US3195291A - Apparatus for cutting glue spots attaching a liner to an outer carton - Google Patents

Description

y 1965 o. w. CHRISTENSSON 3,195,291

APPARATUS R CUTT GLUE SPOTS ATTACHING R T0 OUTER CARTON Filed May 15, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. OD WIKAR CHRISTENSSON BY L 0 7% ATTORNEY$ y 1965 o. w. CHRISTENSSON 3,195,291

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING GLUE SPOTS ATTACHING A LINER TO AN OUTER CARTON Filed May 15, 1961 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR OD WIKAR CHRISTENSSON BY o ss 4 Ja p ATTORNEYS y 0, 1965 o. w. CHRISTENSSON 3,195,291

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING GLUE SPOTS ATTACHING A LINER TO AN OUTER CARTON INVENTOR OD WIKAR CHRlSTENSSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 0 3,195,291 APPARATUS FGR CUTTHNG GLUE SPOTl AT- TAQHHNG A LTNER Til AN @UTER CARTQN Gd Wiirar Christensson, Vikavagen 5, Eromrna, Sweden Filed May 15, 19611, Ser. No. 116,264 Claims priority, application Sweden, May 23, 196i), 5,055/60 13 Claims. (Cl. 53393) This invention relates to the packaging of certain materials, particularly those which cannot be stored in the outer atmosphere. Packages of this kind may consist of an outer package of cardboard or the like, usually rectangular in cross-section, and a lining of vacuum-tight material, as for instance plastic which is soft and weldable.

These-packages are first closed in the bottom and thereafter filled with the material to be packed, for instance finely ground coffee. Thereafter the packages are introduced into a vacuum chamber, where they are evacuated and the upper mouth of the lining is closed. The whole package is taken out from the vacuum chamber and the outer cardboard package is closed at its upper end.

To make handling of the package possible during this procedure, it is necessary to attach the lining to the inner side of the outer package. When such a package is in the vacuum chamber or when the package is outside of the vacuum chamber before the evacuation, there is no pressure difference between the inside and outside of the package. Therefore there is no risk of deformation of the package. However, when the package is removed from the vacuum chamber after the evacuation and closing of the lining, the exterior of the package is subjected to the pressure of the outer atmosphere, while there is still vacuum in the interior of the package. This causes a compression of the lining and the packed material until a counterpressure corresponding to the pressure of the outer atmosphere is created. In this state the lining together with the material packed therein will be some- What hard, and not unlike a piece of soft wood, for instance balsam.

f, on this occasion, the outer package is too strongly attached to the lining, the outer package will follow the shrinking movement, thereby causing a serious deformation. In order to prevent this I have earlier proposed attaching the outer side of the lining to the inner side of the outer package by point-gluing at a number of points, the placement and sizes of said points such that the points will break in a predetermined way before the outer package has been deformed. The point attachments may be torn oil in a manner similar to the tearing of a perforation row on a piece of paper, i.e., the different points are torn in sequence one after the other like the different perforation bridges are torn apart in sequence.

In many cases this arrangement functions perfectly. However, it has proved that in some cases the arrangement does not function as desired. An investigation of the reasons to this has proved that they are probably due to the following:

When the package with its contents is introduced into the vacuum chamber to be evacuated, the lining is usually pressed out by the weight or" the contents in such a way that it presses, at least at the lower parts, tightly against the inner side of the outer package. If further the outer package should have been closed too tightly in its bottom, it may happen that the outer atmosphere entering between the lining and the package into the parts situated in the lower part of the package, will be subjected to a rather great resistance. The consequence will then be that the pressure diiierence required for tearing apart the attachment points between the lining and the outer package in the upper part will be immediate but will propagate only "ice slowly downwards in the package. In such a case a regular tearing apart of the attachment points in the desired way will take place.

