US3022618A

US3022618A - Machine suitable for packaging and like functions

Info

Publication number: US3022618A
Application number: US852418A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris A Schwartz; Robert J Schaefer
Original assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Current assignee: Johnson and Johnson
Priority date: 1959-11-12
Filing date: 1959-11-12
Publication date: 1962-02-27
Anticipated expiration: 1979-02-27
Also published as: GB902834A

Description

Feb. 27, 1962 M, SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 1S Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS.

BY foaierJ JCAMFEA ATTORNEY.

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12. 1959 Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL l3 Sheets-Sheet 2 wwm INVENTORS: Moe/a5 A. Sam 114 742 PddE/PT J jcfl mei W 1/ W ji saw Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORSZ Mae/5 4. Scfl/merz @5597 JfCA AEFEH ATTOR EY.

Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ EI'AL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 SheetsSheet 4 Fb. 27: 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ mm. 3,

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12. 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 5. 74 Tia Zahara ATTORNEYI Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed NOV. 12. 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Tuzl El.

Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,613

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

' MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 Tlcl 5.

Abe/W5 E /35pm flaairr (25am 56k ATTOR Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed NOV. 12. 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORS; Maze/s A. SCI/Hafiz s2r J Gel/maze ATT RNEY Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed NOV. 12, 1959 15 Sheets-Sheet 11 Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Tia-zil- THC LL A ORNEYI Feb. 27, 1962 M. A. SCHWARTZ ETAL 3,022,618

MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING AND LIKE FUNCTIONS Filed Nov. 12, 1959 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 C H 7 m WM E 2 m. w w .5 w v fl an H T In m 5 fi Z i H M 3,022,618 MACHINE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING ANDl LIKE FUNCTIONS Morris A'- Schwartz. North Plainfield, and Robert J.

Schaefer, Plainfietd, N.J., assignors to Johnson & Johnson, a corporation of New Jersey Filed Nov. 12, 1959, Ser. No. 852,418 13 Claims. (Ci. 53-59) This invention relates to a machine having a reciprocable carriage for the performance of a function on continuous strip material and in which the strip is advanced under the control of the carriage but positioned for advance by the carriage independently thereof. A specific embodiment of the invention contemplates automatically forming packages and encasing articles therein simulindicia which may be seen by an electronic eye and which are located along the sheet at intervals having a given relationship with the location of the adhesive to be activated.

The sheet material with the articles sandwiched therebetween pass between overlying and underlying sections of a reciprocating carriage in which an adhesive activating die is carried and thence between overlying and underlying pairs of feed rolls which cooperate to 'feed the package unit through the machine. The feed rolls advance the package unit at precisely the same speed as the carriage advances. During the advance stroke of the carriage, an adhesive activating die carried thereby descends toward a platen to sandwich the package unit between them. The upper and lower web sections of the package unit are thereby sealed together as the carriage travels along at precisely the speed of the traveling package units as determined by the feed rolls. 1 The press opens near the end of the advance stroke of the carriage and the activating die ascends, but the package unit, now sealed together, continues until the electronic eye, which has a fixed position, sees indicia on the next package unit that passes it. When the indicia is seen, the electronic device operates to effect disengagement of a clutch through which the feed rolls are driven and to apply a brake which arrests them. This stops the sealed package unit in a precise position for severance, by an automaticallyoperating knife, from the continuous series of connected package units of which it has, until then, formed a part. The carriage returns at a faster speed than it advances.

Operation of the electronic device also precisely positions for engagement by theadhesive activating die upon 3,922,613 Patented Feb. 27, 19 62 "ice result that package uniformity for all practical purposes is equivalent to printing uniformity.

As shown in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view, in side elevation, illustrating a machine incorporating the present improve-,

ments;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view in plan of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating different phases of operation of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a machine incorporating the present improvements;

FIG. 6 is a detail view illustrating the construction of v a connecting link used in the improved machine;

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 10 is a side view partially in section of the reciprocating carriage;

FIG. 11 is a partial plan of the carriage shown in FIG. 10'

, FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view through the recip rocating carriage on line 12-12 of FIG. 10, the upper die carrying portion being shown in upper position;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plurality of package units before separation into individual units, one unit being partially bro-ken away to illustrate its construction;

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view through the reciprocating carriage similar to FIG. 12 but with some of the parts omitted and with the upper die carrying portion shown in its lower position;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal sectional view on line 15--15 of FIG. 14; FIG. 16 is a left side elevation of a portion of the machine near the front thereof; FIG. 17 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 17-47 of FIG. 16; i I FIG. 18 is a top plan view, partially in section, of some of the parts shown in FIG. 16; FIG. 19 is a front elevation of the partsof the machine shown in FIG. 16, some of the partsbeing in section and some broken away to show operating mechanism; FIG. 20 is a left side elevation of the knife devices for severing the package units, some parts being broken away and some being in section to illustrate operating mechanism;

the next advance stroke of the carriage, a package unit;

' 7 consisting of predetermined portions of the opposed layers of Web material with the object to be packaged'in its proper position therebetween. Specifically the package units themselves as distinguished. from the machinedetermine when the machine acts upon the packages with the No'rn Ihe reference package unit contemplates the material to be enclosed in a single package and the top and bottom web sections allocatedto the single package whether or not-the adhesive has been activated to complete the 'package. I

FIG. 21 is a transversehorizontal sectional view on line 21--21 of FIGLZO;

FIG. 22 is a transverse horizontal sectional view through a slide and its associated parts on which the severing knife is carried;

FIG. 23 is a longitudinalverticalsectional view through a portion *ofthe knife and the carrying devices on which .it is mounted; and

theenclosed unit and sealed all aroundthe edges with a suitable adhesive 13 to make the package unit air tight. Such a package unit is shown in FIG- 13,-after sealing 3 but before severance from the other units with which it is made.

