springs

178 and 179 to spread the gripper arms, thus releasing the bags.

During the immediately preceding operation the dwell portion 152 of cam 151 has held the first moved gripper mechanism in inward position, awaiting delivery and release of the group of bags carried by the gripper which is moved inwardly by cam 153. The second delivered group is laid in overlapping position on the first delivered group while the first group is still held pressed down by the presser plate 184. This results in forming a package of bags, each consisting of an individual group G and each laid on the station with the bottom of the bags at opposite ends of the pack-age.

Package banding mechanism Having now laid two of the groups in reverse, overlapping relationship on the assembly station the next operation is to tie a length of banding material such as a length of tape T about each of the groups of bags. As shown in Fig. the bags are deposited on that area of the plate marked AS, over an elongated slot 235 in the plate 13. The tape is fed from a roll 236 down through a vertical guide 237, passing from the roll to the guide over a tensioning roller 238 pulled upwardly by a spring 239 in the manner understood. The tape passes under a roller 241 at the end of the slot 235. The tape then leads forwardly, in the slot 235, under the assembled package of bags at the assembly station AS. Thus, when the first group G is deposited by the gripper unit over the slot and the second group is laid in place with the tops of the bags overlapping, the assembled package overlies the tape. The tape is held in a manner presently to be described.

Reciprocably mounted above the assembly station AS is a group hold-down plate 242. The plate carries a guide bracket 243 which is slidable on the vertical guide 237.

The plate 242 is carried on the lower end of the piston rod 244 of a fluid pressure cylinder 246. The cylinder 246 is secured to a plate 247 which in turn is supported for limited vertical reciprocation on a rod 248 which passes through

suitable bearings

249 and 251 carried in a part of the apparatus framework. Plate 247 has a slotted end 247a which slides about the vertical guide 237. A stop collar 252 is provided at the top of the projecting rod 248.

The plate 242 moves upwardly and downwardly in timed relation relative to the delivery of the groups of bags to station AS and serves the purpose of compressing the bags while on the assembly station, readying them for sliding movement to the left as viewed in Fig. 3.

Assuming that the machine has been operating until the number of groups shown in Fig. 3 and the several diagrammatic views is present therein, the mechanism to effect wrapping will now be described in more detail.

The tape feeding mechanism comprises a serrated roller 256 rotatably mounted between the upper ends of vertically reciprocable arms 257. The arms 257 are mounted in a guide plate 258 which is mounted adjacent a plate of the framework. The roller 256 is moved upwardly by an arm 259 pivotally connected to the framework at 261. The arm carries a roller 262 which coacts with a cam 263 mounted on the shaft 146. A spring 264 biases the arm upwardly. A sliding connection 266 is provided between the pins of the arm 259 and the pair of arms 257. At the proper time cam 263 permits roller 256 to move upwardly, drawing a length of tape T from the roll, as illustrated in Figs. 17, 19 and 20 of the drawing.

Near the end of its upper stroke roller 256 impales the tape T on a complementally serrated knife 267 which is carried on a vertically disposed column 255 secured to the plate 247 as will presently be explained. At the upper end of their stroke, the upper ends of arms 257 contact the actuating plunger 268 of .a glue pump indicated generally by the numeral 269. This causes a drop of glue 270 to be placed on the tape from a dependingpipe 271 connected to the glue pump. The glue pump is also mounted on the mechanism which depends from the plate 247 as will presently appear.

The package assembly station AS is located just ahead of a pair of

pusher members

272 and 273 which reciprocate simultaneously with the movement of the gripper units during the transfer operation. As best shown in Figs. 18, 19 and 20 the

pusher units

272 and 273 are pivotally connected as at 274 to an elongated plate 276. The plate 276 is secured as illustrated in Fig. 17 to the

reciprocating cross plates

128 and 129. Further, the pushers are provided with rounded surfaces 277 on their rear sides and are biased upwardly by relatively weak springs 278.