But if the outer package should be closed at the bottom in such a way that a strong current of air will enter also from the bottom side, or if the lining should be wrinkled in the interior of the outer package so that channels are formed for conducting air to the bottom, equalization of the pressure will take place in such a way that the package as a whole is subjected to the same difference in pressure immediately after the package has again been subjected to the pressure of the outer atmosphere. In this case the combined rigidity of the gluing points may be sufficient to prevent the lining coming loose from the outer package, just as a perforated piece of paper can stand a rather large load if it attacks all of the perforation bridges of the paper in the same degree, but may be torn off in turn by a rat, er small load, if it is torn in an inclined direction.

it will be evident from the above, that one cannot foresee which of the two indicated cases will occur for a given package. In practice it has proved that, if the pastingpoints are dimensioned and distributed in a suitable way, most of the packages will be in perfect condition when taken out from the evacuation chamber. However, in spite of this, periodically a package may be deformed, as it seemed, without any reason. Investigation about the position and magnitude of the pasting-points proved that these had been exactly like the corresponding pasting-points in a package, which kept its form, when it was taken out from the evacuation chamber. It was not possible to remove this deect until one knew how the deformation happened and the reason for it.

The object of present invention resides primarily to a method and apparatus for this purpose, and it further resides in an arrangement for overcoming these discussed deficiencies.

According to the invention it is assumed that the attachment of the lining to the outer package is made during the time before the lining has been filled with the product to be packed. This is because after the lining has been filled with the product, it is pressed out by the weight of the product and will contact the inner side of the outer package under sufficient pressure and sufiicient friction to be retained in place, particularly because the filled lining necessitates the package being kept upright. Thus the ining with its contents finds a sufiicient support so that even a loose bag could be kept in its place. Therefore it is possible in this position, preparatory to the detachment of the lining from the inner side of the outer package, to determine where the tearing of the perforation should begin, and to weaken the connection between the lining and the outer package at this point.

With respect to the method this invention comprises the use of one or more knife-like means introduced between the lining and the outer package before the evacuation of the package, the package already having been filled with the product to be packed. The knife like means detaches the lining fully or partly from the outer package, beginning at the upper end of the package, where the evacuation opening in the lining is placed. Thus a part or all of the gluing-point connections is detached in advance. If only part of the gluing connections are detached in advance, they should thus be situated in the upper part of the package, i.e., the end of the package, in which the lining is not yet fully closed. This step is preferably made before the tearing up in the above mentioned way has started.

It has been proposed to close the mouth of the lining in the mouth end, where the evacuation shall take place, along all of the width of the mouth except a small part, preferably applied in the outermost end of the mouth of the lining. If this takes place before the knife-like means are inserted for partial or complete tearing up of the past-- ing connections, deforming of the lining will be avoided. It may also be suitable during the insertion procedure to secure or fasten the mouth of the lining by suitable means, to. prevent it from following the knife-like means downwards and deforming the lining to an extent which would later make satisfactory final closing of the mouth of the lining ditricult.

Regarding the apparatus which alsoforms part of the present invention, one area of a machine for treating packages by vacuum closing, provided with knife-like means in connection with a mechanism of movement of such a character, that the means are introduced between the lining and the outer package on one or several sides.

of the package, from above to a certain suitable predetermined level, so that the means tear the pasting connections down to this level.

7 With this arrangement means are combined for compulsorily displacing the knife-like means case thetransport movement of the package it stopped up during the time of this step, or they may be arranged in connection with a transport means for the packages, so that they execute their work during the movement of the packages by said transports means.

A further device may be connected with this arrange-p ment for holding the mouth of the lining during the cutting procedure. This last mentioned device may suitably consist of a pair of arms, which, like a pair of tongs grip around the mouth of the package, and which do not follow the knife-like means in their movement downwards in the package. The side surfaces of the arms turned on to the mouth of the package may be covered by some soft friction-creating material in the form of cushions, in order to retain the mouth of thepackage in its position and to protect it from damage.

The invention will be further described below in connection with the attached drawing, which shows one form "of execution of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this form of execution, but that all different kinds of modifications may occur within the scope of the invention. In the drawing FIG.