The gauze pads are delivered from a suitable source one at a'time onto a continuous web of paper 12 whose width is the desired width of the package unit (FIGS. 1 and 2). The pad is deposited on the paper web at the rear of the machine from whence the web travels horizontally in a forward direction. The web is drawn from from an underlying stock supply roll 15 rotatably supported on a transversely disposed horizontal mandrel 16 and from which the web passes downwardly around a series of transversely disposed horizontal guide rolls 17, 18, 19 and 20, and then up over a single transversely disposed guide roll 21 rotatably supported at the tail end of the machine and from which the web pursues its horizontal path toward thefront end of the machine. The mandrel 16 and the guide rolls 17-'21 may be supported by a side frame member of the machine.

The objects 10 to be wrapped, in this instance the gauze pads, are deposited on the moving paper web 12 periodically and at regularly spaced intervals. As will be made plain hereinafter, in the embodiment of the invention herein described, the paper web is advanced intermittently. Just before the end of each advance movement of the web a pad engages an indexing finger 22 which bars its way (FIGS. 1 and 8). The indexing finger as the advance movement is completed adjusts the position of the pad with respect to the underlying paper web such that it is centrally located and properly positioned with respect to a portion of the web that ultimately becomes the bottom element of an independent package unit in which the pad is enclosed.

The indexing finger 22 is raised to permit advance movement of a previously poistioned pad 10 and lowered to its pad positioning location periodically once during each cycle of operation of the machine (FIGS. 5 and 8). To this end the finger is fixed near the top of a vertical arm 23 whose lower end is fixed on a transverse rock shaft 24 journa led in the machine frame. The arm, also near its top, ispivo'tally connected at one end of a link 25 whose other end is also pivotally connected near the top of an upwardly extending arm of abell crank lever 26. The bell crank lever is pivoted in the machine side frame and has another arm 27 which extends rearwardly to permit a cam follower 28 carried at its end to track along an edge cam 29 fixed on a transverse shaft 30 chain driven from a second transverse shaft 31 spaced somewhat to the front thereof and which is geared for operation from the main drive shaft 32 of the machine. During each machine cycle the finger 22 is raised once as the cam follower 28 tracks along a highportion of the edge cam 29 and lowered when the cam follower tracks along a low portion of the edge cam. The cam follower is constrained to track along the edge of the cam by a spring 33 encircling the link 25 interconnecting the bell crank lever 26 and the upright arm 23 on which the pad positioning finger 22 is mounted. The spring 33 reacts between a collar 34 on the link and an abutment 35 fixed on the machine frame. The arrangement is such that the spring 33 is compressed when the cam follower 28 rides high on the cam to raise the pad positioning finger 22 and allow the previously positioned pad to pass therebeneath and expands to insure return of the finger intothe path of the next oncoming pad as the follower rides low on the cam.

Asshown inFlGS. 1 and 8, a pad 10, after it has passed beneath the pad positioning finger, is overlaid in a subsequent cycle of'the machine by 'a web of paper ll which lower web 12 and then the three elements as a sandwich feeds from a stock supply roll 37 rotatably arranged (i.e., both webs with intermediate gauze pad) pass between a photoelectric eye 40 and an activating light source 41 therefor (shown only in circuit diagram FIG. 24) supported in fixed positions one above and the other below the path of the sandwich and in position such that a light beam from the source to the eye is intercepted by indicia 42 preferably located on the top surface of the overlying paper web near the edge thereof and at periodic intervals along the web as determined by the desired length of paper required to encase the gauze pad. When the electric eye see the indicia on the paper web, mechanism ope'rates to arrest the advance movement of the sandwich in manner and for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

The upper sheet 11 is provided on its under surface with an adhesive 13 having a given positional relationship with the indicia on the top surface thereof. When the advance movement of the sandwich is arrested a given portion of the upper sheet will be so located with respect to the pad and to a device for activating the adhesive that the de-' vice upon operation seals the top web of paper to the bottom web of paper all around the peripheral edge of the pad. Registry of the pad with the appropriate section of paper web from the upper roll is obtained by so positioning the pad locating finger 22 with respect to the photoelectric cell 40 that when the pad has been located by the finger and the finger raised to permit the pads advance with the underlying sheet, its position is such as subsequently to register with the appropriate portion of the upper web which is designed to form the top element of thepackage unit in which the pad will be contained.

From the photoelectric cell the sandwich or series of package units threads forwardly between an overlying member 43 and an underlying bed frame member 44 carried by a carriage 45 arranged for reciprocation in a fore and aft direction (FIGS. 1, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 15). In the embodiment of the invention described, the adhesive used is heat activated and these members accordingly constitute a heat sealing 'die mechanism which acts to activate the adhesive and seal the packgae on the advance stroke of the carriage.