Just rearwardly of the roller 256 that is to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, to the right as viewed in Figs. 17 to 21 inclusive, is an elongated hold down plate 279. The plate 279 is mounted on the lower end of the vertical column 255 which depends from the plate member 247. The plate 279 has an elongated slot 282 therein and has a connecting portion 279a as shown in Fig. 3a. The forward end of the plate 279 is turned up as indicated at 283.

Also carried on the standard or depending member 255 is a housing 284. Pivotally connected in the housing at 286 is a Y-shaped member 287 which has a heated lower end member 288 which is disposed to contact the tape wrapped about the package, through the slot 282. The member 287 is rocked about its pivot point by means of a fluid pressure cylinder 289 having its piston rod 291 connected to an arm of the member 287 through a slotted connection. Means is provided for admitting fluid to the double acting cylinder 289 as will later appear.

Commencing with the diagrammatic Fig. 18 and considering that figure and Figs. 19, 20 and 21 the functioning of the mechanism just described may now be explained. As stated, the assembly station AS is just ahead of the members 273 when those members are in their withdrawn position that is, in the position that they occupy when the gripper units are at the pickup station. In this position it will be seen that the tape T extends down under the roller 241, under the package of bags presently being held down by the presser plate 242. The first action is for the roller 256 to move upwardly, drawing the tape upwardly to form the bight as shown in Fig. 19, between the leftwardmost and next rightward package. The upward movement of the roller impales the tape on the knife 267 and also causes the drop of glue 270 to be deposited on the tape. It is to be noted that the tape is so impaled on the knife as to leave a short end S and a longer end L thereon.

About the same time that the roller 256 moves upwardly, cylinder 289 is energized to rock the Y-shaped lever 287, causing the heated end member 288 to engage the short end S of the tape which has been left upstanding on the second bag group to the right of the upward path of the roller 256, sealing the tape together. The heat serves to effect a good seal with the drop of glue 270.

As shown in Fig. 20 the roller 256 now retracts and the cylinder 289 moves the Y-shaped arm 287 upwardly, withdrawing the end 288. Fluid is now admitted to cylinder 132 in a direction to move the

plates

128 and 129 and hence plate 276 and the pusher units 273 to the right as viewed in the figures under consideration. Rightward movement of the plate and the pushers 273 pushes the bags under the plate 242 located just to the left of the knife, closing the space and engaging against the left side of the next package of bags. Continued motion for a distance equal to the width of the package plus the width of the bight in which the roller 256 travels pushes the package which has just been scaled by the member 288 off the end of the plate 275 and onto the plate 276. This severs the tape, leaving the long end L and the short end S in the position shown in Fig. 21, projecting above the holddown plate 279, through the slot 282 therein. As the packages move with the long end L of the tape-projecting through the slot 282, the long end runs under the portion 279a of the plate 279. This folds the long end L down onto the top of the package, ready for the short glue carrying end S to be folded down onto the top of the end 'L as shown. The plate 276 moves far enough to the right to place the end banded package onto the bundle forming mechanism as will presently. appear. Upon leftward movement of the plate 276 the pusher members 273 simply pivot downwardly, riding under the packages on the supporting plates. Upon this same movement the package then resting on plate 276 drops onto plate 301, ready to be pushed into the bundle mechanism.

It will be understood that at the proper time in the cycle of operation cylinder 246 is actuated to withdraw the hold-down plate 242 from the assembly station AS. Furthermore, as has already been pointed out, whenever the gripper units are at the stations AS,

pushers

272 and 273 have moved forwardly sufliciently to be clear so that the bags may be laid down. It will be noted that the positive relationship between the pushers and the grippers is assured because they are actuated by the same cylinder. Thus, from the assembly station AS, by straight line motion, the bags are moved relative to tape placed thereabout and to tape shearing and gluing mechanisms so as to form the Wrapped or banded package. Further, it will be noted that the packages may be inspected during this period of the operation and in fact can be physically picked up and removed from the machine, inspected and placed back into the flow of the packages without disrupting the machine. The machine may be as long as desired to permit the inspection of the packages. It will also be apparent that the package forming portion of the apparatus may deliver the package to an operator to be fed manually by the operator into the bundle forming mechanism. As will later appear if one of the packages in the line being banded is defective it may simply be removed and the mechanism rearwardlyof the banding mechanism has means associated therewith automatically to compensate for the removal of the package, assuring that a predetermined number of packages are wrapped in each bundle.

