US3326093A - Bag folding machine - Google Patents

Description

June 20, 1967 o. TERZUOLI BAG FOLDING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 25, 1964 DOM/NICK TERZUOLI we NM Q NM m o oflnfvnsinwmnnawwwmmwmmmnomwnammmwoa J .2 ms E 3 l". N l N wj ATTORNEY June 20, 1967 TERZUOLI 3,326,093

BAG FOLDING MACHINE In! [Dim] I NVENTOR. DOM/NICK TE RZUOLI ATi'ORNE Y June 20, 1967 D. TERZUOLI 3,326,093

BAG FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1964 9 Sheets$heet 5 INVENTOR. DOMINICK TERZUOL/ A TTORNE Y June 20, 1967 D. TERZUOLI BAG FOLDING MACHINE 9 Sheets$heet Filed Aug. 25, 1964 9 Sheets-$heet Filed Aug. 25, 1964 wmaw MN MAN INVENTOR DOMINIC K TE RZ UOLI W) e m em .lll: fin 3% mwav in mw\\ m 0 F J o s3 mww mm Jim www Xmnw www\ ,4

ATTORNEY June 20, 1967 D, TERZUOLI 3,326,093

BAG FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 a INVENTOR g: oomnwcx TERZUOLI ATTORNEY June 20, 1967 TERZUOLI 3,326,093

BAG FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 INVENTOR DOM/NICK TERZUOLI ATTORNEY June 20, 1967 D. TERZUOLI 3,326,)93

BAG FOLDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 25, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR cg DOM/NICK TERZUOLI ATTORNEY Unitcd States Patent 3,326,093 BAG FOLDING MACHINE Dominick Terzuoli, 2717 N ewkirk Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11226 Filed Aug. 25, 1964, Ser. No. 391,966 11 Claims. (Cl. 93--27) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for closing the ends of paper bags conveys the bags, in spaced relation, along a planar path with ends of the bags projecting at one side of the path to be acted upon successively by an adhesive applying disk having its adhesive carrying periphery contacted by each bag at a distance from the leading edge thereof upon deflection of the bag and being rotated to register a peripheral notch of the disk with the trailing edge of each bag for applying an adhesive stripe parallel to the projecting end and spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag, and then by first and second folding disks rotated at peripheral speeds far greater than the speed of movement of the bags in planes respectively perpendicular and parallel to the plane of the path for folding the end portion of each bag flat against the adjacent portion thereof with the stripe of adhesive therebetween.

This invention relates to a machine for folding and adhesively securing or bonding sheet paper products, for example, as in the closing of the ends of paper bags to be used for accumulating dust and lint in tank-type vacuum cleaners and for other purposes.

Although special machines have been provided for closing the ends of paper bags with either single or double folds which are adhesively secured, such existing machines are incapable of operating at high speeds to provide uniform and sharply creased folds that are reliably secured by adhesive. The existing machines particularly encounter ditficulties when the bag material is flimsy or lacking in substantial body. Further, the existing machines cannot be easily or conveniently converted from operation to produce a single fold in operation for producing double folds in the bag.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a machine capable of high speed operation in effect ing the uniform and sharp folding and reliable adhesive securing of the ends of paper bags and the like, without regard to the quality of the bag material.

Another object is to provide a machine of the described character from which the bags are discharged at a high rate or capacity, but with the adhesive in a substantially dry or set condition capable of securely retaining the folds of the bags even though the adhesive employed may be of a relatively inexpensive type which is normally disadvantageously characterized by a relatively long setting or drying time.

Still another object is to provide a machine of the described type which, by a simple adjustment thereof, is capable of producing a single fold, a double fold, or a so-called double-lock fold at the ends of successive bags passed through the machine.

A further object is to provide a machine of the described character in which the adhesive is applied to each bag in a manner to prevent bleeding or cozing of adhesive from the ends of the fold upon pressing or ironing of the latter, thereby to avoid sticking together of the closed bags when the latter are stacked or stored one upon the other.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, a machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags 3,326,693 Patented June 20, 1967 comprises a horizontally elongated frame with a main conveyor extending throughout the length of said frame with a main conveyor extending throughout the length of said frame and having parallel pressed together horizontal runs of substantial length which are continuously driven to move in the direction from one end of the frame to the other end of the latter, an infeed conveyor introducing successive, uniformly spaced apart bags between the runs of the main conveyor for transport by the latter from said one end of the frame to the other end of the frame with an end of each bag projecting laterally beyond the main conveyor at one side of the latter, at least one series of devices arranged at that one side of the runs of the main conveyor and operative successively on the projecting end portions of the successive bags to crease each bag along a line parallel to the end of the latter, to apply a stripe of adhesive parallel to such crease and to fold the end portion of the bag about the crease and flat against the adjacent portion of the bag with the applied stripe of adhesive therebetween, and auxiliary conveyor means receiving the successive bags from the main conveyor and transporting each bag upwardly and then horizontally above the main conveyor for discharge at a location near the end of the frame adjacent the infeed conveyor, such auxiliary conveyor means continuously pressing the folded portion of each bag during transport of the latter from the main conveyor to provide an opportunity for the adhesive to set and tightly secure the folded portion of each bag against the adjacent portion of the latter prior to discharge from the machine.

Where each bag is to be provided with a double fold at an end thereof, first and second series of the devices for successively creasing, applying adhesive and folding the projecting end portion of each bag are provided at locations spaced apart along the main conveyor. Further, the infeed conveyor for introducing the successive, spaced apart bags betweenthe runs of the mainconveyors has a laterally adjustable fence or side guide which can be moved to change the distance by which the end portion of each bag projects laterally beyond the main conveyor. Thus, by suitable increasing such distance, the width of the first fold can be made greater than the width of the second fold, therebyto provide a lock or additional narrow fold along the edge of the first fold when the second fold is made.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the auxiliary conveyor means which receives the bags from the main conveyor includes a large diameter transfer pulley rotatably mounted adjacent the dscharge end of the main conveyor with the plane of the operative runs of the main conveyor being substantially tangent to the bottom of the tangentially from the top of the transfer pulley toward the end of the frame at which the infeed conveyor is disposed, and a pressure belt running around the transfer pulley from the bottom to the top of the latter and then above the run of the support conveyor belt so that, as each bag issues from between the runs of the main conveyor, the folded portion of the bag is gripped between the pres sure belt and the periphery of the transfer pulley and then between the pressure belt and the support conveyor belt to press or iron the folds during setting of the adhesive.

