US3162219A - Dispensing mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DeC- 22 1964 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,162,219

DISPENSING MECHANISM 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1961 mm mn I De 22 1964 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,162,219

DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed April l0. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 vare'rlcm. semen DISCHARGE 4a TDP SEALE-R I varo-road Dec- 22, 1964 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,162,219

DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed April l0. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 FEED ROLLS Dec. 22, 1964 Filed April l0, 1961 Top SEALER 48 .25 DISCHARGE;

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K. R. JOHNSON ETAL DISPENSING MECHANISM '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 DBC 22, 1964 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,162,219

DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed April l0. 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 J 7)\ #www mu EL WQ@ u? O Kmfa w www mmm .C Om. WM maim uw Q. w e bwl wow Mw `mm m ww Q XN m milnHum Dec 22 1964 K. R. JOHNSON ETAI. 3,162,219

DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed April 1o, 1961 7 sheets-sheet 6 MVS Mfow @077mm Q.

Carl Q1 DeC- 22, 1964 K. R. JOHNSON ETAL 3,162,219

DISPENSING MECHANISM Filed April 1o, 1961 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 www() Jiri/J' United States Patent Office 3,l.62,2l9 Patented Dec. 22, i964 3,162,219 DISPENSING MECHANISM Kenneth R. .Iohnson and Carl It'. Baert, Rockford, Robert G. Netting, Glenview, Kenneth K. Christensen, Lombard, and Richard C. Wagner, Clarendon Hills, lil., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Bartelt Engineering Company, Inc., Rockford, lil., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. It), 1961, Ser. No. 102,0 4 Ciaims. (Ci. 141-135) This invention relates to a machine for forming, filling and closing flexible walled bags and, more particularly, to a machine in which the bags are formed by heat sealing two strips of packaging material transversely to form a series of connected bags and in which the bags are severed and advanced by a carrier through closing and filling stations.

The general object of the invention is to provide in a machine of the above character a novel filling mechanism which permits the bags to be advanced with a continuous motion and at a high rate of speed and which, at the same time, accurately fills the bags.

Another object is to lill the bags by means of continuously moving spouts which advance with the bags and deposit a product to be packaged in the bags rapidly and with a minimum of dusting.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIGURE 1 is a perspective View of a packaging machine embodying the novel features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a package made on the machine.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective View illustrating the steps performed on the machine.

FIG. 3a is a schematic perspective View forming a continuation of the right-hand side of FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic View illustrating the drive to the various mechanisms.

FIG. 4a is a schematic View forming a continuation of the right-hand side of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the filling mechanism, parts being broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 6--6 in FIG. l.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the lling mechanism, parts being broken away and shown in section.

As shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration, the invention is embodied in a machine for forming, filling and closing a pouch or bag 3Q which is composed of two rectangular panels 31 disposed face to face and joined together at their margins preferably by a fold at the bottom and heat seals 32 and 33 at the top and sides respectively. Herein, the bags are made from a web 34 of sheet material either composed of or coated on one side with a thermoplastic material and drawn off a supply roll 35. The web is folded longitudinally (see FIGS. 3 and 3a) and the two resulting strips 34a are heat sealed together transversely at spaced intervals as indicated at 36 to form a series of connected bags. The latter then are separated by cutting the seals 36 intermediate their edges so that each seal forms the trailing side seal 33 of one bag and the leading side seal of the next bag. After being separated from the web 34, each bag is lled with the product to be packaged and then is closed by the top seal 32.

The various mechanisms for advancing, folding and cutting the web 34 and for advancing, fiiling Aand closing the bags 30 are mounted on an elongated, horizontal base 37 and are operated in timed relation to each other by a horizontal shaft 33 (FIGS. 4 and 4a) journaled in and extending lengthwise of the base. The supply roll 35 is supported on the end of the machine base 37 by a bracket 39 and the web 34 is drawn off the roll and over a plow 40 which is located at a station 41 and which folds the web longitudinally, the web being advanced in this case by two sets of feed rollers 42 and 43 spaced along the base (FIGS. i and 4). From the folding station, the web is advanced to a station 44 where the cross seals 36 are formed and then to a cut-off station 4S where the successive end bags are severed from the web. After being cut from the web, the bags are carried edgewise by a conveyor d6 (FIGS. l and 5 which carries the bags first through a filling station ci7 and then through a top sealing station 43. As shown in FIG. 5, the conveyor forms an extension of the path of the web 34 and the bags are supported in spaced relation on the conveyor by grippers or clamps 5t) and 5b.

