US3287879A

US3287879A - Bag dispensing, transporting and positioning apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3287879A
Application number: US310071A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Frank H Miller
Original assignee: Miller Engineering Corp
Current assignee: Miller Engineering Corp
Priority date: 1963-09-19
Filing date: 1963-09-19
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

Nov. 29, 1966 F. H. MILLER, JR {@7379 TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS DISPENSING,

Filed Sept. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANK H. M|LLER,JR

M fiff ATTQ RNEY Nov. 29, 1966 F. H. MILLER, JR

DISPENSING, TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRANK H. MILLER JRI ZMflfl-Q.

ATTORNEY NOV. 29, 1966 LE JR 3,287,879

DISPENSING, TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 19, 1.963 s Shee'cs-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

FRANK H. M|LLER,JR

United States Patent 3,287,879 BAG DISPENSING, TRANSPORTING AND POSITIONING APPARATUS Frank H. Miiler, J12, Louisville, Ky., assignor to Miller Engineering Corporation, Louisville, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky Filed Sept. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 310,071 7 Claims. (Cl. 53188) This invention relates to a bag dispensing, transporting and positioning device. More specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing in one by one fashion bags to be transported to a filling spout of a filllng machine and positioning same on said spout.

The invention is directed to a class of bags known in the trade as valve bags. Bags of this general classification are disclosed by Contryman in US. 2,378,285; by Burroughs in US. 2,528,419; and by Lee in Reissue 23,- 230. These bags are of the multi-ply paper variety and instead of being open at the top are adhesively sealed at one end and along the length of the top with the other end of the top remaining open to form a valve opening. In some instances, the unsealed end is tucked in at 90 to the body of the bag and such bags are termed internal valve bags. In some internal valve bags a polyethylene tube is sealed onto the tucked in portion at the bottom and to the folded over portion at the top so that the pressure of the material being fed into the bag presses against the polyethylene tube which acts as a check valve, so that when the bag is filled the contents close the tube thus sealing the bag. In other instances, the unsealed portion is not tucked in but remains open in the form of a spout. These bags are referred to as external valve bags and the unsealed portion is later tucked in and adhesively sealed after the bag is filled. (See, for example, the patent to A. R. Swenson, 3,083,780.) In any event, the valve opening occupies the upper corner of the bag and it is necessary to properly position the bag for transport to the filling spout so that the valve opening faces the filling spout and to provide means for fitting the spout into the opening.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a method and means whereby bags of this type may be automatically dispensed, transported and positioned onto a filling spout.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby bags of this nature may be dispensed in one by one relation from the magazine.

Still another object of this invention is provision of means whereby the bag approaches the filling spout at the proper angle for positioning of the valve opening onto the filling spout.

Still another object of this invention is to provide means whereby the valve opening is opened prior to reaching the filling spout.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the attached drawings and the detailed description thereof which follows.

Referring now to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the bag dispensing, transporting and positioning apparatus of this invention.

FIG. la is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 1a-1a of FIG. 1 illustrating the construction of the throat members for opening the valve opening of a bag.

FIG. 1b is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 1b1b of FIG. 1 illustrating said throat members.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the magazine.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the relation of the first suction means and the second suction means at the bag transfer position.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of the pneumatic and 3,287,879 Patented Nov. 29, 1966 "ice suction systems as related to the suction means and to the transport power means.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a modification of a bag positioning means utilizing cam tracks and cam followers.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6 illustrating the relation of the movable carrier to the cam tracks.