In accordance with a feature of this invention, the device for applying a stripe of adhesive to each bag includes a rotatable disk mounted in a vertical plane with its periphery spaced downwardly a small distance from the plane between the runs of the main conveyor and dipping in an adhesive reservoir for picking up adhesive, a deflecting member mounted adjacent the disk and acting from above on the end portion of each bag to deflect the latter into initial adhesive receiving contact with the periphery of the disk at a location on the bag spaced from the leading edge of the latter, the disk having a notch in its periphery, and means rotating the disk in synchronism with the movement of the succesive bags by the main conveyor to register the notch in the periphery of the disk with the trailing edge of each bag transported past the disk, so that the stripe of adhesive applied to each bag has its ends spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag to avoid bleeding of adhesive from between the folds of the bag when such folds are pressed or ironed.

In order to achieve sharp and accurate folding of each bag, the device provided for that purpose preferably includes a first folding disk rotated at high speed in a plane perpendicularly to the plane between the runs of the main conveyor and laterally located immediately outside of the line along which each bag has been previously creased to act on the end portion of the bag and fold the same about the crease to a position at right angles to the remainder of the bag, and a second folding disk located after the first folding disk, considered in the direction of movement of the main conveyor runs, and being also rotated at relatively high speed in a plane substantially parallel to the plane between the main conveyor runs to further fold the end portion of each bag through 90, thereby to lie against the adjacent portion of the bag.

In order to promote penetration or impregnation of the applied adhesive between the fibers of the paper bag material, the machine embodying this invention further preferably has upper and lower block chains extending alongside the main conveyor runs after each folding device and having operative runs initially pressing the folds of the bags prior to the release of the latter from the main conveyor.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a machine embodying this invention for providing the ends of paper bags with adhesively secured double-folds;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the bag folding machine, as viewed from the side thereof opposed to that shown in FIG. 1, and with an infeed conveyor shown at the input end of the bag folding machine;

FIG. 3. is a top plan view of the bag folding machine;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 1, but on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 55 on FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 6--6 on FIG. 4, and showing the devices by which the first folding and adhesive securing of each bag is effected;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view in the same plane as the devices by which the second folding and adhesive securing of each bag is effected;

FIG. 8 is another fragmentary sectional view in the same plane as FIGS. 6 and 7, but showing the back end portion of the machine;

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional View taken along the line 9-9 on FIG. 6, but on an enlarged scale, and showing a device for creasing each bag;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged top plan view of a device by which stripes of adhesive are applied to the successive bags,

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are enlarged, diagrammatic views illustrating successive phases in the operation of the adhesive applying device;

FIG. 14 is an, enlarged detailed sectional view taken along the line 14-14 011 FIG. 6, and showing part of a folding device;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 1515 on FIG. 6;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 16-16 on FIG. 4, and showing the main conveyor of the machine;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view taken along the line 1717 on FIG. 3, and showing the transmissions for driving several of the devices of the machine;

FIGS. 18 to 23 are diagrammatic perspective views illustrating the successive phases of operation of the machine in providing a double-fold at an end of each bag;

FIG. 24 is a view similar to that of FIG. 18, but showing the location of the initial crease formed in each bag when the latter is to be provided with a locked doublefold;

FIG. 25 illustrates the location of the second crease formed in the bag of FIG. 24;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the finished locked double-fold; and

FIG. 27 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 27-27 on FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4 thereof, it will be seen that a bag folding machine embodying this invention and there generally identified by the reference numeral 10 comprises a horizontally elongated frame base 11 with a superstructure 12 extending upwardly from the frame base adjacent one side of the latter. Cross members 13 extend laterally from the top of superstructure 12 and are cantilevered over frame base 11, and an elongated upper support surface or table 14 is carried by cross members 13 and extends from near the front end of the frame to the back end of the latter. A pair of parallel, laterally spaced apart, longitudinally extending vertical plates 15 and 16 depend from cross members 13, and a pair of laterally spaced apart vertical plates 17 and 18 extend upwardly from frame base 11 and are vertically aligned with the plates 15 and 16, respectively. The plates 15 and 16 and the plates 17 and 18 are vertically dimensioned so that their adjacent edges are vertically spaced apart and define gaps 19 therebetween. The plates 15 and 17 are spaced laterally from the superstructure 12 of the frame so as to define a working space 20 (FIG. 5) extending throughout the length of the frame and opening at the front and back ends of the latter. A lower support surface or table 21 projects laterally outward from the top edge of plate 18 and is further supported by braces 22 extending upwardly from frame base 11.

The machine has a main conveyor 23 (FIGS. 4 and 16) comprised of an upper endless belt 24 disposed between plates 15 and 16 and a lower endless belt 25 disposed between plates 17 and 18. Upper belt 24 runs around pulleys 26 and 27 whcih are rotatably mounted between plates 15 and 16 adjacent the front and back ends of the frame, and lower belt 25 runs around pulleys 28 and 29 which are rotatably mounted between plates 17 and 18 adjacent the front and back ends of the frame. The pulleys 26 and 28 adjacent the front end of the machine frame and the pulleys 27 and 29 adjacent the back end of the frame are vertically located so that the lower run of upper belt 24 and the upper run of lower belt 25 come together at a substantially horizontal plane which coincides with the top surface of the lower support table 21, as shown on FIG. 4. The upper or operative run of the lower belt 25 is supported between pulleys 28 and 29 by means of rollers 30 which are freely rotatable on axles fixedly supported by plates 17 and 18 at numerous spaced locations. The lower or operative run of upper belt 24 is pressed downwardly against the operative run of belt 25 by means of rollers 31 at spaced apart locations between pulleys 26 and 27, and which are freely rotatable on axles 32. The axles 32 are guided for vertical movement relative to side plates 15 and 16, for example, by bolts 33 extending upwardly from the ends of each axle 32 and being slidable in suitable holes formed in flanges 34 extending outwardly from side plates 15 and 16. A spring 35 extends around each bolt 33 between flange 34 and the adjacent end of axle 32 to urge the latter downwardly relative to the plates 15 and 16. Thus, rollers 31 are urged downwardly to press the operative run of upper belt 24 against the underlying run of belt 25 and thereby ensure secure engagement of such belts with the successive paper bags to be transported by main conveyor 23 from the front end of the machine frame to the back end of the latter.