The various mechanisms for forming, filling and closing the bags 3i) are constructed and correlated with each other in a novel manner so that the web 34 and the bags on the conveyor 46 may move continuously and at a comparatively high speed to produce a large number of completed packages per minute while maintaining the accuracy of the fill and the overall neatness of the packages. To these ends, the mechanisms are constructed so that they may perform their individual functions in periods larger than in prior machines of this type and yet still produce packages at a higher rate.

In general, the high rate of production is achieved while the accuracy and neatness of the package is maintained by arranging the operating mechanisms to move with the web 34 and the bags 3G as they are performing their packaging functions but to operate with the same precision and ruggedness as the corresponding mechanisms of appreciably slower machines heretofore employed. Thus, the mechanism 51 for forming the cross seals 36 rmly engages the web without stretching or Wrinkling the latter to make strong, neat and accurately spaced seals. Similarly, the bags are positively held open preparatory to filling, the air in the bag is displaced lirst by the filling mechanism 52 rather than by the product and the bags are filled from the bottom, all this being accomplished over a comparatively long period in spite o f the high speed production of the machine. Also, the top seals 32., like the side seals 33, are made precisely to maintain the attractive appearance of the bag.

In the present instance, the shaft 38 (FIGS. 4 and 4a) for driving the operating mechanisms is journaled in bearings 53 and is rotated continuously by a motor 54 through speed reducing chain drive 55. Both sets of feed rolls 42 and d3 are driven in unison from a common shaft 56 which is journaled on the base 37 parallel to the drive shaft 38 and driven, in turn, by the latter through a chain S7, and intermediate shaft 5S and a chain 59. The feed rolls 42 are rotatably supported on opposite sides of the web 3dby a bracket 6d (FG. l) which is mounted on the base 37 in advance of the sealing station 44. Meshing gears 6l. (FIG. 4) fast on the rolls drive the latter together but in opposite directions and are driven from the shaft S6 through bevel gears e2. Similarly, the feed rolls d3, which are journaled in a bracket 63 on the opposite side of the sealing station, are driven from the shaft 56 through bevel gears 6ft and meshing gears 65 on the lower ends of the rolls. One roll of the set 43 has ra rubber covering (to which stops short of the fold line of the web and prevents excessive creasing. The rolls 42 and 43 draw the web 34 from the supply roll 35 and across the plow which may be of welldcnown construction and comprises a stationary triangular plate 67 supported on the base 37 and inclined downwardly, the web being foldedl around the plate by upright idler rollers 68.

In order that the operati-ng part-s of the sealing mechanism 51 may move with the web-34 to provide a sufficient period for heat sealing the web and still form neat seals 36 without stretching or wrinkling, this mechanism includes two units 69 and `70 each of which carries a plurality of sealing bars 71 (see FIGS. 4 and 4a) yopposing l the bars on the otherunit and the two units are given an orbital movement. Thus, the units move together and into engagement with opposite sides of the web and then move along with the web at the same speed at which the latter is advancing. During the period in which the sealing units 69 and 70 are traveling with the web, the bars 71 form a plurality of cross seals 36 and then the units are backed away from the web. The orbital pathV is completed by the units moving back in a direction opposite to the web advance. In this Way, the bars 71 may be supported firmly on the units against twisting and yet may be individually yieldable to produce the optimum pressure for making the seals 36. Y t

i To give each of the sealing units 69 and 70 the desired orbital motion,v each unit is supported on elongated hori- Zontal Vbars 100 and moved by endless chains disposed above and below the unit. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3

and'4, the front sealing unit 69 is connected to a pair of endless chains 72 above vthe unit and a similar pair of chains 72' below. In the same manner an upper pair of chains 73 and a lower pair 73' support the rear sealing unit 70, the lconstruction for thel two Aunits being substantially the same. Thus, the upper chains 73 are disposed end to end and the adjacent ends arey driven by sprocket wheels 74 (FIG. 4) whose shafts 75 are journaled in a horizontalstationary plate 76 (FIG. v1). The similar pair'of chains 72 supporting the upper end of the front sealing unit k69 are driven by sprocket wheels 86 Vfast on shafts 87 (FIG. 4).