FIG. 8 is a rear perspective view of the articulated movable carriage.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a bag illustrating its position in the magazine and the relation of the first suction means thereto.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating the relation of the first suction means to the second suction means and to the bag at the bag transfer position.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the magazine M, as best illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises front post 1 and rear post 4 which are connected together by side rails 3. Attached to the front post 1 is an inverted T-shaped front member 2 containing a curved lip 2a at the top. The rear member of the magazine is made up of rear plates 5 containing rollers 6 connected to shafts 7 which engage on side rails 3 and in which the plates 5 are connected together by rear transverse rails 8. The side plates 5 contain an eye member 10 towhich cable 11 is attached, which is trained over pulleys 12 and attached to weight 13. Thus, the rear member is always being pulled toward front member 2. The side rails 3 are spaced apart the length of a bag B so that the bags may be stacked in the magazine with their longitudinal axis in a horizontal plane and their minor axis in a vertical plane, with one edge resting on floor member 9. The folded over top portion of the bag is dispensed in the magazine so that it faces the rear. (See FIG. 9.)

Referring now to FIG. 1, the frame of the apparatus Zgtnprises bottom beam 50 and upright beams 41 and Connected to

uprights

41 and 42 is a diagonal brace 43 running to and attached to transverse beam 44 at the top. Connected also to transverse beam 44 is topmost beam 45 which is connected in turn to an angular extending beam 46 at the top of upright 41. Another diagonal beam 47 is connected to upright 41 and to beam 46 to support the latter. An angle iron 14, disposed so that its vertex extends upwardly, is connected across base beams 50. Welded to said angle arm is double action air cylinder 15 containing piston rod 16 and

air connections

17 and 18. The piston rod 16 is connected by clevis bracket 19 to arm 21 by means of clevis pin 20. Arm 21 is pivoted on shaft 23 which is journaled in upright support 22 by bushing 24. At the far end of the arm 21 is a double action cylinder 25 containing

air connections

26 and 27 and piston rod 28. The piston rod is connected to suction manifold 29 which in turn is connected to suction line 30 and contains a series of suction cups 31. The large sprocket 33 is keyed onto the shaft 23 so as to be revolved by the extension or retraction of piston rod 16 of drive cylinder 15. Chain 34 is trained over sprocket 35 which in turn is connected to large sprocket 36 by shaft 38 journaled in pillow block 37. Cooperating with the large sprocket 36 is idler sprocket 39 over which chain 40 is trained. The chain 40 is trained over tension sprocket 52 which is journaled in vertical sprocket 51 attached to beam 46 of the upper frame of the machine. Support 51 contains a slot (not shown) for adjusting the tension on the chain or for replacing the chain. Sprocket 52 is mounted on shaft 53 journaled in support 51. Members 54 form a housing for the chain 40 which is connected to carriage 55 in a conventional trolley connection. Carriage 55 contains suction manifold 56 which is connected to suction line 57 and contains suction cups 58.

As is best illustrated in FIGS. la and 1b, the

throat members

60 and 61 are elongated V-shaped members having the vertex of the V disposed laterally to the movable carriage. It will be noted that the vertex 62 and 63 of

members

60 and 61, respectively, define a smaller angle along lines 1a-1a than is apparent at lines 1b1b. Thus, as the top of the bag is transported through the throat members, the lateral edges of the folded top are pressed inwardly to open the valve opening VO as illustrated in FIG. lb. Thus, the valve opening is opened prior to reaching the spout S and is easily positioned thereon.

In another modification, the bag positioning means makes use of am tracks 70 and 71 and

cam follower rollers

87 and 88 connected to an articulated movable carriage 75. For purposes of illustration, FIG. has been divided into three zones corresponding to the length of the upper cam track 70 and the lower cam track 71. It will be noted that in the first zone 72 that the cam tracks lie in horizontal parallel relation with the roller 87 engaging in the cam track 71 and the roller 88 engaging in the cam track 70. As the carriage moves along into the second zone 73 the lower cam track 71 is inclined at a downward angle of about 28 so that roller 87 follows the downward angle until the cam track hits a horizontal plane. The carriage, connected to chain 40 by

trolley arms

76 and 77 comprising top plate 78, a fixed angular portion 79 in the rear and containing hinged