The carriage 45 is supported for reciprocating 'rnovement in a fore and aft direction on horizontal and parallel guide rails 47 fixed one at the top of each of the lateral side frame members of the machine. The guide rails 47 present recesses 48 throughout their length and in their opposed inner faces to accommodate rollers 49 with which the carriage is equipped, to facilitate its'tra vel. There are four such rollers and they are arranged one pair at each side of the carriage,'one roller of each pair near the front and the other near the rear of the carriage. The rollers are rotatably supported on axles projecting laterally from the carriage bed frame and they ride on underlying supporting surfaces presented by the recesses as the carriage moves back and forth. The carriage is held against inadvertent movement upwardly off their rails by overlying portions of the guide rail members that define the tops of the recesses'in which the rollers travel. To prevent side play in its fore and aft movement, the carriage is providedwith lugs 50 fixed on the carriage bed plate at the right, one near the front'and one near therear thereof and which. support each a pair of antifriction rollers 51 on vertical a'xes (FIGS. 10, 11 and 12). The rollers extend downwardly into a fore, and aft groove "52 of slightly greater. width than the diameter of the rollers and recessed into thetop face of the guide railat the right side of the machine. The rollers of each pair are ol'fset'slightly from each other in a lateral direction by an'amount suificient to permit one to engageone-lateral face of the fore and 'aft grooveand the other the opposite face of said groove. 'The carriageis-thus constrained against all lateral movement as it reciprocates forf and aft in the machine;

As the carriage reciprocat'e's in 'aifore and aft direction, for sake of efiiciency its rearwardmovement which is an idle movement is about twice as fast as its active advance movement when heat sealing of the package unit takes placen Reciprocation of the carriage is accomplished by a Whitworth mechanism 53 such as is illustrated in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9. The Whitworth mechanism is located at the rear of the carriage where it is supported by a relatively heavy bracket 54 fixed both to the base and to the side frame members of the machine. It includes a relatively heavy arm 55 pivotally supported near its lower end for rocking movement in a fore and aft direction. Support is from a relatively heavy transverse stub shaft bearing 56 fixed on an upright member 57 of the supporting bracket. The rocker arm is connected at its upper end to the carriage so that its rocking movement effects the fore and aft movement of the carriage. This connection includes a link 58 secured at its rear end to the rocker arm 55 by suitable pivotal connection and at its other end to the carriage by a pin 59 extending transversely through registering holes in a bifurcated lug 60 integral with and extending rearwardly from the bed plate 46 of the carriage and through a hole in the link which at this point is disposed intermediate the bifurcations of the lug. For suitably adjusting the position of the carriage with reference to the rocker arm, the connecting link may be made in three sections, an intermediate section or rod 61 which extends into holes drilled into inner opposed ends of end sections and which may be held in a desired position of adjustment with respect to the

end sections

62, 63 by screws 64 threaded through the walls of the end sections and into holding engagement with the rod. For suitably adjusting the stroke of the carriage, radial adjustment along the rocker arm may be made in the position of its connection with the rear end of the link that imparts its fore and aft movement to the carriage.

The Whitworth mechanism operates at a given speed in one direction and at a relatively slower speed in the reverse direction. In this instance the slower speed is on the advance stroke of the carriage i.e., the stroke during which the package sealing operation takes place and the designof the mechanism is such that adequate time is given to allow this operation. The return stroke is an idle one and accordingly this is made the fast stroke to avoid machine time waste. The slow advance and quick return stroke of the carriage is accomplished by driving the rocker arm 55 of the Whitworth mechanism through an eccentric which includes a disc 65 fixed on a transverse stub shaft 66 suitably journaled in the bracket 54 which supports the Whitworth mechanism and which incidentally is drivenfrorn the main drive shaft 32 of the machine. The disc is located adjacent the rocker arm in a plane which is parallel to the plane of movement of the latter.= The discnear its periphery and eccentrically of its axis carries a roller 67 which projects into a block 68 slidably disposed in a radially extending groove 68 presented by the rocker arm 65. The roller 67 is arranged for rotation in the sliding block 68 and the block is arranged for sliding movement in the groove of the rocker arm 55 with the result that when the disc rotates in a counterclockwise direction looking at the parts from the right of the machine as viewed in FIG. 8, the arm 65 rocks in a fore and aft direction. The arrangement of .sliding block 58 and eccentric roller 67 is such that the moves is greater on the advance stroke of the rocker arm than it ison the return movement of the rocker arm and since the roller revolves around the axis of the disc 65 which carries it at a constant speed, the advance movement of the rocker arm and consequently the advancemovement of the carriage is slower than the return movement of these parts. Rotation of the stub shaft which effects operation of the Whitworth mechanism may be from the main shaft 32 through suitable intermeshing gears 70, 71.

To smooth out the operation of the parts and, in a certain sense, counterbalance the forces involved in the reciprocation of relatively heavy parts, provision is made for a fiy wheel 72 mounted on a short transverse shaft 73 journaled at its inner end in the side frame of the machine and near its other end, inwardly of the flywheel, in a rigid support parallel with the side frame of the machine. Between the two bearings there is a pinion 74 fixed on the flywheel shaft 73 and which meshes with the gear 71 fixed on the stub shaft 66 of the machine.