All of theV chains for both sealing units 69 and '70 are driven in unison from the drive shaft 58 through bevel gearsrSSl (FIG. 4) and an upright shaft 89, and al gear 93 keyed to the upper endof the shaft 89 drives a gear 94 meshing with one of the gears 95 on the rear sprocket wheel shafts Y75. A gear`96 meshing with both of the gears 95 completes the drive to these two shafts and also drives the front chains 72 through an idler` gear 97 and gears 98 on the front sprocket wheel shafts 86. A similar gear train drives the lower chains as indicated by the primed reference characters in FIG. 4. To provide heat for the sealing mechanism, power from a suitable source is connected through rheostats119 (FIG. l) in a control panel 120 and then to a signal box 121 mounted on the plate 76. From the box, flexible leads 122 extend to the ends of each Vsealing unit 69 and 70 and then through a conduit 123 to heating coils (not shown) in the seal bars 71A. The motor 54 is controlled through the lower end of Vshaft 144 of the drum 142. A second gear 162 keyed to .this shaft meshes with a gear 163 equal in size and keyed to the shaft 145 of the drum 143 so that the itwo drums are turned in unison but in opposite directions.

Although the bags 30 are edge-to-edge when attached to the web 34, they are spaced apart when carried by the conveyor 46 so as to permit more accurate and neater filling and `closing operations. To effect suchspacing, the conveyor is driven at a faster speed thanthe web. For example, the linear Vspeed ofthe web may be about 16 inches perv second while theconveyor may move at a speed of approximately 22inchesper second. In order that leachtbag 30 as it is cutfrom the web is delivered to a clamp 50 (FIG. 5) on the conveyor, it is accelerated and momentarilyY moves at a speed faster than the conveyor. Y,

To transfer the severed bag 30 from the web 34 to the conveyor 46 and, at the same time, to speedup the rate of travel of the bag, an accelerating mechanism 164 (FIG. 3) is disposed between the cut-off station 45 and the adjacent end of theconveyor.V The accelerator164 includes a first pair of vertical rollers 165 and 166 (FIG. l3) which receivethe leadingledge of the end bag on the web just before this bag is cut by the knife units 140 and 141. The timing is such that the rollers 165 and 166, which are turning 'at a higher peripheral speedfthan the web advance, slip momentarily as the bag is cut. These rollers then accelerate the bag andv deliver it between a second pair of rollers 167 Yand 16.8 .which are turning at the same speed as the first pair and thesecond pair of rollers, in turn,

well-known circuitry by a switch 138 (FIG. 4) 'actuated by a cam 139 on the drive shaft 38. f

When the cross seals 36 have been made to form a series of connectedV bags, the latter are advanced by the feed rolls '43 to the cut-olf station 45 where the terminal bag is severed from the strip. The cutting is effected by knife units 140 and 141disposed on opposite sides of the web and operable to cut the web transversely intermediate the edges of each seal 36. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the knife units 140 and 141 comprise upright drums 142 and 143 journaled on the base 37 by means of shafts 144 and 145 (FIG. 4) to turn about their longitudinalV axes. The drums arer turned continuously from the drive shaft 5S and carry cutter elements which cooperate with each other to lsever the end bag. f

'the Shaft 19s.

The normal spacing between a leadingy clamp 50 andA delivers the'leading edge of the bag to one of the clamps 5t) on the conveyor 46. Since the peripheral speed of the rollers 167 Aand 168is greater. than the linear speed of the conveyor'and sin'cethe clampis closed before the bag is released by these rollers, the bag will buckle slightly during the transfer. Such buckling insures thatthe bag is inserted completely in the clamp and properly positioned for subsequent operations. Preferably, a second complete set of lrollers are disposed below the rollers 165,.'166, 167 and 168so that the bag is engaged at vertically spaced points and kept upright.