An infeed conveyor 36 is located at the front end of frame base 11 of machine 10 and includes an auxiliary frame 37 suitably secured to the front end of base 11 and supporting laterally spaced apart, horizontal plates 38 at the level of the horizontal plane between the operative runs of conveyor belts 24 and 25. Auxiliary frame 37 further supports bearings rotatably carrying the shafts of sprockets 39 around which are trained conveyor chains 40. The chains 40 have suitably spaced apart pushers 41 projecting therefrom so that, during movement along the upper runs of chains 40, pushers 41 project upwardly between plates 38 for engagement with the trailing edges of paper bags slidably disposed on the latter. Hold-down belts 42 run around pulleys 43 which are suitably supported above plates 38 so that the lower runs of belts 42 hold the paper bags placed on plates 38 reasonably close to the latter, and thereby avoid disengagement of the bags from pushers 41. It will be apparent that, as successive paper bags are placed on plates 38 in advance of each laterally registered set of pushers 41 moving along the upper runs of chains 40, such pushers advance the successive paper bags into main conveyor 23 at the front end of the main machine frame and accurately determine the spacing between the successive bags as the latter are transported by conveyor 23.

As shown on FIG. 1, the drive for the machine 10 includes an electric motor 44 mounted in base 11 of the machine frame adjacent the back end of the latter and having its shaft connected through a belt and pulley transmission 45 to a speed reducer 46 which is, in turn, connected through a chain and sprocket transmission 47 to a shaft 48 which carries the pulley 29 of the lower conveyor belt 25. A spur gear 49 is further secured on shaft 48 and meshes with a spur gear 50 on a shaft 51 which carries the pulley 27 of the upper conveyor belt 24 (FIG. 17). Thus, the conveyor belts 24 and 25 are simultaneously driven through the pulleys 27 and 29 to effect movement of their operative or confronting runs in the direction from the front end of the machine frame toward the back end of the latter. As shown particularly on FIGS. 1 and 3, a drive shaft 52 extends longitudinally along the outer side of the frame superstructure 12 and is journalled in bearings carried by suitably spaced apart brackets 53 secured to the superstructure. The back end of longitudinal drive shaft 52 has a bevel gear 54 secured thereon and meshing with a bevel gear 55 secured on the end of shaft 48 so that shaft 52 is also rotatably driven from shaft 48. A bevel gear 56 (FIG. 1) is secured on drive shaft 52 adjacent the forward end of the latter and meshes with a bevel gear 57 secured on the outer end of a shaft 58 (FIG. which is suitably journalled in superstructure 12. A chain and sprocket transmission 59 (FIG. 5) provides a driving connection from shaft 58 to the shaft 60 of infeed conveyor 37 carrying the sprockets 39 which are closest to the input end of main conveyor 23. It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the drive for the main conveyor 23 and for the infeed conveyor 37 that the chains 40 and pushers 41 thereon are moved in synchronism with the movement of the operative run of belts 24 and 25 of the main conveyor.

As shown particularly on FIG. 3, the infeed conveyor 36 has side guides or fences 61 which are engageable with the opposite ends of paper bags placed on the support plates 38 to laterally guide the bags fed to the main conveyor, and such fences are laterally adjustable relative to auxiliary frame 37 so as to accommodate different sized bags therebetween and further to permit lateral adjustment of the positions of the successive bags relative to the main conveyor belts 24 and 25. In every case, the fences 61 are laterally adjusted so that the bags guided thereby will be gripped between the operative runs of main conveyor belts 24 and 25 with an end portion of each bag projecting laterally beyond the conveyor belts through the gap 19 between side plates 15 and 17 and into the working space 20. During transport by main conveyor 23, the end portion of each bag remote from that projecting into working space 20 may extend through the gap 19 between side plates 16 and 18 and be slidably supported on the lower supporting table 21.

During the continuous transport of the successive bags firmly gripped between the operative runs of main conveyor belts 24 and 25, the end portions of the bags projecting into the space are subjected to the following, successively performed operations:

First creasing of each bag B along a line C (FIG. 18) which extends parallel to, and is spaced from the projecting end of the bag;

First application of a stripe S of adhesive to the underside of bag B between the crease C and the end edge of the bag (FIG. 19);

First folding of the end portion of the bag B downwardly and inwardly about the crease C to form a first fold F (FIG. 20) held to the adjacent portion of the bag by the adhesive stripe S Pressing of the first fold F to ensure penetration of the adhesive of stripe S into fibers of the paper bag material;

Second creasing of the bag along a line C which is parallel to, and spaced inwardly from the folded edge of the first fold F (FIG. 21);

Second application of a stripe S of adhesive to the underside of first fold F (FIG. 22);

Second folding of the folded portion of the bag downwardly and inwardly about the crease C to form a double-fold F (FIG. 23) which is held to the adjacent portion of the bag by the adhesive stripes S and Pressing of the double-fold F to ensure penetration of the adhesive of stripes S into the fibers of the paper bag materital.

In the illustrated machine 10, the first creasing operation is performed by a creasing device 62 (FIGS. 6 and 9) constituted by upper and lower rollers 63 and 64 mounted on shafts 65 and 66, respectively, which are journalled in suitable bearings carried by the frame superstructure 12. Rollers 63 and 64 are located so that the nip therebetween is substantially in the horizontal plane at which the operative runs of belts 24 and 25 are pressed together. Roller 63 has a circumferential groove 67 formed therein, while the lower roller 64 has a complementary circumferential rib 68 located to fit into groove 67. The groove 67 and rib 68 are axially located on the respective rollers to be laterally spaced outwardly from belts 24 and 25 by a distance less than that by which the end portion of each bag projects beyond the main conveyor belts. Thus, as the projecting end portion of a paper bag B passes through the nip of rollers 63 and 64, as shown on FIG. 9, the cooperating groove and rib of such rollers serve to crease or score the end portion of the bag along a line C (FIG. 18) extending parallel to, and spaced inwardly from the end edge of the bag. As shown on FIG. 5, the drive for the rollers 63 and 64 of creasing device 62 is constituted by a spur gear 69 on shaft 58 meshing with an idler 69a which, in turn engages a spur gear 70 secured on lower shaft 66. The upper shaft 65 has a gear 71 thereon meshing with gear 70, so that shafts 65 and 66, and hence rollers 63 and 64 are rotated in opposite directions.