The bed plate 45 of the reciprocating carriage is reinforced beneath by a spider frame 75 with four legs, 76, 77, 78 and 79, two, the

legs

76 and 77 being centrally aligned and spaced in a fore and aft direction, one at the front and the other at the rear of the carriage and two, the legs 78 and '79 being centrally aligned and spaced laterally, one at each side of the carriage (FIGS. 8, 10, 12, 14 and 15). Bolts 80 which pass upwardly through vertical holes drilled in the spiders legs are threaded into rather elongated overlying and registering bosses 81 which depend from and are integral with the carriage bed plate at the underside thereof. In this way the spider is secured to the bed plate so as in efiect to be an integral part of it.

A vertical web section 82 with heavy integral reinforcing top rib 83 connects each of the spider legs with a central post 84 of large diameter bored to accommodate a bushing 85 in which a relatively large cylindrical pistonlike member 86 is slidably arranged for vertical movement. The slidable piston 86 is formed integrally with a heavy horizontal plate 87 likewise of spider shape with reinforcing vertical ribs 38 interconnecting its diametrically opposed end portions 89 with a centrally located boss. This-spider plate 87 overlies the spider depending from the bed plate and is held against rotation during its vertical movement by a pair of guidepins vertically disposed one on each side of the piston and anchored at its lower end in the underlying spider frame. Sleeve bushings 91 fixed in the overlying spider plate accommodate the upper ends of the guide pins to facilitate their guiding function without interfering with the up and down movement of the spider plate.

At each of the four diametrically opposed ends of the overlying spider plate a vertical elongated stud 92 fixed therein extends upwardly with adequate clearance through an overlying hole 93 located one at each corner of the carriage bed plate 44. These studs are reduced in diameter near their upper ends to present shoulders for the support of the horizontally disposed rectangular heating plate 43 which is formed at its four corners with holes large enough to accommodate the reduced diameters of the studs but small enough to permit the plate to rest upon the supporting shoulders. The horizontal plate 43 is held in position tightly on the studs M.

The heating plate is arranged to house a series of electric heating elements 94 and to its under side there is secured a heating die 95 whose lower face is recessed to accommodate the volumetric displacement of the contents of the package within the confines of an unrecessed edge portion which effects the heat sealing operation.

The carriage bed plate 44 is also equipped at the top with a die 96 which cooperates in sealing the package. This die is in the form of a frame having a shortdepending peripheral flange whose inner edge is beveled 'to accommodate a correspondingly beveled seat formed on a raised portion of the bed plate. The frame has a recess 97 at its center to accommodatea still further raised portion of the bed plate. The top surface of the die,

compassedwithin the frame. A substantial marginal portion of the top surface of the frame or die, all around the recess nevertheless underlies the peripheral portion of the upper die 95 which effects the sealing operation so as to furnish a buttress for it. The upper die 95, however, does not cooperate directly with the top surface of the frame but rather through a sheet of resilient material 98' such as rubber which rests upon the frame and yields into the recess of the frame to give even sealing all around and to accommodate the displacement necessary for the contents of the package.

Sealing of the package units is affected during the advance movement of the carriage. Thus, immediately after the carriage starts its advance stroke, its top heating unit 94 descends to the package sealing position through a downward sliding movement of the spider frame 87 that supports it. The movement of the spider frame is accomplished by operation of a parallel motion linkage comprising a horizontal guide member 99 extending in a fore and aft direction and presenting a guide track 100 at one side thereof which receives a roller 101 rotatably mounted. on a transverse pin fixed at the lower end of the piston 86 on which the spider frame is carried (FIGS. 8, 10, 12 and 15). The roller tracks along the guide member as. the carriage travels in its fore and aft direction and, when the guide member is raised, the carriage moves withits heat sealing plate in an upper inactive position whereas when the guide member is lowered, the carriage moves with its heat sealing plate in its lower active position in which the heat sealing operation takes place.

The guide member 99 of the parallel motion linkage, is pivotally mounted near the upper ends of a pair of parallel moving

arms

102, 103 spaced in a fore and aft direction (FIG. 8). The front arm 102 is pivotally mounted at its lower end on a bracket 104 fixed to the base of the machine. The rear arm 103 constitutes the upwardly extending portion of a bell crank lever likewise pivoted ona bracket 105 fixed to the base of the machine but which has a depending arm 106 pivotally connected at its lower end with a link 107 that extends rearwardly to a pivot connection at the lower end of a vertical lever 108. vThe vertical lever 108 is pivotally supported at its upper end for swinging movement in a fore and aft direction, in a bracket 109 fixed on the side frame of the machine. The lever mounts a cam follower 110 approximately at the mid-point which is pressed against an edge cam 111 fixed on the shaft 31.

The cam follower 110 is pressed against the cam edge 111 by a spring 112 which reacts between the front edge of the vertical lever 108 and a buttress 113 presented by an enlarged flangelike portion of a stud 114 threaded into a block 115 fixed to the side frame of the machine. Rotation of the stud in one direction or another acts appropriately to adjust the compressional force with which the springpresses against the lever. 7,

According to the arrangement just described, just after the carriage starts its forward stroke, a high portion of the cam 111 engages the cam follower 110 to swing the lever forwardly. T his motion of the lever through the interconnecting linkage described turns the

arms

102, 103 in a clockwise direction looking at the machine from the right to swing the guide member 99 downwardly.

the carriage. When the heat sealing unit is raised clear of the package units, no interference will be presented to any relative movement which might otherwise take place between the package units and the carriage.