Herein, theconveyor 46 comprises an endless chain 194 (FIG. 4a) disposed in a horizontal plane with a straight run extending from a .point adjacent the accelerator 164 through the filling and closing stations 47 and 48. At its forward end, the chain drives vthe accelerator through a suitable sprocket connection (notshown). The other end of chain extends around a sprocket wheel 197 (FIG. 4a.) keyed to the upper end of a vertical shaft 199 which is journaled on the base 37 and driven by the shaft 38 through bevel gears 199. For the sake of rigidity, a second chain 194 also is employed and is Vdisposed below the chain 194 to extend around a sprocket Wheel 197' on a itrailing'clamp 50 Vcorresponds to the width of a bag I. but, as the leadingV edge of a bag is being gripped by the Todrive the drums 142 and 143, a verticalshaft 156 i clamp 50the other clamp is turning about the center of the sprocket wheel (not shown)` at the leading end of the conveyor and therefore it trails the clamp 50 by more than a bag width. As the clamp 50 comes off the sprocket wheel, it catches up with the trailing edge of the bag and grips this edge. After gripping the bag, the clamp 50 is rocked forward to move the bag edges together land separate the panels 31 preparatory to filling, and the bags are thereafter held vopen until they have been lled.

After the bagsk 30 have been severed from'the web 34 and picked up by the conveyor 46, the latter advances the bags through the filling station 47 where the'dispensing mechanism 52 depositsa measured amount of product 250 in veach bag in a new and improved manner. The novel dispensing mechanism includes a plurality of clamshell buckets 251 which move continuously along an endless path a portion of which coincides with the path of the bags on the conveyor. While the buckets 251 are away from the path of the bags, they receive the product from a measuring device 252 and then, when the buckets are over the bags, one is inserted in each bag. Thereafter, the bucket moves at the same speed as the conveyor. The bucket is not opened until it reaches down substantially to the bottom of the bag so that the bucket displaces the air in the bag before the product is deposited and this provides a quick ll which does not produce dusting when the product is a powder.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the buckets 251 are spaced along an endless chain 253 which has a run 254 extending over a portion of the conveyor 46, this being the run where the buckets are lowered into the bags. From the end of this run the chain extends rearwardly and then reversely around sprocket wheels 255 and 256 where it enters a curved run 257. As the buckets move along the curved run, they receive the product from the measuring device 252 which is in the Aform of a turret whose radius coincides with the radius of the curved run. From the latter, the chain 253 extends around an idler sprocket wheel 258 and back to the straight run 254. Preferably, two chains 253 and 253 lare employed and follow identical paths in vertically spaced planes.

The chains 253 and 253 are positively guided along the straight run 254 and the curved run 257. For this purpose, the rollers of the upper chain 253 ride in `a guide 259 along the straight run and in a guide 260 along the curved run while similar guides 259 and 260' receive the rollers of the lower chain 253. The lower guides are fastened to a horizontal plate 261 on opposite sides of a vertical spacer plate 262 which supports a second horizontal plate 263 to which the upper guides are secured. The three plates 261, 262 -and 263 are bolted together to form a rigid supporting structure 264 which is lixed to the base of the machine. Each of the guides 259 and 259 is formed by two straight bars 265 and 266 having inturned lianges which deline a track for the chain rollers while curved bars 267 and 268 with flanges form the track for the curved run 257.

The chains 253 and 253 are driven from the drive shaft 38 through a chain drive 269 (FIG. 4a), bevel gears 270 and an upright shaft 271 journaled on the base 31. Through a gear train 272 disposed in a gear box 273 on the plate 263, the shaft 271 drives a shaft 274 which extends vertically between the plates 261 and 263 and is journaled on the support 264 at the end of the straight run 254, the sprocket wheels 255 being `fast on the shaft 274. The sprocket wheels 256 are journaled in the opposite ends of a vertical post 275 which is fastened to the outer ends of arms 276 mounted to turn about an axis a to tension the chains, the arms then being 4locked in position by a clamp 277. The third pair of sprocket wheels 258 are journaled in the ends of a post 27S which is carried by the forward end of the support 264.