pivots

83, 84, and 85, thus allows hinged

members

82 and 86 to open, thus disposing the entire carrier at an angle. At the end of the second zone 73 cam track 70 is inclined sharply at an angle and roller 88 following this angle causes the articulated rear portion 81 to pivot on hinged pivot 80 and thus bring the entire carriage into a horizontal plane. In this manner, the bag is disposed at an angle so that the spout S hits the top portion of the valve opening and is inserted therein so that when the rear cam follower 8S enters zone 3 the bag is sharply brought into horizontal position and placed over the spout.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the air supply to fluid motor is by

lines

17 and 18 controlled by valves 91 and 92, respectively. Cylinder 25 is controlled by valves 93 and 94 located in

lines

27 and 26, respectively. Suction line 30 is controlled by valve 95 located between the suction pump and suction manifold 29. Suction line 57 connected to suction manifold 56 is controlled by valve 96.

Operation When valve 91 is opened piston rod 16 is extended to lower arm 21 to its initial horizontal position in proximity to the magazine M. In this position, valve 94 is opened to extend piston rod 23 and suction valve 95 is opened to apply suction to suction cups 31. Thus,

suction cups 31 grip the top of the body of bag B near the valve end. (See FIG. 9.) Valve 91 is closed and valve 92 is opened to retract piston rod 16 causing arm 21 to rise through an arc of about 90, thus removing the bag over the curved lip 2a of the front member 2 of the magazine. Sprocket 33 keyed onto shaft 23 is revolved one quarter of a revolution driving sprocket 35 via chain 34 which in turn drives sprocket 36 and chain 40 trained over idler sprocket 39 to move carrier 55 away from the spout along the tramway to bag transfer position T.

Simultaneously with the opening of valve 92, valve 93 is opened to retract piston rod 28 so that the suction manifold 29 is brought down and out of the way for the arrival of carriage 55. Valve 94 is then opened and valve 93 closed so that the suction cups 31 -con taining the bag which is now disposed with its longitudinal axis directed vertically and with the valve openings facing the spout, are raised by extension of piston rod 28 so that the top of the bag contacts the suction cups 58 on suction manifold 56 of the carriage 55.

Valve 96 is opened and valve 95 is closed so that the suction cups 58 of carriage 56 engage the top of the bag. Valve 93 is opened and valve 94 closed so as to retract the suction manifold 29 via retraction of piston rod 28 and valve 91 is opened and valve 92 closed so as to extend piston rod 16 to lower the arm 21 to its initial horizontal position and to revolve sprocket 33 one quarter of a revolution to drive chain 40 through the power train of sprockets and

chains

34, 35, 36, 39 and 40 previously described to drive the carriage 55 along the tramway toward the spout S.

The various valves may be opened and closed manually or through a series of controls arranged to open and close same in the sequence set forth.

Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention which is meant to be exemplary in nature and nonlimiting except as to be commensurate with the scope of the claims attached hereto.

I claim:

1. A device for singly dispensing and transporting paper bags from a group and positioning same onto a spout of a filling machine, wherein each bag is fabricated of multiple plies of paper sealed at one end and along the length of the top, with the other end of the top unsealed to form a valve opening, which comprises:

(a) a bag holding means, including (i) an open top magazine including a frame containing side members, a front member, a rear member, and means for urging said bags into position towards said front member;

(ii) said side members being spaced apart the length of a bag so as to accommodate a group of bags wherein each bag is positioned with its major axis disposed horizontally and its minor axis disposed vertically with the top of said bag folded over so as to face the rear member;

(b) a first gripping means, including means for gripping the bag in the magazine near the valve end of the body portion thereof in its initial position, wherein its major axis is disposed horizontally, and for holding same until after it is in a bag transfer position outside of the magazine in which position its major axis is disposed vertically;

(c) a second gripping means for gripping the top of said bag in the bag transfer position and for holding same until after it is in position on the filling spout;