Although theheat sealing unit 43 is lowered to scaling position by the parallel motion guide member 99 just described, the actual sealing pressure on the heat sealing die is exerted'pneumatically (FIGS. 8, 10, 12 and 14). To this end the bed plate 44 of the carriage is recessed in its under side to form a chamber 116 of substantial size closed off pressure tight at the bottom with a flexible diaphragm 117 which is retained in place around its peripheral edge by a metal ring 118 secured through the diaphragm near the edge thereof to the carriage bed plate around the marginal edges of the chamber. Intermediate rigid plates 119 above and below the diaphram form a unit which will transmit forces exerted on the diaphram by pneumatic pressure. The unit in turn issuitably fixed to the vertically moving spider 87 whose position determines the position of the heat sealing die 95.

The pressure chamber 116 is connected by a passageway 120 formed in the bed plate and by a flexible connection 121 to accommodate the movement of the carriage, with a valve 122 mounted on the base of the machine at the underside thereof and which has two positions, one to connect the pressure chamber with a source of air pressure and the other toexhaust the pressure chamber to the atmosphere. A stem 123 passing through this valve is encircled at its front end by a valve spring .124- which reacts between the valve casing and a flange 125 on the stern normally to bias the valve to a position of adjustment in which the pressure chamber 116 is connected to a source of air pressure not shown. This stem at its rear end is connected through a link 126 to the depending arm of a bell cranklever pivotally mounted near its center for rocking movement in a fore and aft direction and whose upwardly extending arm 128 is equipped at the top with a cam follower 129 which tracks along the edge of a cam 130 fixed on the main cam shaft of the machine. The cam follower is held against the cam by the valve spring 124.

Close following the downward movement of the top heat sealing section of the carriage to close the die, i.e., from the position shown in FIG. 12to the position shown in FIG. 14,.the cam follower 129 which normally rests on a high portion of the cam 130 to hold the valve against the reaction of its spring 125 in a position exhausting the pressure chamber 116 on the atmosphere, yields as a low portion of the edge cam engages it, thereby to permit the bell cranklever to swing in a clockwisedirection under the influence of the valve stem spring. The valve thus connects a source ofair pressure; not shown, with the high pressure air chamber 116 in the carriage. The

The heating die is thereby moved to its closed position the parallel motion linkage arrives opposite the roller. 110 mounted on the vertical lever 108 therebypermitting thelever to swing rearwardly under the. reaction .of the compression spring, 112 engaging its front edge. This air pressure acting'on the diaphram 117 tranmits a substantial downward force to the spider which carries the the valve control cam 130 arrives opposite its cam follower 129 to swing the bell crank lever on which it is 'mounted against the influence of thevalve stem spring 125. The valve thus is adjusted to exhaust the pressure chamber in. the carriage to the atmosphere; This timing of air pressure release is important in order thatthe parallel motion linkage which raises the heating plate to its upper position just prior to the end of the advance movement of the vertical lever 108 swings the'arms 102', 1

-10.1fm a counterclockwise direction to. raise the guide movement of the carriage; does'not have to act in op position to the effect of a high pressure in the pressure chamber. I

it will be apparent from speed asrthecar riage travels during its forwardmovement.

7 "what has been said thatthe. package units advance. through the machine at the same '9 This advance, however, is not because the package units are engaged by the heat sealing die during the advance of the carriage but rather because two sets of feed rolls 131 located near the front of the machine in advance of the carriage serve to pull the package units through the machine at the same speed as the carriage even though such speed is not a constant speed (FIGS. 1, 6, 8, 16, 17,18 and 19).

The two sets of feed rolls are spaced apart laterally so as to engage the package units at their marginal edges. One roll 132 of each set underlies the package unit whereas the other roll 133 of each set overlies the package unit. The underlying rolls are positively driven and are the drive rolls. The overlying rolls are idler rolls and their function is to press the edges of the package units down upon the driven rolls with pressure sufficient to ensure that the package units will maintain the same speed of travel as the peripheral speed of the underlying drive roll. The overlying rolls 133 to perform their function are splined at the appropriate lateral spacing to a transverse shaft 134 whose opposite ends are journaled in arms 135 extending in a fore and aft direction and pivotally mounted at their rear ends on fixed side frame members of the machine. The pivotally mounted arms 135 are yoked together at their front ends by a transverse bar 136 through which the overlying rolls are pressed downwardly toward the underlying rolls by a vertical disposed compression spring 137 whose lower end seats in a recess 138 formed in the top surface of the transverse yoke bar and whose upper end reacts against the underside of a fixed cross frame member 139 of the machine. The spring 137 is held in its vertical position by encircling a stud 140 fixed in and which extends down from the cross frame member.

In order to facilitate threading the package units through the machine when starting up, provision is made for lifting the upper rolls 133 off the lower rolls 132 against the reaction of the spring 137 to which reference has just been made. This lifting device comprises a transverse rod 141 which, near its opposite ends, passes through slots 142 formed in the pivoted arms 135 and which are somewhat elongated in a fore and aft direction. Movement of the rod 141 in a lateral direction is prevented by the engagement of a pair of shoulders presented by enlarged portions 143 of the rod with the inner opposed faces of the pivoted arms. The rod 141 is disposed eccentrically of a pair of discs 144 fixed one at each end of the rod just outside the outermost faces of the pivoted arms 135.