To carry the buckets 251 on the chains 253 and 253 while supporting them for raising and lowering, vertical guides 279 span and are connected to the chains. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, each guide is composed of two vertioal channel members 280 spaced apart and facing each other. At their ends, the channels are fixed to blocks 281 which are fastened to the links of the chains 253 and 254. A slide 282 is disposed between and projects into each pair of channels to slide up and down and a bracket 253 projecting outwardly from the slide support a bucket 251. The vertical movement of the slides 282 and hence of the buckets 251 is under the control of rollers 284 journfaled on the backs of the slides and riding in tracks 285 and 286 extending along both sides of the plate 262. The track 285 is formed by parallel bars 287 set out from the plate 262 Iby spacers 288 and suitably fastened to the plate. The track 206 is similarly formed by curved bars 289 and spacers 290.

Herein, each of the buckets 251 is composed of two shells 291 and 292 which are U-shaped in cross section 6 and face each other with the flanges of one overlapping the flanges of the other and with the two shells tapering downwardly to a point. The inner shell 292 is stationary and is riveted to the back of the bracket 283 while the outer shell 291 is pivotally supported by pins 293 on the spaced arms 294 of the bracket. The bucket is held closed by -a U-shaped spring 295 whose ends are secured to the bracket arms 294 and which bears against the movable outer shell 291. The latter is swung open by -a roller 296 carried on one end of an arm 297, the other end being secured to the top of the shell 291. After the bucket has been lowered into a bag 30, the rol-ler 296 rides under a cam bar 298 which is secured to the plate 262 and which depresses the roller 296 relative to the slide 282 to swing the shell 191 out against the action of the spring 295.

As shown in FIG. 6, the product 250 to be packaged, which may be a free flowing powder, is delivered from a suitable source (not shown) to a hopper 299 through an opening 300 in one side thereof. The hopper is secured to and extends around a part of an upright tube 301 which is secured to the base 37 and which provides a support for the plate 261 and, through a bracket 302, supports the plate 263. The product flows by gravity from the hopper 299 through an opening 303 land into the lower end of the tube 301 and the product is raised in the tube by an auger 304 driven by a motor 305 (FIG. l). At the top of the tube, the product ows out through `a lateral opening 306 (FIG. 7) and onto a chute 307 from which it falls into a measuring lbucket 308, the overiiow returning it `to the hopper 299.

The measuring buckets 308 are spaced around a turret 309 which turns about the axis of the tube 301. For this purpose, the turret includes a sleeve 310 which is rotatably supported on the tube by an air bearing formed by a collar 311 fixed to the tube and having a flange 312 projecting out under a sleeve 310. Compressed air from a suitable source (not shown) is supplied through a hole 313 connected to a bore 314 in the ilange 312. The bore 314 communicates with an annular passage 315 which is formed in the collar 311 and opens outwardly through ports 316 in the collar. Thus, the sleeve 310 turns on a cushion of air. Rotation of the turret 309 is effected by the chain 253 and, to this end, a plurality of arms 317 radiate from the sleeve 310 and are provided on their outer ends with sprocket teeth 318 which project into spaces between the blocks 281. Thus, the turret is turned in synchronism with and at the same speed as the chains 253 and 253. There is one chute 307 for each bucket 308 and the chutes are supported on the sleeve 310 by brackets 319 to turn with the buckets.

The measuring buckets 308 are filled on the back side of the turret 309 and then the product is leveled in the buckets by an arm 320 (FIG. 7) secured to the inside of a housing 321 which encloses the measuring device 252. The arm 320 is substantially even with the tops of the buckets 308 and brushes the excess product off the buckets and back into the hopper 299. After being v leveled, the measuring buckets 303 enter a path above the curved run 257 of the chains 253 and 253 and, at this time, a measuring bucket is disposed over each filling bucket 251 on the curved run 257 and the two sets of buckets are traveling at the same speed. When thus alined, the measuring bucket is opened and the product falls into the filling bucket.