After creasing of the projecting end portion of a bag by device 62, the first adhesive stripe S is applied to the bag by an adhesive applying device 72 (FIGS. 6 and 10). Device 72 includes a disk 73 mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on a shaft 74 journalled in bearings carried by frame superstructure 12. Shaft 74 is vertically located so that the periphery of disk 73, at the top of the latter, is spaced downwardly a small distance from the horizontal plane, indicated at 75 on FIGS. 6 and 11, at which the operative runs of main conveyor belts 24 and 25 are pressed together. Thus, as the leading edge of a paper bag B moves over the top of disk 73, the leading edge portion of the bag is spaced from the periphery of disk 73, as indicated at 76 on FIG. 11.

A deflecting member 77 adjustably suspended from a rail 78 mounted at the outer side of plate is formed with a lower end portion which extends below horizontal plane 75 at a location beyond the top of disk 73, considered in the direction of movement of the main conveyor. Thus, after the leading edge of the bag B has moved past the top of disk 73 and encounters the lower end of deflecting member 77, the latter downwardly defleets the projecting end portion of the bag into initial contact with the periphery of disk 73. It will be apparent from FIG. 12 that the location on the bag of its initial contact with the disk is spaced from the leading edge of the bag.

The lower portion of disk 73 extends into an upwardly opening fountain 79 containing adhesive received through a tube 80 from a tank or reservoir 81 which is mounted on top of frame superstructure 12. The "supply of adhesive in tank 81 is preferably stirred or otherwise maintained in a smooth liquid condition by means of a stirrer 82 driven by an electric motor 83 which is mounted on a post 84 projecting upwardly from the frame superstructure.

As shown on FIG. 5, a gear 85 is secured on shaft 74 and meshes with an idler 86 driven by gear 70 on shaft 66 of the'lower creasing roller 64 so that the adhesive applying disk 73 is driven from the preceding creasing device 62.

As disk 73 is rotated, its periphery picks up adhesive from the fountain 79. The amount of adhesive on the periphery of disk 73, and hence the thickness of the adhesive stripe applied by the latter to each bag upon contact therewith, is controlled by a doctor member 87 adjustably mounted on a support 88 and having a notch receiving the periphery of disk 73. The doctor member 87 wipes the side surfaces of disk 73 to prevent the buildup of adhesive thereon adjacent the periphery. Angular adjustment of the doctor member on support 88 serves to either increase or decrease the distance between the peripheral edge of disk 73 and the inner edge or bottom of the notch in the doctor member, thereby to control the thickness of the layer of adhesive remaining on the peripheral edge of the disk.

As shown particularly on FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, a notch or cutout 73' is formed in the periphery of disk 73, and the drive of the disk is coordinated or synchronized with the movement of the successive bags by main conveyor belts 24 and 25 so that the notch 73' is located at the top of the adhesive applying disk 73 at the instant when the trailing edge of each of the successive bags B is registered with the top of the disk, as shown on FIG. 13. Thus, the stripe S of adhesive applied by the periphery of disk 73 to the underside of each bag B has its ends spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag so that, when the end portion of the bag is folded over and pressed or ironed, as hereinafter described in detail, the adhesive for securing the fold will not bleed or be squeezed out of the ends of the fold to raise the possibility of the finished bags sticking or adhering to each other. The disk 73 is axially located so that the stripe S of adhesive applied to the underside of each bag will 8 be located between the first crease C and the end edge of the bag.

As each bag is moved beyond adhesive applying device 72, the portion of the bag between the crease C and the projecting end edge is engaged from above by a further deflecting member 89 which is adjustably suspended from rail 78. The lower end of deflecting member 89 extends substantially below horizontal plane 75 between the operative runs of main conveyor 23 and thus downwardly deflects the end portion of each bag about its crease line C However, the actual first folding of each bag isefi'ected by a device 90 (FIGS. 6, l4 and 15) having disks 91 and 92 rotated at high speed. Disks 91 and 92 are located to respectively eflect downward folding of the end portion of each bag about the crease C and then inward folding of the end portion so that the stripe S of adhesive then contacts the underside of the adjacent portion of the bag to secure the fold.

As shown, disk 91 is mounted for rotation in a vertical plane on a shaft 93 journalled in suitable bearings carried by frame superstructure 12 and located so that the lower portion of disk 91 extends, from above, substantially below horizontal plane 75. Further, disk 91 is axially located so that its vertical plane of rotation lies immediately outside of the crease C previously formed in each bag. As each bag moves past rotated disk 91, the portion of the bag disposed immediately inward relative to the crease C that is, between the crease and the operative runs of main conveyor belts 24 and 25, is vertically supported or guided between an elongated upper shoe 94 and a lower guide 95. Shoe 94 is adjustably suspended from rail 78 so as to extend alongside plate 15 immediately above plane 75 from a position immediately after creasing device 62 to a position just beyond disk 92 of folding device 90, as shown on FIG. 6. The lower guide 95 underlies a major portion of the length of shoe 94 and is substantially in the form of an angle member, as shown on FIG. 14. Guide 95 is mounted on the outside of lower plate 17 so that the horizontal flange or leg of the guide is spaced downwardly from shoe 94 to permit the movement of the successive bags therebetween. The horizontal leg or flange of lower guide 95 has its outer edge, at least in the region of the disk 91, spaced only a small distance from the inner face of the disk, that is, substantially in alignment with the crease C previously formed in each bag. Thus, as each bag passes disk 91, the lower portion of the periphery of the latter, which is moving downwardly and forwardly at a high speed, flips the end portion of the bag downwardly across the outer edge of lower guide 95, and thus about the crease C The lower guide 95 terminates before the disk 92, and the latter is mounted for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane which is slightly below the horizontal plane 75 and preferably slightly inclined upwardly in the direction of movement of the bag, as is apparent on FIGS. 6 and 15. The disk 92 is laterally located to cause its inner peripheral portion to extend under shoe 94 so that, when disk 92 is rotated at high speed to move its inner peripheral portion in the same general direction as the movement of the bags, such inner peripheral portion of disk 92 engages the previously downwardly folded end portion of each bag passing the disk and flips or further folds such end portion of the bag inwardly and upwardly against the underside of the adjacent portion of the bag. In order to avoid tearing of the bags by the edges of disks 91 and 92 during the folding or flipping actions of the latter, the edges of disks 91 and 92 are preferably bevelled at their inner and upper sides, respectively, as shown on FIGS. 14 and 15.