It will be seen that commencing with the deliveryof the individual bags in a downward direction the bags are formed into the separate groups by moving the same laterally of the initial direction of downward movement. The groups then move horizontally to the package assembly station with their bottoms pointed downwardly and are then laid, alternately, on the package assembly station AS to form the relatively rectangular package with the bottoms of the bags at opposite ends. The direction of movement of the packages to band the same is in the same direction as their transfer from the group forming station. As will later appear the bags are moved upwardly, parallel and reversely to the direction in which individual bags are delivered, to form the bundle, and finally the bundle is moved again in a horizontal, straight line direction. It will thus be seen that we have devised a method of packaging bags in which the motions are all straight line motions except for. laying the groupsdown on the assembly station. This straight line motion is ,very important when the high rate of speed of the-apparatus is considered.

Bundle assembly and bundle wrapping mechanism Having with the foregoing steps and mechanisms formed a plurality of separate, banded packages consisting of two groups, which packages move along to the right as viewed in Figs. 17 and 21 to 24 inclusive, we next propose to take a given number of the packages, for instance five, form them into a bundle andwrap the same in a sheet of paper and glue the paper together.

As has been before stated, when the packages pass from under the sealing unit 288 they drop down onto a plate 301, beneath and at the end of the supporting .plate 275 for the packages .While they are being handed. The pusher plate 276 is long enough that when the pusher units 273 are in their most rightward position as shown .in Fig. 17, the .end 275a of .the plate 275 engages the side of the package dropped down onto the ,plate 301 and thereby pushes the same onto a table 302 carried on the piston rod 303 of a fluid pressure cylinder 304.

At the proper time in the cycle of operation as will be explained later the cylinder 304 is energized to raise the table 302 upwardly each time a banded package ,is in place thereon. The packages are held in vertically raised position 'by means of a pair of

support fingers

306 and 307. The

fingers

306 and 307 are pivotally mounted as at 308 and 309, respectively, to brackets carried by the vertical frame members of the apparatus. The fingers proper are pivoted to the upper ends of thelegs 3.11 and 312 as at 313 and 314, respectively. The under surface of the fingers themselves rest on roller supports 316 and 317.

Thefingers are moved inwardly by means of :armsB-ls and 319, formed integrally with the portions 811 and 312, respectively. Double acting

fluid pressure cylinders

321 and 322 have their

piston rods

323 and 324 pivotal'ly c onnected as at 326 and 327 to the !arms 31-8 and 319, respectively. The cylinders themselves are pivot-ally mounted as at 328 and 329 in suitable brackets carried by :the framework.

Directly above the table 302 is a drop plate '331. As the first bundle of bags to form a bundle is lifted upwardly, it contacts the plate 331. The plate is supported for vertical reciprocation by means of vertical rod-

s

332 and 333 which slide in

bearings

334 and 336. The bearings in turn are carried by vertical rods 3'37 and 33% secured to the top of the framework 'by means of

bnackets

339 and 341. A fluid motor or pressure cylinder B42 has its piston rod 343 connected to the plate 331 to bias the same downwardly undera constant pressure.

As will be appreciated, when each package is moved upwardly by the plate 302 into bundle forming position, the

fingers

306 and 307 move inwardly and support the package pending the delivery of the next subj-acent pack- .age onto the table 302 and its elevation to become the next subjacent package of the bundle. As best shownjin Fig. 5, the table 302 is notch-ed as indicated at 344 to accommodate the fingers 306 and 3.07 which are divided to form separate finger-like portions. Thus, when the table rises under the fingers the fingers themselves seat in thedepressions 344 and therefore are free to be withdrawn afterthe entire bundle has been assembled to permit the wrapping of the paper about the bundle as presently will appear.