Each of the measuring buckets 30S comprises a tapered shell 322 which is U-shape in cross section and rigidly secured to a bracket 323 projecting radially from the sleeve 310. The open inner side of the shell 322 is closed by a flat plate 324 carried on the lower end of a generally upright lever 325. The latter is fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the sleeve 310 to turn about a horizontal axis and is biased in a direction to hold the plate 324 in the closed position by a torsion spring 326. When the measuring bucket 308 is traveling Vabove a filling bucket 251,

After the bags 30 have been filled at thestation 47, the

conveyorv 46 advances the bags to the closingstation 48'; At thevstation 48, the top seals 32 are made byL a sealing mechanism330 (FIGS. l and 3) which is generally similar to the cross sealing mechanism 51. 1

The sealing units, 69H and 70 (FIG. 4a) are generallyy similar to the upper halves of the sealing units 69 and 70' and the corresponding parts are indicated by the same but double primed'reference characters. Thus, the unit 69" is mounted on a pair of chains'72,-only'one of which is shown in FIG. 4a, and includes an elongated horizontal' bar tl suitably supported on the chains and carrying the horizontally disposed sealingbars. (not shown). The

sealing unit`70" ris similarly constructed and is supported by apair of chains 73'?. `The chains` 72" and 73' are driven by sprocket Wheels 74 and 86 respectively' and these, in turn, are driven from the shaft 38 through a chain drive 331, bevel gears 332 and; alverticalshaft 333 journaled on the base 37. Thev gear drive from the vertical shaft is substantially the same as for the chains 72 'and 73 as indicated by the corresponding reference characters but includes an additional idlergear 334. Flexible leadsv 122 (FIG. 1;) connectzthe heating elements in the horizontal seal bars to rheostats 340 in the control panel 120.

The formation of the top seals 32 at the station 44completes the bags 30 which are'then 'removed from the end of the conveyor 46 by an oscillating arm 341 (FIG. 4a). The arm is horizontally disposed to project in behind the end kbagron the conveyor 46 and ispivotally supported on a horizontal crank 342. The latter is rotated by the shaft 38 through a chain drive 343 and bevel gears 344 toswing the arm 341 rearwardly in timed relation with the advance of bags to kick each end bag from the machine. Continued rotation of the crank 342 withdrawsy the arm 341 from the path of the bags after each bag has been removed and then projects the arm in behind the next bag. f

We claim as our invention:

1. In a machine for filling bags having `open upper ends, the combination of, a frame, a first carrier on said frame operable to support a succession of equally spaced bags and advance the same open end up along a predetermined path through a filling station with a continuous motion, a second carrier on. said frame. having a run extending over said path, mechanism for driving said second carrier continuously at the same speed. as said lirst carrier, a plurality of spouts equally spaced 'along said second carrier and each disposed above voneof said bags along said .rung each of said spouts comprisinga pair of shellspivotally connected together to swingtoward and away from each other about an `axis parallelingA said run andspaced from the lower ends of the shells lthereby to close and open theY lower end of the spout, a spring urging the shells of each spout together and normally closing the spout, means y mounting said spouts on said second carrier for up and down movement between elevated positions above the level of the bags and loweredv posi-tions in which the lower ends of said `spouts are. inserted in the bags, means on said frame for moving said spouts into said lowered positions 8 and into thebags as the spouts'approach said filling station, a follower fast on oneshell of each'spout and oper- Y able when moved in one direction to open the spout, and

a cam fast on said frame and positioned to engage said followers and operi successive spouts when the latter are in said tilling station.