1 shows a general schematic diagram of a closing arrange. 'ment for packages of the type here concerned; FIG..2

shows in detail the arrangement according to the invention with the means for gripping the mouth of the lining removed for a better understanding; and FIG. 3 shows the gripping means.

In the arrangement, which is thusshown in FIG. 1 as a form of execution of the invention, the evacuation chamibcrs are provided on a rotating turret 10; This is assumed to be in continuous movement during rotation in the direction of the arrow 11.

' been introduced. This shutter does not form a part of the present invention.

The packages, which are to be evacuated, are closed at the bottom in both the lining as well as the outer package, and are filled with the material to be packed. The packages then are finally welded in the upper mouth of the lining except for a small part at one end of said mouth. They are then introduced into the turret by means of a feederdevice, consisting in a first auxiliary turret 13, receiving the packages from a path 14 and transferring them into an open pocket l2,'which is opposite to the feeder turret 13. The introduction of the packages downwards in the package at the time concerned. The t i knife-like means may either be rigidly applied, in which from the turret 13 into a pocket in the turret it? takes place by means of gripper arms, which are connected with the turret 1t) and collect the package from its position in the turret i3 and bring it into the concerned pocket in the turret it Simultaneously gripper arms in the turret 13 release the package. These gripper arms have collected the package from the transport path 14- and kept the package-sin their place inside of the-turret 13 during its rotation into the position, in which the packages are to be transferred to the turret it).

During the continuous movement of the turret It in the direction of the arrow ll thepocket is closed, which takes place at about the position 15.' The shutter on i the pocket 12 is initially pressed onto the shutter frame by means of a cam 1%, so that sufi'icient'tightening is obtained for the initial formation. of vacuum. About the time when the shutter passes the position 17, the pocket 12 is connected to a low vacuum conduit, which will, after only a "short movement, provide a strong vacuum, such that the shutter is pulled tightly against 'the shutter frame. The cam 16 is no longer nece-ssar and therefore it may be interrupted. The low evacuation is assumed to be completed in the position 13, whereinthe pocket 12 is now connected to a high vacuum conduit, under the influence of which Vacuum is further increased until heat-sealing of the lining can take place in the position 19. In the position 2 thereafter air is introduced into the pocket 12 for two different purposes. Firstly the vacuum may be released so that the shutter can be opened for removing the package and secondly the heat-sealing joint may be cooled for obtaining required rigidity. In the position 21 the shutter is opened, and in the position 22 the package is removed by means of the same gripper arms which earlier collected the package into the chamber 12. For removing the package a further auxiliary turret 23 is used.

The above discussed shrinking of the lining takes place in the position 2%, where air is introduced into the evacuation chamber 12, without the outer package thereby being subjected to deformation. The perforation-like gluing between the lining and the outer package is torn at this point to such a degree, that the lining can shrink without deformation of the outer package. However, for reasons which have been indicated above, before the package is introduced into the. turret ltl, it is necessary to have already partly or eventually fully detached the lining from the inner side of theouter package by means of the knife-like'means. These knifelike means therefore are arranged in the formal execution shown, in the turret 13.

In FIG. 2 a section through the gripper arms and the package in the position is shown, which these parts assume inside of the turretlS. The package is indicated byStl. The gripper arms are mounted on a support 31. For making the explanation more clear the two foremost gripper arms have been de-mounted. The two back gripper arms are seen at 32 and 33. p

The package is closed in its bottom 34, but the closing 'flaps of the outer package are bent out .in the top by means of special hooks. Thus, theclosing flaps corresponding to long sides of the package are seenat 35 and 36, and the corresponding hooks at 37' and 38, respectively. The mouth of the package, which has been welded together in the way stated abovepractically along all of its width, is indicated at 39.