The next step in the formation of the bundle is to wrap thereabout a length of wrapping paper. A supply of wrappin-g paper is provided by a roll 346 which ismounted in suitable journals for rotation as the paper is drawn therefrom. The sheet 346 feeds upwardly over

rollers

347, 348 and 349 as best shown in Fig. 17. The paper passes under a draw roller 351. The draw roller is supported for reciprocation between the two positions indicated in Figs. 23 and 24 by means of bars 352 at each end thereof. The bars 352 are pivot-ally mounted as at 353 in a suitable part of theframework. Pivotally connected to a crank 3'54 operatively connected to the bars 352 is the piston rod 356 of a fluid pressure cylinder 357.

Alsopivotally mounted at 358 in the frame of the apparatus are other arms 359. On the lower ends of-the arms is mounted a combined bundle supporting, paper folding and knife carrying palte 361. Pivotal-1y connected to a cross rod connecting the members 359 is the piston rod 362 of a fluid pressure cylinder 363. An elongated, serrated paper cutting knife 364 is mounted under the bottom of the plate 361. The serrations'on the knife 364 are matched by the serrations of the draw roller 35 1 so that when the draw roller moves rearwardly the paper is impaled.

When the last package of the bundle has moved upwardly it will be seen that due to the previous disposition of the strip of paper relative to the mechanism involved, the paper will have been placed over the uppermost package of the bundle, down the front side thereof and down the rear side thereof as shown in Fig. 22 with an end 366 hanging loosely down. Inward movement of plate 361 to the position shown in Fig. 23 serves to move the short end inwardly under the package. Substantially simultaneously with this

movement fingers

306 and 307 are withdrawn, leaving the entire bundle supported on the plate 361. Substantially simultaneously with the inward motion of the plate 361, a glue rod 367, controlled by a fluid pressure cylinder 36712, has dipped into a glue pot 368 and moves upwardly to lightly touch the under surface of the sheet of paper substantially at the draw roll when the latter is in the position of Fig. 22. This deposits a line of glue on the under side of the sheet. Therefore, when the parts assume the position of Fig. 23 the line of glue 369 appears substantially as shown in Fig. 23. The draw roller 351 moves from the position of Fig. 22 to the position of Fig. 23, drawing paper from the roll, passing in mesh with the serrated knife 364, and very heavily perforating the sheet across its entire width. Furthermore, and as shown in Fig. 24 this action places a considerable length of the wrapping sheet over the table 302, readying the same for the next operation.

Carried by the frame is a fluid pressure cylinder 37 1 which has a piston rod 372 carrying at its outer end a bundle discharge or pusher plate 373. At the proper time in the operation of the machine cylinder 371 receives fluid under pressure, pushing the entire bundle off the plate 361 onto a heated plate 374, thus pressing the line of glue 369 up onto the layer of paper just immediately above and sealing the package.

In order to assure that the package is firmly pressed against the hot plate 374 we provide a holddow-n plate 376 which is carried on the piston rod 377 of a constant pressure cylinder 378 mounted in suitable manner in the framework of the apparatus.

Just to the right, that is, rearwardly of the hot plate 374 is a series of bundle discharge rollers 379. Subsequent rightward movement as viewed in Fig. 17 of wrapped bundles pushes the wrapped bundles from the hot plate onto the rollers where they automatically are conveyed away by gravity.

Mounted on a vertical framework of the apparatus, in position for the switch arm 382 to be engaged by the holding finger 307 is a micro-switch 383. The micro-switch 383 is spring biased to closed position and is opened only when the arm 307 is resting on the support roller 317. Therefore, when a bundle of bags is moved upwardly by table 302, the inner end of the arm 307 is raised upwardly slightly as permitted by the pivotal connection 314. This permits switch 383 to close and this establishes a circuit to admit fluid to the

cylinders

321 and 322, withdrawing both of the

fingers

306 and 307 substantially simultaneously.