The mounting for the disk 92 may include a shaft 96 journalled in a bearing block 97 which is carried by a support 98 (FIG. 6) located wtihin frame superstructure 12.

In order to drive the disks 91 and 92 of folding device 90, a bevel gear 99 is secured on longitudinal drive shaft 52 at a location intermediate the ends thereof (FIGS. 1 and 3) and meshes with a bevel gear 100 secured on the outer end of a laterally extending shaft 101 (FIGS. 3 and 17) which is journalled in suitable bearings supported by frame superstructure 12. A spur gear 102 is secured on shaft 101 within superstructure 12 and meshes with a gear 103 secured on a shaft 104 which is also rotatably journalled in the frame superstructure. Gear 103 meshes, in turn, with a gear 105 disposed thereabove on a shaft 106 journalled in the superstructure 12. As shown on FIG. 6, shafts 104 and 106 project from superstructure 12 into the working space between the superstructure and side plates 15 and 17 and are disposed equally below and above, respectively, the horizontal plane 75. The ends of shafts 104 and 106 within the working space carry sprockets 107 and 108 driving block chains 109 and 110, respectively. The chains 109 and 110 also run around sprockets 111 and 112, respectively, which are secured on shafts 113 and 114 disposed forwardly with respect to the shafts 104 and 106 and being journalled in bearings carried by frame superstructure 12. The upper shaft 114 carries a relatively large diameter sprocket 115 located within superstructure 12 (FIG. 17) and driving a chain 116 which runs around a relatively small sprocket 117 secured on shaft 93 of folding disk 91. By reason of the relative diameters of sprockets 115 and 117, disk 91 is driven at a high rotational speed so that the velocity at the peripheral portion of disk 91 which engages the end portion of each 'bag to fold the same about the crease C is substantially greater than the speed of movement of the bag by the main conveyor, whereby the folding disk 91 exerts a wiping or flipping action during folding of the bag. The disk 92 is driven from the disk 91 by a flexible belt 118 (FIG. 6) running around pulleys 119 and 120 on shafts 93 and 96, respectively, and being guided therebetween by idler pulleys 121.

Sprockets 107 and 111 and sprockets 108 and 112 which respectively carry block chain-s 109 and 110 are laterally located so that, as each bag is moved beyond folding device 90, the first fold F formed on the bag by device 90 will pass between the confronting runs of block chains 109 and 110 and be ironed or pressed by the latter to ensure penetration of the adhesive of the stripe S into fibers of the paper bag material.

The second creasing of each bag is effected by a second creasing device 62a (FIG. 7) which is substantially the same as the previously described first creasing device 62 and which includes upper and lower rollers 63a and 64a mounted within the working space on shafts 65a and 66a, respectively. Shafts 65a and 66a are journalled in bearings carried by the frame superstructure 12 and located so that the nip between rollers 63a and 64a is substantially in the horizontal plane 75 along which the successive bags are moved by the main conveyor. The rollers 63a and 64a are laterally located within the working space so that the cooperating circumferential groove and rib thereof are in a vertical plane which is displaced or laterally offset inwardly toward side plates 15 and 17 relative to the vertical plane of the similar groove 67 and rib 68 of the rollers 63 and 64 of the first creasing device. Thus, as each bag passes through the nip between the rollers of creasing device 62a, the latter effects creasing thereof along the line C (FIG. 21) which is parallel to, and spaced inwardly from the folded outer edge or crease C of the first fold F The drive for the second creasing device 62a consists of an idler gear 122 (FIG. 17) driven by the gear 105 on the shaft 106 and meshing with a gear 123 on the shaft 66a which in turn, meshes with a gear 124 on the shaft 65a.

The application of the second stripe S of adhesive to the underside of the fold F is effected by an adhesive applying device 72a (FIG. 7) arranged after the creasing device 62a considered in the direction of movement of the successive bags by the main conveyor. The device 72a is substantially the same as the previously described adhesive applying device 72 and has its several parts identified by the same reference numerals employed in connection with the description of the corresponding parts of the device 72, but with the letter a appended thereto. The disk 73a of the second adhesive applying device is laterally located within the working space 20 so that its vertical plane of rotation is laterally offset toward the adjacent side plate 17 relative to the vertical plane of rotation of the disk 72 of the first adhesive applying device, thereby to ensure that the stripe S of adhesive applied to the underside of each bag is located along the first fold F of the bag.

As shown on FIG. 17, the shaft 74a of adhesive applying disk 73a is driven from the shaft 66a of the lower creasing roller 64a through an idler gear 125 meshing with gear 124 on shaft 66a and with a gear 126 secured on the shaft 74a.

The second folding of each bag about the crease C in order to form a double-fold F as shown on FIG. 23, is effected by a folding device a arranged after the second adhesive applying device 72a and being substantially the same as the previously described folding device 90. The several parts of the folding device 90a are identified by the same reference numerals employed in connection with the description of the corresponding parts of the device 90, but with the letter a appended thereto. In the folding device 90a, the vertical plane of rotation of the folding disk 91a is laterally offset in the direction toward plates 15 and 17 relative to the vertical plane of rotation of the disk 91 in folding device 90, and the width of the horizontal flange of the lower guide a is correspondingly reduced so that disk 91:: will be effective to fold each bag downwardly about the crease C of the bag. The axis of rotation of the disk 92:: is similarly closer to the plate 17 than the axis of the disk 92 so that the peripheral portion of disk 92a will be effective to drive the folded portion of each blank inwardly and against the underside of the adjacent portion of the bag.