2. The combination `defined in claim 1 in which one of said shells is fast Yon said second carrier and said follower is fast on the other of said shells adjacent'the upper end. of the latter to swing the lower lend of said other shell away from said one shell as said follower is moved-in said oney direction. v

3; In a machine for filling bags having open upper ends, the combination of, a rst'ca'rri'er operable to support a succession of equally spaced bags and'advance the same openendup along a predetermined pathk to and through a fillingstatio'nV withy a continuous motion, yar'second carrier having a run extending over said path, mechanism for driving said secondcarrier continuously at the same speed as said first carrier, a'plurality of normally closed spouts equally spaced along saidv second carrier and each disposed above one Vof the bags along said run,` means for delivering measured charges of aproduct to said spouts while the latterare closed, meansmounting said spouts Von 4said second carrier for up'and down movement between elevated positions above they level'of the bags andloweredpositions in which the lower ends of the spouts arerinserted in'and adjacent the bottoms of the bags at the filling station, means on vsaid machine for moving successive spouts Ainto said lowered lposition as the spouts approach said filling station, and mechanism for opening the lowerends of said spouts when the latter reach the filling station thereby to deposit said charges in said bags. 4. In a machine for filling bags having open upperends, the combination of, a frame, arst carrier on said frame operable to support a succession of equally spaced bags and advance the same {open end up along avrpredetermined path to and through a, filling station with a continuous motion, a second carrieron saidv frame having a run extending over said path, mechanism for driving saidfsecondjcarrier continuously at the same speed as said first carrier, a plurality of spouts equally spaced along said second carrier and each disposed above one of said bags-along said run, each of said spouts comprisinga pair of shells pivotally connected together to swing toward and away from eachother about an axis paralleling said runV and spaced from the lower ends of the shells thereby to close and open the lower end of the spout, a spring urging the shells-ot` each spout together and normally closing the spout, means mounting-said spouts on said second carrier for up and down movementV betweenelevated positions above the level of the bags and lowered positions in which the low/er ends Vof said'spoutsare inserted in and adjacent-the bottoms of thebags atlsaid `filling station, means .onsaid frame for moving said spouts into said loweredpositions and into thek bags as the spouts approach said filling station, and means for opening for swinging the lower end portions of said shells apart and opening successive spouts when the latter *are in said lling station;

References-Cited lin the file of this patent f Y i UNITED STATES PATENTS A V1,666,931

K Hansengrg'. '-c Api524, 1928 2,654,195 Irnischerr Q Q Oct. 6,Y 1953 2,660,356 K Rowekamp TTL-z Nov. 24,11953

Claims (1)

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FILLING BAGS HAVING OPEN UPPER ENDS, THE COMBINATION OF, A FRAME, A FIRST CARRIER ON SAID FRAME OPERABLE TO SUPPORT A SUCCESSION OF EQUALLY SPACED BAGS AND ADVANCE THE SAME OPEN END UP ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH THROUGH A FILLING STATION WITH A CONTINUOUS MOTION, A SECOND CARRIER ON SAID FRAME HAVING A RUN EXTENDING OVER SAID PATH, MECHANISM FOR DRIVING SAID SECOND CARRIER CONTINUOUSLY AT THE SAME SPEED AS SAID FIRST CARRIER, A PLURALITY OF SPOUTS EQUALLY SPACED ALONG SAID SECOND CARRIER AND EACH DISPOSED ABOVE ONE OF SAID BAGS ALONG SAID RUN, EACH OF SAID SPOUTS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SHELLS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TOGETHER TO SWING TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLELING SAID RUN AND SPACED FROM THE LOWER ENDS OF THE SHELLS THEREBY TO CLOSE AND OPEN THE LOWER END OF THE SPOUT, A SPRING URGING THE SHELLS OF EACH SPOUT TOGETHER AND NORMALLY CLOSING THE SPOUT, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SPOUTS ON SAID SECOND CARRIER FOR UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT BETWEEN ELEVATED POSITIONS ABOVE THE LEVEL OF THE BAGS AND LOWERED POSITIONS IN WHICH THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID SPOUTS ARE INSERTED IN THE BAGS, MEANS ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVING SAID SPOUTS INTO SAID LOWERED POSITIONS AND INTO THE BAGS AS THE SPOUTS APPROACH SAID FILLING STATION, A FOLLOWER FAST ON ONE SHELL OF EACH SPOUT AND OPERABLE WHEN MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION TO OPEN THE SPOUT, AND A CAM FAST ON SAID FRAME AND POSITIONED TO ENGAGE SAID FOLLOWERS AND OPEN SUCCESSIVE SPOUTS WHEN THE LATTER ARE IN SAID FILLING STATION.

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