Control means and electrical circuits Referring to Fig. 8 of the drawing we show a shaft 386 driven by a gear 387 in mesh with the gear 388 on the shaft 144. The shaft 386 is the main switch cam shaft for controlling the sequence of operation of the fluid pressure cylinder operated portions of the apparatus. The cams may be mounted for angular adjustment on the shaft whereby the entire apparatus may be timed. As shown, there are a number of normally open switches in a bank 389, each switch of which has a switch arm 391 disposed to be engaged by cams 392 on the shaft 386 to close the switches at the proper time.

Cylinder 132 is under control of a four way, two solenoid actuated valve 393. The solenoids of the valve 393 are controlled by a pair of switches of the bank 389 through the circuits illustrated in Fig. 25. In like

manner cylinders

246, 289, 304, 321, 322, 363, 367a, 357 and 371 all are provided with four way, double solenoid valves which are indicated respectively by the

numerals

394, 396, 397, 393, 399, 401, 402, 403, 404 and 406. The solenoids of the control valves just mentioned likewise are under control of other switches in the bank 389 thereof as will clearly appear from the wiring diagram. Preferably, for safety, all of the solenoids are operated at low voltage from a transformer 407. Switch 83 of the overload drive mechanism is in circuit with the motor of the bag machine, not shown, through

lines

408 and 409. A manual switch 411 also is provided in that circuit.

The bank of switches 389 is the group of switches which controls the operation up to and including cylinder 304 and the inward movement of the

fingers

306 and 307. The cam closeable switches of the group indicated at 3891:, having arms 391 which are closed by the cams at the proper time, are ineffective to bring about operation of their respective mechanisms until the switch 412 indicated in Figs. 4 and 25 is closed. Switch 412 is adapted to be closed by a cam 413 on a shaft 414. The shaft 414 is rotated by means of a five step ratchet 416 and a pawl 417 coacting therewith and carried on the arm 312. Thus, on the fifth inward movement of the finger arm 312, switch 412 closes, readying the bank 38911 of switches for energizing the circuits connected thereto when the cams close the same.

Summary 0 operation of the control mechanism As soon as a predetermined number of bags have been withdrawn from the group compartments by the grippers in the manner already explained, one of the cam control switches of group 389 closes, energizing solenoid valve 393 in a direction to admit fluid to the proper end of cylinder 132 to move the gripper units to the package assembly station AS. After the groups are deposited on the assembly station AS, another switch of group 389 closes, energizing cylinder 246 through its valve 394, bringing the presser plate 242 down onto the package of bags to hold them. Another switch of group 389 closes, returning the grippers to the group assembly station. These operations are repeated at regular intervals, for instance, after the accumulation of each two groups of bags of fifty bags each. On return movement of the gripper units together with the plate 276 the pusher members 273 pivot downwardly and pass under the group of bags then being held down by the plate 242.

Immediately after the foregoing cam 263 permits the draw roll 256 to move upwardly and then, almost immediately, downwardly again. This impales the tape T on the knife 267 and also causes the adhesive pump to eject the drop of glue 270 on to the tape. The next rightward movement of the pusher members 273 as viewed in Figs. 17 to 21 causes the groups of bags to pass under the tape sealing mechanism, cutting the tape at the knife and sealing the tape by means of the heater member 288. This member is brought into contact with the tape at the proper time due to energization of solenoid 396 in response to closing the same switch of group 389 which effects energization of the cylinder 246 through it associated solenoid valve Just before the bags slide therebeneath, cylinder 289 is reversely activated by the closing of still another switch of group 389, raising the heated end member 238. Just before the grippers arrive at the station AS with another pair of groups of bags, plate 242 is raised by its cylinder 246. The foregoing operations are effective to deliver the banded packages, one at a time, onto the plate 302. Substantially as soon as they are placed on plate 302 another switch of group 389 closes, energizing solenoid valve 397 and admitting fluid under pressure to the bottom of cylinder 304.