The pressing of the double-fold F to ensure penetration of the adhesive of strips S into the fibers of the paper bag material is effected by block chains 1109a and 110a which extend in the work space 20 after folding device 90a and have adjacent runs between which the doublefolds of the bags are gripped during final movement of the bags towards the back end of the machine. Chain 109a runs around sprockets 107a and 111a on shafts 104a and 113a which extend from the work space into the frame superstructure 12 and are journalled in the latter. Chain 110a similarly runs around sprockets 108a and 112a mounted on shafts 106a and 112a which are journalled in the frame superstructure. As shown on FIG. 17, shaft 106a is rotated from the upper main drive shaft 51, for example, by means of a chain 127 running around sprockets 128 and 129 secured on shaft 106a and on the upper main drive shaft 51, respectively. The rotation of the upper shaft 106a is transmitted through the upper chain 110a to the shaft 114a which, as shown on FIG. 17, carries a large diameter sprocket 115a driving a chain 116a which runs around a small diameter sprocket 117a fixed on the shaft 93a of the second folding device 90a. Thus, the drive for the second folding device 90a is derived from the upper pressing chain 110a, and the movement of the lower pressing chain 109a is effected by a gear 103a on shaft 104a meshing with the gear a on ahe shaft 106a.

1 The operative runs of the second pressing chains \109a and a are preferably substantially longer than the operative runs of the first pressing chains 109 and 110 11 so that the double-fold F of each bag is subjected to the pressing action of the chains 109a and 110a for a relatively longer period.

Although creasing device 62, adhesive applying device 72, folding device 90, pressing chains 109 and 110, creasing device 62a, adhesive applying device 72a, folding device 90a and chains 109a and 110a act successively on each bag as the latter is transported by main conveyor 23 from the front to the back end of the machine 10, it will be apparent that, at any instant, all the enumerated devices and pair of pressing chains are simultaneously acting on individual bags that are spaced apart along the main conveyor. Thus, the rate at which the machine can discharge bags having double-folded ends is determined by the speed of movement of the main conveyor 23 and the spacing of the bags therealong rather than by the time required for the performance of all of the necessary operations successively on any one of the bags.

With the lateral locations of the creasing device 62 and folding device 90 and of the second creasing device 62a and folding device 90a being fixed, the mere adjustment of the side guides or fences 61 of the infeed conveyor 36 is effective to provide each bag with either a simple double-fold F as illustrated diagrammatically on FIG. 23, or with a locked double-fold, as illustrated schematically on FIG. 26. Where a simple double-fold F is desired, the fences 61 of the infeed conveyor are laterally adjusted so that the distance d (FIG. 18), by which the end edge of each bag projects laterally outward beyond the lien C along which each bag is creased by the first creasing device 62, is no greater than the distance D (FIG. 21) by which the crease C formed by the second creasing device 62a is laterally offset inwardly from the crease C that is, the fold line of the first fold F On the other hand, When it is desired to provide a locked doublefold, the fences or guides 61 of infeed conveyor 36 are laterally adjusted so that the successive bags fed to the main conveyor 23 and transported by the latter will each have its end edge projecting laterally outward beyond the line C of the first crease by a distance d which is greater than the distance D (FIG. 25) by which the line of the second crease C is spaced laterally inward from the line of the first crease C Thus, the edge portion 130 of the first fold F will extend inwardly beyond the second crease C (FIG. 25) and, when the second fold is made about the crease C the edge portion 130 will also be folded, as shown on FIG. 26, to form the so-called lock of the double-fold F After the folded end of each bag has passed between the pressing chains 109a and 110a, the bag arrives at the back end of the machine and is there received by auxiliary conveyor means 131 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 8). As shown particularly on FIG. 8, the auxiliary conveyor means 131 includes a relatively large diameter transfer Pulley 132 mounted on a shaft 133 that is freely rotatable in bearing blocks 134 secured to the back end of frame superstructure 12 (FIG, 1), and also in a support arm 135 (FIG. 2) extending from the back end of the upper table 14. The transfer pulley 132 is located laterally outside the plane of the plates 15 and 17, that is, in line with the working space 20, and its shaft 133 is vertically located so that the plane 75 between the operative runs of conveyor belts 24 and 25 is tangent to pulley 132 at the bottom of the latter and the plane of upper support table 14 is substantially tangent to pulley 132, at the top of the latter. A drive pulley 136 which is substantially of the same diameter as the drive pulley 29 for the lower main conveyor belt 25 is secured on the lower main drive shaft 48 in the working space 20. An endless pressing belt 137 is driven by pulley 136 and has its openative run extending rearwardly from the top of pulley 136 and then around the back half of transfer pulley 132. From the top of pulley 132, the operative run of belt 137 extends forwardly over the upper support table 14 to an idler pulley 138 rotatable in a bracket 139 (FIGS. 1 and 2) extending upwardly from the front end of frame superstructure 12. The return run of belt 137 extends rearwardly from pulley 138 over an intermediate idler roller 140 (FIGS. 2 and 7) and then over a back idler roller 141 (FIGS. 2 and 8), and is carried from the back idler roller around transfer pulley 132 to the drive pulley 136 by means of idler pulleys 142 and 143 (FIG. 8) mounted in a bracket 144 (FIGS. 1 and 3) extending from the back end of frame superstructure 12.

Underlying that portion of the pressing belt 137 which extends from transfer pulley 132 forwardly over the upper support table 14 is a supporting conveyor belt 145 having its operative upper run extending over table 14 between an idler roller 146 (FIG. 8) rotatably supported adjacent the back end of upper table 14 and a drive roller 147 (FIG. 6) rotatably supported adjacent the front end of the table. The belt 145 is driven, for example, through a chain and sprocket transmission 148 (FIG. 4) extending from the upper shaft 65 of the underlying first creasing device 62 to the shaft of drive roller 147, Arranged above the operative run of belt 137 overlying the conveyor belt 145 is a series of pressure rollers 149 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6) rotatably carried by pivoted arms 150 which depend from a side supporting rail 151 and are urged downwardly, as by torsional springs (not shown). Thus, the belt 137 is urged downwardly against the upper or operative run of belt 145.