The excentricity of the rod is the same with respect to both discs which are journaled in fixed side frame mem bers of the machine. A handle 145 fixed on and which extends upwardly from the transverse rod permits its rotation and when this occurs it moves along the slots 142' in the arms causing them to pivot upwardly against the reaction of the spring 137 which bears upon the yoke and lift the overlying wheels 133 away from the underlying wheels 132. Rotation of the arm in the opposite direction permits return of the yoked arms to their normal position under the influence of the spring 137 in which the overlying rolls will'hold the package units which have been threaded through the machine in contact with the underlying rolls.

The underlying drive rolls 132 are likewise splined to a transverse shaft 146 which is journaled at its opposite ends in side frame members of the machine. This shaft is driven from another transverse shaft 147 mounted somewhat lower down and which likewise has bearings near its endin the side frame members ofthe machine. The drive is through

intermeshinggears

148 and 149 of the same size fixed on the respective shafts. The lower shaft 147 in turn is driven through a rack 150 and pinion 151 from the reciprocating carriage 45. The rack 150 extends in a fore and aft direction and is fixed at its rear end to the carriageh It reciprocates in a fore and aft direction with the carriage and during its movementjit is sup- 75,

ported near its front end by an underlying rollerl52 rotatably arranged on a bracket 152a fixed to the machine side frame. A clutch 153 described in greater detail later on enables a driving connection to be established between the pinion 151 driven by the rack and the shaft 147 on which the pinion is mounted, and to be disestablished so that the pinion is free to rotate with respect to such shaft. With this arrangement, when a connection is established between the pinion 151 and the shaft 147 during the advance movement of the carriage, the shaft rotates in a clockwise direction looking at the parts from the right, and the shaft 146 on which the feed rolls are mounted rotates in a counterclockwise direction to advance the package units through the machine.

The clutch 153 for establishing and disestablishing connection between the pinion 151 and the shaft 147 on which it is mounted is illustrated in detail in FIG. 17. The pinion 151 is splined to a bushing 154 which encircles the shaft for relative rotation therewith. Also splined to the bushing for rotation with the pinion is a rotor 155 of an electric clutch. The clutch further includes a field coil 156 confined in a housing 157 which is anchored against turning to a fixed part of the machine and from which magnetic flux will flow when the field coil is energized. Likewise encircling the shaft 147 and arrange for facewise engagement with the rotor 155 is an armature 158 which is splined to the shaft for rotation therewith. With this arrangement, the establishment of an electrical circuit through the field coil locks the armature to the rotor and the shaft on which the armature is fixed accordingly rotates along with the pinion as it is rack driven from the carriage. And when the electrical circuit through the field coil of theclutch is disestablished the armature is unlocked from the rotor whose rotation under the influence ofcarriage movement then has no effect upon the shaft through which the feed rolls are driven.

Provision is made in the form of a brake 159 to insure immediate arrest in the rotation of the shaft 147 when the clutch 155 is disengaged to eliminate the effect that inertia of the parts might otherwise have on the ability of the feed rolls to arrest the advance movement of the package units in a precise position. With one exception the brake may be a device identical with the clutch. The brake illustrated has a field coil 160 in a 'clutch is energized the field coil of the brake is deenergized and under these circumstances the shaft with the armature thereon is free to rotate without interference. However, when the field coil of the clutch is deenergized,

. the field coil of the brakeis energized and its armature 162 immdiately locked to the stationary part 163 of the brake. Further rotation of the shaft thereby is prevented.

Aclutch and a brake unit suitable for the purpose herein described are sold by Warner Electric Brake & Clutch Company of Beloit, Wisconsin and are illustrated in its catalogue.

It is believed now that. there has been a sufficient description of the parts to make clear the timing of the various operations that occur during a machine cycle.

Assume that the carriage 45 is in its rearmost position ready to start its advance stroke (FIGS. 1 and 3). From the previous cycle a package unit A to be sealed has been properly lcgcated for sealing relative to the member 43 carrying the heat sealing die 95. The clutch 153 is energized and the package units advanced by the feed rolls 13 2, 133 at precisely the speed of the carriage, sothat precise registry with the heat sealing die.

The heat sealing die seals the package unit during the advance stroke of the carriage and then is raised to inactive position prior to the end of the advance stroke and in advance also of the time that the nextpackage unit indicia 42 intercepts the beam which controls the photoelectric 'circuit. As the light beam is thus intercepted the electric clutch 153 is tie-energized to disconnect the feed roll drive shaft 147 from the pinion1-51 that rotates it and simultaneously therewith the brake 159 on the feed roll drive shaft is energized thereby to prevent any further advance feed of the package units. The package units are held in this position until the next cycle of operation of the machine and in this position the next package unit to be sealedis precisely located for proper registration with the heat sealing die upon the next advance stroke of the carriage. After forward movement of the package units has been arrested, the carriage completes its advance stroke and then returns ready for the next 'cycle of operation of the machine (FIG. 4.). As the carriage completes its return stroke a limit switch 235 appropriately located on a fixed part 'of the machine is actuated in well-known manner to reset the photoelectric cell circuit, re-energize the clutch and de-energize the brake. v

The machine also contemplates mechanism for severing the sealed package units one from another at a precise line of severence which likewise is determined by arrest of the advance movement of the package units in the manner previously described (FIGS. 5, 7, 8, 20 to 23 inch). The package unit severing device is located in advance of the feed rolls 132, 133- and is supported in part by two spaced and vertically disposed rectangular plates 165 located at the front of the machine where they are fixed to the side frame members of the machine at the from: edges thereof. As the package units feed forward beyond the -feed rolls they pass between two horizontally-disposed .

g'uide plates

166, 167 spaced apart in a vertical direction to'accommodate the thickness of the package. The lower plate 166 is fixedat the top of a horizontal transverse tie bar 168 whose opposite ends are fastened to the supporting plates 165 of the package severing mechanism.