Assuming that the group being delivered at the moment is the last, for instance the fifth, of a bundle, the

fingers

306 and 307 are in inward position. The upwardly moving package raises the fingers slightly, pivoting them about their pivot 'points, permitting switch 383 to close. This energizes the solenoid valves 399 and 461, admitting fluid to cylinders .321.and 32 2 to withdraw 'the fingers. Immediately after the table 302 reaches its uppermost position, still .another switch of group 389 closes, energizingzthe opposite side of

solenoids

399 and 401, moving 'the fingers inwardly, under the package then being supported by the table 302. This fifth inward movement of.arm .312 causes pawl-417 to rotate shaft 414, for the fifth :time, closing switch 412 which is spring loaded to- Ward open position. Closing of switch 414 readies for effective closing all of the switches of the group thereof indicated at 38%. The switches 389a are identical insofar as their construction is concerned with the individual switches of group 339. Immediately thereafter another switch of group 389 closes, energizing solenoid valve 397 to a position to ,admit fluid under pressure to the top of cylinder 304, lowering :the lift table 302.

The switches of bank 7389a control the several mechanisms of the bundle wrapping apparatus. The closing of the first switch of group 389a energizes solenoid 402, admitting fluid to cylinder 313 to move the bundle supportand knifeca-rr-ying plate :member .361 under the assembled bundle. This movement also folds the loose end of the wrapping paper under the :bundle and under the

fingers

306 and 307. Substantially simultaneously thissame switch energizes solenoid 403 and actuates the paste rod cylinder 367a applying a line of paste to the underside of the paper leading to the roll. The

fingers

306 and 307 are withdrawn by the closing of another switch of the group 389a. "The last mentioned switch of the ,group 389a also effects reverse energization of the paste rod cylinder, through its solenoid valve 403, returning the paste rod to the paste tank 368.

.After the foregoing operations another switch of group 389a closes, energizing the .solenoid 404 admitting fluid to thecylinder357 and moving the draw roll 351 from the position of Fig. 22 to the position of Fig. 23. This motion draws paper for the next succeeding bundle and impales the paper on the long knife 264. The draw roll is returned by the closing .of another switch of the group 389a.

.Following .the return ofthe draw roll 351, cylinder 371 is energized .by :its solenoid valve 406, as controlled by the closing .of another switch of group 339. Discharge of the bundle severs the impaled paper. Cylinder 371 is reversely actuated to return to the position shown in Figs. 21 and 22. Substantially simultaneously with the return of the p.usher plates.373 .the support member 361 is Withdrawn to the position of Fig. 22, thus completing a cycle.

The various electricalmechanisms are connected in the manner clearly shown in the wiring diagram, Fig. 25. It will be appreciated that by reason of having the five step ratchet actuated switch 412, the apparatus will not go through the wrapping cycle .unless five complete packages of bags have been delivered to form the bundle. Obvious' y, any .number other than five may be wrapped provided asuitable actuator for the switch is provided. It will also'be appreciated that due to the switches of the

groups

389 and 389a all being actuated by cams carried by common shaft, the timing of the apparatus is positive and accurate.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that we have devised an improved methodand apparatus for packaging paper bags and the like. In actual practice apparatus made in accordance with our invention has proved to be extremely satisfactory. It .is fully effective to take bags as they come froma .high speed, modern bag machine, and automatically gather, band and bundle the same and discharge the .bundles. Further, another important feature of our invention lies in the fact that the bags, after being placed in the packages, may be visually inspected by an operator picking the package up, fanning the bags forinspection, and placing the entire package back in the cycle. It will be obvious that if desired we might separate our improved apparatus into two sections, place an operator so-as'to manually receive the bags from the package wrapping operation and have the operator feed the bags manually into the press or bundle section. At all events, we h ave provided amethod and apparatus in which the .bags may be carried automatically from the bag machine through the bundle wrapping step if that is desired. Likewise, it will be seen that ourimproved apparatus may be used separately to form the bags into packages or, to take previously formed packages and form the same into bundles.