The knife- like means 40 and 41 are shown in FIG. 2 in their raised positions, either before they have been lowered in'order of partly to detach the lining from the outer package, or after this. operation has taken place. In FIG. 2 only two such knife-like means 49 and il, respectively are shown, but it is obvious that one can provide such means corresponding to all four sides of the package,.if this should in the specific case be found to be required. In suitable cases there is nothing preventing the use- 0f only one knife-like means 4% or 41 if this should prove to be sufiicient. The constructor, of course will be able to determine the number of such means according to the need existing in any separate case, and he may also determine the number of control devices needed.

In the form of execution of this invention shown in FIG. 2, there are only two knife- like means 40 and 41 provided, and these are intended to be controlled by means of the same control apparatus. For this purpose they are attached to a head 42, which is mounted in a displaceable guide 43 in a bearing 44. The guide is, by means of a bolt 45, connected to an arm 46, which has a bearing surface 17, and which is made in the form of an angular lever so that it receives a second arm 48 with a follower pulley 49 in a groove, formed between two cam contours 519.

In the parts hitherto described the arrangement functions in the following way:

The package 30 being introduced into the turret 13, where it is retained by means of the gripper arms 32, 33, the follower pulley 49 is displaced inwardly in the groove between the cam contours Si) during the continuous rotation of the turret, and due to this action the lever construction 45-48 is turned in clock-wise direction. Thereby the guide 43 is lowered in its bearing 44, receiving the knife-like means 41 41, which enter between the lining and the outer cardboard in the package 311 and cut up the pasting places in its path. After this has taken place, the knife construction 4-0-41 is again raised up by the influence of the arms 46 and 47, the follower pulley 49 and the groove between the cam contours 511. When the package is introduced into the vacuum chamber 12 in the turret 111, it is thus already provided with a tearing device for the eventually remaining pasting points, and one may now be fully sure, that the required tearing up of them will take place without any deformation of the outer package. The cam contours 50 may determine the extent of movement of the knife-like means 41 41.

However, there is a risk that in the movement of the knife- like means 40, 41 into the space between the outer package and the lining, the mouth 39 of the lining shall be displaced, so that it is no longer situated in the correct place for finally welding at the step 19, as shown in PEG. 1. For preventing this, a further arrangement has been made, which is shown in FIG. 3.

A tong is formed by two arms 69 and 61, which are oscillatable about shaft bolts 62 and 63, respectively. The two arms 6% and 61 are mutually connected by means of a screw spring 64, the ends of which are attached to a couple of pins 65 and 66, respectively, on each of the arms 60 and 61, respectively, so that the screw spring tends to contact the arms. The arms 61) and 61 at their lower ends, which are positioned exactly opposite to the mouth of the lining, carrying two cushions 67 and 68, respectively of some friction material sufficiently weak to avoid damage to the mouth of the lining by the pressure from the cushions 67 and 68.

On the head 42., which carries the two knife-like means 419 and 41, two pins are provided, each carrying one pulley. The pins are indicated by 69 and 7t and the pulleys by 71 and 72, respectively. These pulleys thus move up and down, respectively in time with the movement of the knife-like means 41) and 41, respectively. The pulleys thereby press against a pair of cam contours 73 and 74, respectively, which are provided on the arms 60 and 61, so that at the upward movement of the knife- like means 40 and 41, and after they have been raised up to a position fully above the attachment surface between the lining and the outer package, the arms 60 and 61 are pressed apart for releasing the mouth of the lining. On the other side, the arms 69 and 61 are forced, at the lowering movement of the knife- like means 40 and 41, to grip around the mouth of the lining and retain this in its position, said arms then'being free to execute their 6 closing movement under the influence of the spring 64 without any hindrance from the pulleys 69 and 70.

What'I claim is:

1. In apparatus for packaging a substance in a package having an outer package portion and an evacuated liner of soft material, the said liner having been at least partially attached to the outer package portion by gluing prior to evacuation, the package being held in a package holder, and the package holder being moveable during packaging, the improvements comprising: reciprocating knife-like means actuated in synchronism with the movement of said package holder to at least partially cut the gluing attaching the liner to the outer package portion, and further comprising guide bearing means for the reciprocating knife-like means, the knife-like means including a reciprocating guide shaft operable in the bearing means.