It will be apparent that, :as each bag is released from between the main conveyor belts 24 and 25 at the back end of the machine frame, the folded end portion of the bag enters between the pressing belt 137 and the bottom of transfer pulley 132. As the bag is carried upwardly around the back of pulley 132 the tension in belt 137 causes the latter to firmly press the folded portion of the bag against the arcuate peripheral surface of pulley 132 to sharpen the creases of the folds. At the top of pulley 132, the folded portion of the bag enters between the upper or operative run of the belt 145 and the run of belt 137 extending from pulley 132 forwardly towards the idler pulley 138. The action of the pressure rollers 149 on belt 137 ensures that the folded portion of each bag is continuously subjected to pressure or an ironing action while travelling along substantially the entire length of the machine between belts 137 and 145.

Thus, each bag is subjected to pressing, at its folded portion, for a relatively long period, even though bags are processed at a high rate. The long period during which the folded portion of each bag is subjected to pres sure ensures that the adhesive of the bags reaching the front end of the machine will be adequately dried or set to reliably hold the folds even though an inexpensive adhesive having a long drying or setting time is employed.

The auxiliary conveyor 131 further includes a pulley 152 (FIGS. 2 and 27) secured on the shaft 133 to turn with the transfer pulley 132 in response to rotation of the latter by the driven belt 137. The pulley 152 is axially located on the shaft 133 :at a distance from the pulley 132 so as to lie outside the vertical plane of the plates 16 and 18. A conveyor belt 153 extends around the pulley 152 and moves forwardly from the top of the latter along the upper support table 14'to an idler pulley 154 (FIG. 4) which is rotatably mounted at the front end edge of table 14. The return run of belt 153 extends from idler roller 154 under table 14 to the bottom of pulley 152 (FIG. 2) and runs, intermediate its length, over an idler pulley or roller 155 which is suitably suspended from one of the cross arms 13 of the frame structure. A pressure belt 156 has an operative run extending over the wrap of belt 153 on pulley 152 between top and bottom idler pulleys or rollers 157 and 158, respectively. Pulleys 157 and 158 are freely rotatable in a supporting frame 159 (FIG. 2) which extends from the back end of frame base 11. The supporting frame 159 further carries freely rotatable guide rollers 160 (FIG. 27) by which the return run of pressure belt 156 is guided from the upper pulley 157 back to the lower pulley or roller 158.

As each bag received by the auxiliary conveyor 131 from the main conveyor 23 has its folded end gripped between the belt 137 and the surface of pulley 132, the opposite end portion of the bag moves from the lower supporting table 21 and is gripped between the belts 153 and 156 to move upwardly therewith around the back of pulley 152 and onto the upper run of belt 153 moving forwardy on the upper supporting table 14. As the bag has its folded end port-ion gripped between conveyor belt 145 and the downwardly pressed run of belt 137, the movement of the bag forwardly over the upper support table 14 is assisted by the engagement of the upper run of belt 153 with the bag adjacent the end thereof remote from the folded end portion.

As shown particularly on FIGS. 2 and 3, the forward end edge of the upper support table 14 is spaced from the front end of frame base 11 and superstructure 12 to provide a gap therebetween accommodating a discharge or delivery conveyor 161. The discharge conveyor 161 has elongated, spaced apart, laterally extending side plates 162 which are suitably supported on top of frame superstructure 12, as shown particularly on FIG. 4. Rollers 163 and 164 are rotatably journalled between the opposite ends of side plates 162 and an endless conveyor belt 165 runs around the rollers 163 and 164, with the operative upper run of conveyor belt 165 being spaced downwardly from the operative run of belt 137 which extends over discharge conveyor belt 165 to the idler pulley or roller 138. Thus, conveyor belts 137 and 145 and conveyor belt 153 cooperate to advance each bag forwardly onto the discharge conveyor belt 165 whereupon such bag is disengaged from the overlying or relatively raised lower run of belt 137 and also disengaged from the belts 145 and 153 which return or turn back at the front edge of the upper support table 14. The belt 165 is driven, for example, by a chain and sprocket transmission 166 (FIGS. 1 and 4) extending from the longitudinal drive shaft 52 to the shaft of the conveyor roller 164, so that the upper run of belt 165 moves continuously in the lateral direction toward the side of the frame having the superstructure 12 thereon.

The successive bags discharged by conveyor belt 165 may be received in an inclined chute 167 which either constitutes, or extends to a stacking magazine. As previously mentioned, by reason of the fact that the stripes S and S of adhesive applied to each bag by the devices 72 and 72a have their ends spaced from the edges of the bag, such adhesive will not squeeze out of the folds during the pressing thereof, and thus the bags will not stick to each other when they are immediately stacked following discharge from the machine 10.

It has been found that the described machine embodying this invention can produce uniform, securely glued folds at the ends of bags made of various types and qualities of paper material, and that the bags can be processed at extremely high rates of production without sacrificing the uniformity or accuracy of the folding operations. Further, the extremely high rates of production made possible with this machine result primarily from the relative arrangements of the components thereof, that is, from the in-line arrangement of the successive creasing, gluing, folding and pressing devices. The length of the machine resulting from this in-line arrangement of the several components or devices which operate to effect the folding of the bags is an advantage in that it provides the necessary extended runs of the cooperating belts 137 and 145 which exert pressure on the folded end portions to ensure setting or drying of the adhesive prior to the deposit of the successive bags on the delivery or discharge conveyor 161.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail'herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to that precise embodiment, and that various changes and modifications may be elfected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, except as defined in the appended claims. What is claimed is: 1. A machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags comprising a horizontally elongated frame; main conveyor means extending throughout said frame and having operative horizontal runs of substantial length which are continuously driven to move in the direction from one end to the other end of said frame; infeed means introducing successive, uniformly spaced apart bags between said runs at said one end of the frame for transport by said conveyor means to said other end of the frame with an end of each bag projecting laterally beyond said main conveyor means at one side of the latter; at least one series of devices arranged successively at said one side of said runs of the main conveyor means and operative on the projecting end portions of the successive bags to crease each bag along a line parallel to the end of the latter, to apply a stripe of adhesive parallel to the crease and to fold the end portion of the bag about the crease and fiat against the adjacent portion of the bag with the stripe of adhesive therebetween; said device for applying a stripe of adhesive to each bag including a rotatable disk mounted in a vertical plane with the periphery of said disk being spaced a small distance from the plane between said runs of the main conveyor means, means for applying adhesive to the periphery of said disk, a deflecting member mounted adjacent said disk and acting on each bag to deflect the latter into adhesive receiving contact with said periphery of the disk at a location on the bag spaced from the leading edge of the bag, said disk having a notch in said periphery thereof, and means rotating said disk in synchronism with the transport of the bags by said main conveyor means to register said notch in the periphery of the disk with the trailing edge portion of each bag transported past the disk, so that the stripe of adhesive applied to each bag has its ends spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag; and auxiliary conveyor means receiving the successive bags from said main conveyor means at said other end of the frame and transporting each bag upwardly and then horizontally above said main conveyor means for discharge at a location near said one end of the frame, said auxiliary conveyor means continuously pressing the folded portion of each bag during transport of the latter from said main conveyor means to ensure that the adhesive sets and tightly secures the folded portion of each bag against the adjacent portion of the latter. 2. A machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags comprising a horizontally elongated frame; main conveyor means extending throughout said frame and having parallel operative runs pressed together at a horizontal plane and being continuously driven to move simultaneously in the direction from one end to the other end of said frame; infeed conveyor means introducing successive, spaced apart bags between said runs at said one end of the frame for transport by said main conveyor means to said other end of the frame with an end of each bag projecting laterally beyond said runs of the main conveyor means at one side of the latter; at least one series of devices arranged successively at said one side of said runs of the main conveyor means and operative on the projecting end portions of the successive bags to crease each bag along a line parallel to the end of the latter, to apply to the underside of the bag a stripe of adhesive parallel to the crease and to fold the end portion of the bag downwardly about the crease and then inwardly flat against the adjacent portion of the bag with the stripe of adhesive therebetween;