While we have shown our invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it 'is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and we desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. The process of packaging paper bags and the like comprising moving the bags in an initial downward direction with the bottoms thereof down, moving alternate ones of the bags laterallyof the initial direction of movement to form groups of bags, transferring the groups to a packageassembly station, assembling the groups at said package assembly station with the tops of the'bags of said groups overlapping, moving the assembled package from the assembly station, and securing a binding member about the assembled groups to hold the groups together.

2. The process as defined in claim 1 in which the assembled package is moved laterally parallel to the direction in which said groups travel when moving to the package assembly station.

3. The process defined in claim 1 which includes the further step of superimposing on .top of each other a plurality of said secured packages, and wrapping and securing a sheet of paper or the like about said plurality of superimposed packages to form a unitary bundle of packages.

4. The process of packaging paperbags and the like as they are delivered one at a time from a high speed bag machine which comprises delivering the bags in a continuous stream and bottom down in a downward direction between group assembly stations, directing the downwardly moving bags alternately to said group assembly stations to form groups (containing substantially equal numbers of bags, moving the groups substantially simultaneously in parallel horizontal directions of movement to a package assembly station, laying one of said groups on the group assembly station with the tops of the bags thereof facing the other group, laying the other group of bags on the first group with the bottoms overhanging the tops of the bags of the first group to form the assembled package, moving the package horizontally off the assembly station, placing a'securi-ng member about the package to hold it assembled, superimposing a plurality of said secured packages to form a bundle thereof, and placing a securing member about the bundle to hold it assembled.

5. The process defined in claim 4 in which the plurality of packages are superimposed by supporting the first one thereof above the general plane in which the packages move off the package assembly station, and adding other packages therebeneath by moving them upwardly under the said first package.

6. The process of assembling a plurality of packages of goods such as paper bags into a bundle comprising moving a first package horizontally onto a bundle assembly station, raising said first package upwardly, supporting the first package above th assembly station, moving a subsequent package horizontally onto the bundle assembly station :and thence upwardly under the first package, withdrawing the supporting means for the first package upon arrival of the subsequent package under the first one,

moving both packages upwardly, supporting the bundle by holding the bottom of the package at substantially the initial level at which the first package was supported, wrapping a securing member about the bundl while supporting the same, and moving the wrapped bundle laterally while holding the same in raised position.

7. The process of packaging and bundling paper bags and the like which comprises the steps of directing a stream of individual bags with the bottoms down in a downward direction, dividing the stream into approximately equal number of bags, assembling the divided stream into two groups with the bags in upright position, moving the groups substantially horizontally away from each other and then substantially simultaneously in horizontal parallel paths to a package assembly station, laying the groups on the package assembly station with the tops of the bags overlapping to form the package, moving the package substantially horizontally off the assembly station, wrapping a securing member about the package, and bundling a plurality of the secured packages.

8. In gripper mechanism for holding an article such as a group of paper bags and the like, a gripper arm supporting frame, means pivotally supporting the frame for movement in a vertical plane, group gripper arms pivoted at their ends to the frame with the free ends thereof movable toward each other to group gripping position, lock means effective when the arms are in substantially horizontal position to hold the arms in inward position about the group of bags, a trip for the lock means operable upon predetermined rotation of the frame about its pivotal support to disengage the lock means, and spring means yieldably holding the gripper frame against rotation sufficient to actuate the lock trip means.

9. Gripper mechanism as defined in claim 8 in com bination with means to close the arms about the gripper bags while the arms are substantially horizontally disposed about the group of bags, and other means to pivot the gripper frame and the arms to substantially vertical position against the force of said springs.