The upper plate 167 isfixed at the lower end of a pair of rods16 9 which extend up vertically through the fixed cross strut 139 which interconnects the supporting plate 165. The rods 169' are yoked together at the top bya handle 170 that facilitates raising and lowering the guide plate 167 when it is desired to thread the package'units through the 'rna ehin'e manually when starting up. On

leaving the

guide plates

166, 167 the package units thread between t-ransverselydisp'osed vertically spaced underlying and overlying shear blades 171, 17-2.- The underlying blade 171 is fixed to the'transverse frame member 168 but the upper blade is movable downwardly from its nor- 'mal position to per'fo'r'rnthe shearing operation which 'severs the 'package units; During the advance movement of the carriage a previously sealed package unit is fed between the knife blades and when the'adva'nce movement is arrested in manner previously described, the precise line on which severance is to take place will be in registry with the knife blades. The severing operation takes'place during the return stroke of the carriage when the package units are otherwise at rest.

'As previously stated, the overlying knife blade 172 is moved downwardly to effect the severing operation. For

this purpose the blade is carried in a transversely disposed v 12 transverse shaft 174 is fixed at its opposite ends in lugs 176 described below. The pivotal movement of the blade supporting plate permits a degree of fore and aft relative adjustment of the upper knife blade with respect to the lower knife blade. This position of adjustment is determined by an adjustable screw 177 which is threaded in a fore and aft direction through a block 178 fixed 'to one of the supporting lugs 176 adjacent its inner side. The knife blade 172 in its active position rests with its rear face against the front end of the adjustable screw 177 in which position it is held by a pair of torsion springs 179 encircling the supporting rod and located one near each end thereof. Each spring has one end anchored in a collar 180 fixed on the rod and its other end pressing downwardly against the pivoted member 173 supporting the knife. i e

The lugs 176 in which the transverse supporting rod 174 is mounted are fixed to a relatively large transverse plate 181 guided for vertical movement at its opposite lateral edges by the fixed front plates 165. To facilitate at the bottom of the adjacent guide plate 165. The rods extend upwardly into registering overlying holes 187 recessed into the lower edge of the slide. The holes are sufiiciently deep "to accommodate the fullrange of movement of the slidein a vertical direction. The springs184 react between the lugs 186 that support the rods and the lower edge of the slide. The groove accommodating the tongue at one edge of the slide actually is formed in an insert 189 recessed into one of the front plates 165 (FIG. 22). Thisinsert which isba'cked up'by'adjustable screw devices 190 provides an adjustment for regulating the ease with which the plate 181 is permitted to slide up and down. I 1

At the appropriate time in the'machine cycle, the slide 181 is pulled down against the reaction of the springs 184 to effect the severing operation and then returned to its normal topmost position by the springs 184. For this purpose a rod 191 pivotally linked at its upper end to a bifurcated lug 192 fixed on the slide 181 centrally of its lower edge and is pivoted at its lower end to an arm 193 which extends rearwardly for rocking support one trans verse rod 194 fixed at its opposite ends in the side frame members of the machine. v'ided about midway of its length with an anti-friction roller 195 which tracks along an edge cam 196 fixed on a transverse shaft 197 journaled for rotation near its opposite ends in the machine frame. The transverse shaft is rotated througha chain connection 198 with the main drive shaft 32 of the machine once during each machine .cycle of operation. The roller195 is biased to track along the edgecam 196 by the springs 184 which hold the vertical knife slide in its uppermost position, but at the appropriate time during the machine cycle a high portion of the cam 196 engages the roller 195 to force the I knife slide 181 down to effe'otfthe severing operation and, of course, as' the camcompletes' its rotation, arrival of the low portion thereof opposite the antifriction roller permits restoration of the knife slide to its uppermost position under'theinfiuence of ,said springs. 'There'remain now to :be described certain safety devices which .o'perateto lift 'the lieatin'g die to its inactive position inthe event the machine isa'rrested at a phase of the machine cycle'in which the heat die normally occupies its lower active position; The safety devices are included in order to prevent damage t6 the product under 'such circumstances.

Thefs'afety' devices inc ude re fer asks we and 200 u The rocker arm 194 is pro-' mounted on the base plate of the machine vfor sliding movement in a fore and aft direction (FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8). The blocks are connected together for relative move.- ment by a rod 201 which at its front end is threaded into the front block 199 and which at its rear end extends into a hole 202 drilled for the purpose in the rear block 200. In the portion of the rod which extends into the rear block, a longitudinal notch 203 formed therein receives a screw 204 threaded down through the upper wall of the block and into the notch. Normally a shoulder defining the rear end of the notch in the rod is held against the screw by a spring 205 encircling the rod and which reacts between the front face of the rear block and a collar 206 adjustably threaded along the rod to maintain the compression in the spring at a given value. When the block 199 at the front is moved rearwardly the rear block engages an arm 207 arranged for integral movement with the bell crank lever 128 that operates the valve 122 controlling the air pressure in the pressure chamber 116 in the carriage. The adjusted force of the spring 201 is enough to overcome the force of the spring 124 acting on the control valve 122 for the pressure chamber. Consequently when the safety slide mechanism moves rearwardly it adjusts the valve to exhaust the pressure chamber in the carriage to the atmosphere if the carriage then happens to be on its active package sealing stroke.