(d) a first transport means operatively connected to said first gripping means for movement from an initial horizontal position to a bag transfer position and back to said horizontal position;

(e) a second transport means operatively connected to said second gripping means for movement from an initial position in proximity to said filling spout to a bag transfer position and back to said initial position;

(f) synchronizing means wherein the location of said first transport means is synchronized with the location of said second transport means so that when said first transport means is disposed in its initial horizontal position in proximity to said magazine, said second transport means is disposed in its initial position in proximity to the filling spout, and when said first transport means is in its bag transfer position, it is disposed directly below said second transport means in its bag transfer position;

(g) means for positioning the valve opening of said bag onto a filling spout; and

(h) power means for driving said transport means.

2. A dispensing and transporting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second means utilize suction cups for gripping the bag, the further improvement of (a) valve means for supplying and releasing suction for said first and second suction means, in which (i) suction is applied to said first suction means when the bag is in its initial position and is released after the bag is in its bag transfer position;

(ii) suction is applied to said second suction means when the bag is in its bag transfer position and is released after the bag is in position on the filling spout.

3. A dispensing and transporting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first transport means consists of an arm pivotably mounted for movement from an initial horizontal position through an arc of approximately 90 to a bag transfer position and back to said initial horizontal position.

4. A dispensing and transporting device as defined in claim 1 wherein said synchronizing means includes a first sprocket, a second sprocket and a first chain trained over said first and second sprockets, a third sprocket, a fourth sprocket and a chain trained over said third and fourth sprockets in which said first sprocket is driven through a pre-determined arc in one direction by said power means and through a pre-determined arc in another direction by said power means and said third sprocket is driven by the revolution of said second sprocket to move said carriage in synchronism with the movement of said arm.

5. In an automatic bag positioning apparatus wherein a multi-ply bag containing a valve opening in the top corner thereof is picked up and positioned onto a filling spout of a bag filling apparatus,

(a) that improvement which comprises (i) an articulated movable carrier, a tramway and gripping means associated with said carrier wherein a bag is gripped at the top and moved along said tramway to said spout;

(b) means for positioning said bag onto said spout comprising (i) a pair of cam tracks running the length of said tramway in three zones;

(ii) the cam tracks running in parallel relation throughout the first and last zones;

(iii) the lower cam track inclining downwardly at an angle throughout the first portion of the second zone and then running horizontally;

(iv) the upper cam track running horizontally throughout the first portion of the second zone and then inclining downwardly to terminate in a horizontal plane entering the third zone;

(v) cam followers connected to the front and rear of said articulated carriage and running in said lower and upper cam tracks, respectively, wherein said carriage is disposed at an angle and thereby holds the bag at an angle in the second zone of said tramway when the tip of the spout hits the valve opening for easy positioning thereon and thereafter the .top of the bag is brought sharply into a horizontal plane and thereby is placed over the spout as the rear cam follower follows the upper cam track downwardly and then enters into a horizontal position in the last zone.

6. In an automatic bag positioning apparatus wherein a multi-ply bag containing a valve opening in the top corner thereof is picked up and positioned onto a filling spout of a bag filling apparatus (a) that improvement which comprises (i) a movable carrier, a tramway and gripping means associated with said carrier wherein a bag is gripped at the top and moved along said tramway in a horizontal plane to said spout;

(ii) means for opening said valve opening prior to reaching said spout for easy positioning thereon which includes (a) a throat member consisting of two elongated V-shaped members in which each of said members is located on either side of the tramway with the vertex of the V facing away from said tramway and in which the angle of the vertex progressively increases along the length of said members so that the folded top of the bag is gradually pushed on its lateral surfaces inwardly to open the valve opening.