10. In mechanism for transferring a group of paper bags and the like from a group assembly station to a package assembly station which is laterally spaced from the group assembly station, an upwardly extending gripper mechanism supporting arm pivoted adjacent its lower end for movement in a generally vertical plane toward and from the group assembley and package assembly stations, means to move the pivotally mounted arm laterally from group pickup position adjacent the group assembly station to group discharge position adjacent the package assembly station, group gripper mechanism mounted adjacent the upper end of said .arm, means effective upon placement of the gripper mechanism about the group of bags at the group assembly station to secure the same in the gripper, and means elfective upon movement of the loaded gripper mechanism to the assembly station to discharge the group of bags from the gripper mechanlsm.

ll. Mechanism as defined in claim 10 in which the gripper mechanism is pivoted adjacent the upper end of the :arm for movement from a position with the bag engaging portion thereof substantially horizontal to position with the same substantially vertical, means to rock the supporting arm about its pivot to move the gripper mechanism over the group assembly and package assembly stations, and means effective upon said move ment of the gripper mechanism causing the same to assume substantially horizontal and substantially vertical positions at said group and package assembly stations, respectively.

12. In apparatus for packaging paper bags and the like, means operable to gather the bags into pairs of groups of substantially equal number, means to combine the groups to form a package, banding mechanism for securing the package, bundle forming mechanism comprising means to receive the banded packages from the banding mechanism, means to raise the packages upwardly one at a time to form a plurality of the same into the bundle, removable means engaging the lowermost package of the bundle thereby holding the entire bundle in raised position, and means effective upon placement of the last of a predetermined number of packages in the bundle to wrap about the bundle a sheet of paper or the like.

13. In apparatus for grouping, banding and bundling paper bags and the like, bag group assembly stations, means delivering the bags to said assembly stations thereby forming them into groups containing substan tially equal number of bags, group transfer mechanism effective to move the groups to a package assembly station, means associated with said transfer mechanism ef-' fective to lay the groups of bags on the package assembly station with the tops of the bags overlapping, means to secure the groups together while at the package assembly stations thereby to form a pack-age, means to move the package from the package assembly station to a bundle assembly station, means to secure the packages together while on the bundle assembly station, and means to discharge the secured bundle from the bundle assembly station.

14. In apparatus for banding packages of paper bags with tape or the like, means to pass the tape under the pack-age to be banded, an upwardly movable tape draw roll adjacent a side of the package, a tape knife on which the tape is impaled upon upward movement of the draw roll, means to deposit adhesive on the tape between the knife and the package being handed, means to withdraw the draw roll beneath the package, means to move the package over the draw roll and thereby sever the impaled tape, and a tape presser member engageable with the end of the tape carrying the adhesive to press it down into sealing position relative to the package.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which the tape presser member is heated.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 14 in which the draw roll and tape knife are complementarily serrated whereby upon upward movement of the draw roll the tape is scored as it is impaled on the knife, and in which the means to deposit the adhesive comprises an adhesive discharge tube disposed beneath the knife and close to the tape impaled thereon, and means to eject from the tube a quantity of adhesive while the tape is impaled on the knife.

17. In apparatus for wrapping a length of tape or the like about a package of paper bags and the like, a member on which the package is supported for sliding movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tape, a supply roll of said tape with the free end of the tape leading therefrom and passing under the package, a member movable upwardly adjacent the side of the package thereby to draw the tape upwardly and form an upstanding loop in the same, means to slide the package toward the loop, a hold down member for the package adjacent the side of the loop opposite the pack-age under which the package slides when moved, means to deposit adhesive on the looped portion of the tape, means to sever the tape above the package, and means to press the tape carrying adhesive down onto the package.

18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17 in which the upwardly movable draw member for the tape comprises a serrated roll, and a complementarily serrated knife with which the roll coacts on its upward movement to score the tape, said knife being positioned to score the tape along a line on the loop thereof located above the package of bags and below the top of the loop.

19. In apparatus for banding packages of paper bags and the like with tape and the like, a first hold down presser member for the package, a second hold down member spaced from the first one thereof, a reciprocable tape draw roll positioned for upward movement between the hold down members, means to feed the tape