When the rear block 200 reaches its rearmost position of adjustment in the manner just described, the spring 205 encircling the rod will yield to permit a still further rearward movement of the front block 199. When this occurs a bearing surface 208 with which the front block is equipped engages near the bottom of the depending arm 106 forming part of the parallel motion linkage mechanism to operate the latter to raise the heating die. In thus operating the parallel motion device when normally it is in its lowermost position, the force exerted by the front block in its rearward movement must be sufficient to overcome the compression of a spring 209 forming part of the link connection 107 between the vertical lever 108 and the parallel motion device and which, in construction is the same, as the rod and spring connection between the front block 199 and the rear block 200 comprising the connections for controlling the air to the presthen the force exerted on the bell crank lever 128 controlling the valve which supplies air to the pressure chamher in the carriage. If restoration of the slide is at a is in its lowermost position, the spring devices which previously had been overcome by operation of the safety device will restore the heating die to the position it would occupy at that phase of the machine cycle.

The fore and aft movement of the slide block 199 is controlled from an air cylinder 210 pivotally mounted on a lug 211 secured to the underside of the base frame of the machine and which has a double acting piston whose piston rod 212 is connected to the lower end of a lever 2'13, fulcrurned at its center, and whose upper arcuate end is provided with teeth 214 meshing with rack teeth 215 7 presented on the underside of said slide block. The arrangement is such that when air is admitted to the rear end of thecylinder and exhausted from its front end, the piston moves forwardly to rock the lever 213 in a clockwise direction and move the slide block 199 rearwardly for purposes previously described. When the rear end of the cylinder is exhausted to theatrnosphere and the front end connected to a source of pressure, the piston 212 moves rearwardly to rock the lever in a counterclockwise direction to effect a' forward movement of the slide and permit restoration of the parts in the manner previously described.

I phase of the machine cycle when the heating die normally i Pressure to the cylinder 210 is controlled from-a solenoid valve 216 having a plurality of windings 217 and 218 (see wiring diagram FIG. 24) one to adjust it to a position in which the rear end of the cylinder 210 is connected to a source of air pressure and the front end there of exhausted and a separate winding to adjust the valve to a position wherein the front end of the cylinder is connected to a source of pressure and the rear end thereof exhausted. In manner subsequently made plain the solenoid valve is controlled from a so called plugging switch 219 whose opening and closing depends on whether the machine is running, or standing still. Since the'opera tion of plugging switches are well known, it will sufiice to say that it has a gear and pinion connection 220 with the shaft 197 that effects the operation of the knife slide. When the machine is running the plugging switch closes automatically and when the machine ceases its operation for any reason, the plugging switch opens automatically to control the operation of the safety devices in the manner heretofore described. Allusion should perhaps be made to one more safety device. It is possible, of course, that the machine might be operated without threading the package material through it in which case there will be no indicia to interrupt the light beam acting upon the photoelectric cell and consequently no reaction through which to eitect disengagement of the clutch and engagement of the brake. For this reason a normally open limit switch 221 arranged on a fixed part of the machine is closed by the carriage when it'reaches the limit of its forward movement. In so doing, it trips the switch whose connections are such as to effect the same operations of the machine as would be eifected by the interruption of the light beam to the photoelectric cell in the normal operation of the parts.

The electrical connections of the machine are shown in the circuit diagram FIG. 24. .A three wire system including the leads L L and L supplies energy from a source of power not shown to a motor which drives the main shaft 32. Power to the other electrical elements of the machine is supplied through the leads L and L which may be connected through a transformer T to leads L and L The motor is started from a push button switch S which is manually closed to connect the coil of a relay R across the power lines L and L When energized, relay R closes four normally open switches R R R and R The motor starts when switches R R and R are closed. It will be recalled that he plugging switch 219 is closed or opened depending upon whether the main shaft 32 is operating or at rest. Switch 219 closes therefore when the motor starts and since switch R which is a holding switch, is closed upon operation of relay R, the motor continues to run even though starting switch S is then allowed to open.

A push button switch S is also closed simultaneously with the switch S. This establishes a circuit through a relay R Relay R closes a normally open switch R which is a holding switch and the circuit through this relay is accordingly maintainedv so long as the plugging switch 19 remains operative.

Operation of relay R also moves-a switch R from a position (shown in solid line) where it establishes a circuit through the coil 218 of the solenoid 216 to the dotted line position where a circuit is established through the coil 217 of that solenoid.

The solenoid 216, as will be recalled controls the flow of air to the cylinder 210 which controls the safety devices for raising the heating die when, for any reason the machine stops running. When the coil 217 is energized the piston of the cylinder is in its rearmost position permitting normal machine operation.

If the machine does stop running plugging switch 219 opens. This breaks the circuit both through the starting relay R and through the relay R These relays become de-energized, the switches they control'are broken, and

the connection R returns to its normal position in which