7. An automatic bag positioning apparatus for use in picking up and positioning a valve bag onto a spout of a bag filling machine,

(1) that improvement which comprises an articulated movable carner having a cam, gripping means associated with said carrier and a tramway in operative relation with said carrier wherein a bag is gripped at the top and moved along said tramway to said spout;

(2) means for positioning said bag onto said spout comprising,

(a) a cam track operatively associated with said cam of said articulated movable carrier and lo cated in proximity and in axial alignment with said tramway which in cooperation with said cam partially opens said articulated carrier to dispose the carrier and the bag carried thereby at an angle for advantageous positioning onto said spout.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,684,191 7/1954 Dolman 53-188 3,053,027 9/1962 Frost 53190 3,213,588 10/1965 Peterson 53-188 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

Claims

1. A DEVICE FOR SINGLY DISPENSING AND TRANSPORTING PAPER BAGS FROM A GROUP AND POSITIONING SAME ONTO A SPOUT OF A FILLING MACHINE, WHEREIN EACH BAG IS FABRICATED OF MULTIPLE PLIES OF PAPER SEALED AT ONE END AND ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE TOP, WITH THE OTHER END OF THE TOP UNSEALED TO FORM A VALVE OPENING, WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A BAG HOLDING MEANS, INCLUDING (I) AN OPEN TOP MAGAZINE INCLUDING A FRAME CONTAINING SIDE MEMBERS, A FRONT MEMBER, A REAR MEMBER, AND MEANS FOR URGING SAID BAGS INTO POSITION TOWARDS SAID FRONT MEMBER; (II) SAID SIDE MEMBERS BEING SPACED APART THE LENGTH OF A BAG SO AS TO ACCOMMODATE A GROUP OF BAGS WHEREIN EACH BAG IS POSITIONED WITH ITS MAJOR AXIS DISPOSED HORIZONTALLY AND ITS MINOR AXIS DISPOSED VERTICALLY WITH THE TOP OF SAID BAG FOLDED OVER SO AS TO FACE THE REAR MEMBER; A FIRST GRIPPING MEANS, INCLUDING MEANS FOR GRIPPING THE BAG IN THE MAGAZINE NEAR THE VALVE END OF THE BODY PORTION THEREOF IN ITS INITIAL POSITION, WHEREIN ITS MAJOR AXIS IS DISPOSED HORIZONTALLY, AND FOR HOLDING SAME UNTIL AFTER IT IS IN A BAG TRANSFER POSITION OUTSIDE OF THE MAGAZINE IN WHICH PORTION ITS MAJOR AXIS IS DISPOSED VERTICALLY; (C) A SECOND GRIPPING MEANS FOR GRIPPING THE TOP OF SAID BAG IN THE BAG TRANSFER POSITION AND FOR HOLDING SAME UNTIL AFTER IT IS IN POSITION ON THE FILLING SPOUT(D) A FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST GRIPPING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN INITIAL HORIZONTAL POSITION TO A BAG TRANSFER POSITION AND BACK TO SAID HORIZONTAL POSITION; (E) A SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND GRIPPING MEANS FOR MOVEMENT FROM AN INITIAL POSITION IN PROXIMITY TO SAID FILLING SPOUT TO A BAG TRANSFER POSITION AND BACK TO SAID INITIAL POSITION; (F) SYNCHRONIZING MEANS WHEREIN THE LOCATION OF SAID FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS IS SYNCHRONIZED WITH THE LOCATION OF SAID SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS SO THAT WHEN SAID FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS IS DISPOSED IN ITS INITIAL HORIZONTAL POSITION IN PROXIMITY TO SAID MAGAZINE, SAID SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS IS DISPOSED IN ITS INITIAL POSITION IN PROXIMITY TO THE FILLING SPOUT, AND WHEN SAID FIRST TRANSPORT MEANS IS IN ITS BAG TRANSFER POSITION, IT IS DISPOSED DIRECTLY BELOW SAID SECOND TRANSPORT MEANS IN ITS BAG TRANSFER POSITION; (G) MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE VALVE OPENING OF SAID BAG ONTO A FILLING SPOUT; AND (H) POWER MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID TRANSPORT MEANS.