2. The improvement according to claim 1 and further comprising cooperating cam means to operatively control the movement of the knife-like means.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein the cooperating cam means includes a groove, a follower pulley movable relatively to and cooperating with said groove, and lever means connecting the pulley and the said guide shaft.

4. The improvement according to claim 1 and further comprising means to grip the liner during the movement of said knife-like means.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein the gripping means comprises a pair of pressure blocks gripping the liner therebetween.

6. The improvement according to claim 5 wherein each of said blocks is pivotably mounted on arms, and further comprising means for controlling the movement of said blocks.

7. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein the controlling means comprises cooperating cam means actuable by the movement of said knife-like means.

8. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein the cam means comprises follower pins attached to said knife-like means, and a cam contour attached to each of said block arms.

9. The improvement according to claim 6 and further comprising biasing means urging the said blocks together.

10. In apparatus for packaging, the improvement comprising: means for supporting in an upright position a package having an outer portion of relatively stiff material and an inner liner of soft material, the outer portion being at least partially open at its top and the inner liner being at least partially attached to the outer portion at respective sides by gluing, means defining a path for moving of the supporting means and the outer package during packaging, reciprocal knife-like means insertable between the liner and outer portion at the top to partially cut the gluing attaching the liner to the outer portion, and reciprocating means responsive to the movement of the supporting means to operatively reciprocate the knife-like means and to insert and withdraw the knifelike means, said reciprocating means comprises a shaft fixed to the knife-like means and means defining a bearing surface for reciprocation of the shaft therein, means defining a cam surface, a follower pulley engaging the cam surface and constrained to move along the cam surface, and means connecting the follower pulley and shaft to reciprocate the shaft in response to the movement of the follower pulley.

11. The improvement according to claim 161 and further comprising gripping means to grip the liner at its upper end during insertion of the knife-like means.

12. The improvement according to claim 11 wherein the gripping means comprises a pair of opposed pressure blocks defining means to engage a portion of the liner therebetween, spring means urging the blocks together, and control cam means operable to separate the blocks on withdrawal of the knife-like means.

7 13. The improvement according to claim 12 wherein 2,133,367 10/38 Wagner 53-22 the control cam means comprises a pair of follower pu11 2,679,292 5/54 I BaTrett 156584 leys mounted on the knife-like means, and a camcon-tom 2,685,925 8/54 Flener et al. I 156584 fixed to each :of the pressure blocks, the follower pulleys and pressure blocksv in response :to the withdrawal of engagingrespective camcontours to move the contours 5 OTHER REFERENCES 3 Packaging Review, pages 44 and 45, April 1960 issue. the knife-like means.

References Cited by theExaminer FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 10 JOHN C. CHRISTIE, TRAVIS S. McGEHEE, 1,970,193 8/34 Rieb'el 53--22 Examiners.

Claims (1)

1. IN APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING A SUBSTANCE IN A PACKAGE HAVING AN OUTER PACKAGE PORTION AND AN EVACUATED LINER OF SOFT MATERIAL, THE SAID LINER HAVING BEEN AT LEAST PARTIALLY ATTACHED TO THE OUTER PACKAGE PORTION BY GLUING PRIOR TO EVACUATION, THE PACKAGE BEING HELD IN A PACKAGE HOLDER, AND THE PACKAGE HOLDER BEING MOVEABLE DURING PACKAGING, THE IMPROVEMENTS COMPRISING: RECIPROCATING KNIFE-LIKE MEANS ACTUATED IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE MOVEMENT OF SAID PACKAGE HOLDER TO AT LEAST PARTIALLY CUT THE GLUING ATTACHING THE LINER TO THE OUTER PACKAGE PORTION, AND FURTHER COMPRISING GUIDE BEARING MEANS FOR THE RECIPROCATING KNIFE-LIKE MEANS, THE KNIFE-LIKE MEANS INCLUDING A RECIPROCATING GUIDE SHAFT OPERABLE IN THE BEARING MEANS.

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