said device for applying a stripe of adhesive to each bag including a disk rotatable in a vertical plane and located so that the periphery of said disk, at the top of the latter, is spaced downwardly a small distance from said horizontal plane of the main conveyor runs, means for applying adhesive to said periphery of the disk, deflecting means extending from above to approximately said horizontal plane at a location past said top of the disk to deflect each bag into adhesive receiving contact with the top of the disk after the leading edge of the bag has moved past said top of the disk, said disk having a notch in said periphery thereof, and means rotating said disk in synchronism with the movement of the bags by said main conveyor means to register said notch of the disk with the trailing edge of each bag so that the ends of each stripe of adhesive applied to a bag are spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag; and

auxiliary conveyor means receiving the successive bags from said main conveyor means at said other end of the frame and transporting each bag upwardly and then horizontally above said main conveyor means for discharge at a location near said one end of the frame, said auxiliary conveyor means continuously pressing the folded portion of each bag during transport of the latter from said main conveyor means to ensure that the adhesive sets and tightly secures said folded portion against the adjacent portion of each bag.

3. In a machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags: the combination of main conveyor means continuously moving a succession of spaced apart bags along a path in a horizontal plane with end portions of the bags projecting laterally at one side of said path;

upper and lower creasing rolls disposed at said one side of the path and having a nip substantially in said horizontal plane so that the projecting end portions of the successive bags pass through said nip, said upper roll having a circumferential groove and said lower roll having a circumferential rib fitting in said groove, to crease the end portion of each bag along a line parallel to the end edge of the bag;

means located after said creasing r-olls at said one side of the path for applying a stripe of adhesive to the underside of each bag between the crease and end edge of the latter, including a disk rotatable in a vertical plane and located so that the periphery of said disk, at the top of the latter, is spaced down wardly a small distance from said horizontal plane, means for applying adhesive to said periphery of the disk, deflecting means extending from above to approximately said horizontal plane at a location past said top of the disk to deflect each bag into adhesive receiving contact with the top of the disk after the leading edge of the bag has moved past said top of the disk, said disk having a notch in said periphery thereof, and means rotating said disk in synchronism with the movement of the bags by said main conveyor means to register said notch of the disk with the trailing edge of each bag so that the ends of each stripe of adhesive applied to a bag are spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag; and

means located after said means for applying adhesive and being operative to fold the end portion of each 16 bag downwardly and inwardly about the crease to lie against the adjacent portion of the bag with the stripe of adhesive therebetween. 4. In a machine for folding and securing ends of 5 paper bags: the combination as in claim 3;

wherein said means for folding the end portion of each bag includes a first folding disk rotated at high speed in a vertical plane and being vertically located in said vertical plane so that the lower portion of said disk extends below said horizontal plane, said first disk being laterally located immediately outside the line along which each bag is creased, and a second folding disk located after said first folding disk considered in the direction of movement of the bags by said main conveyor means, said second disk being rotated at high speed in a substantially horizontal plane immediately below said horizontal plane and having its periphery extending inwardly beyond said line along which each bag is creased.

5. In a machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags: the combination of conveyor means continuously moving a succession of spaced apart bags along a path in a horizontal plane with end portions of the bags projecting laterally at one side of said path;

means located at said one side of the path and operative to apply a stripe of adhesive extending parallel and adjacent to the end edge of each bag at the underside of the latter, including a disk rotatable in a vertical plane and located so that the periphery of said disk, at the top of the latter, is spaced downwardly a small distance from said horizontal plane, means for applying adhesive to said periphery of the disk, deflecting means extending from above to approximately said horizontal plane at a location past said top of the disk to deflect each bag into adhesive receiving contact with the top of the disk after the leading edge of the bag has moved past said top of the disk, said disk having a notch in said periphery thereof and means rotating said disk in synchronism with the movement of the bags by said main conveyor means to register said notch of the disk with the trailing edge of each bag, so that the ends of the adhesive stripe are spaced from the leading and trailing edges of the bag; and

means located at said one side of the path after said means for applying adhesive and being operative to fold the end portion of each bag downwardly and inwardly against the adjacent portion of the bag with the stripe of adhesive therebetween.

6. A machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags comprising a horizontally elongated frame;

main conveyor means extending throughout said frame and having operative horizontal runs of substantial length which are continuously driven to move in the direction from one end to the other end of said frame;

infeed means introducing successive, uniformly spaced apart bags between said runs at said one end of the frame for transport by said conveyor means to said other end of the frame with an end of each bag projecting laterally beyond said main conveyor means at one side of the latter;

at least one series of devices arranged successively at said one side of said runs of the main conveyor means and operative on the projecting end portions of the successive bags to crease each bag along a line parallel to the end of the latter, to apply a stripe of adhesive parallel to the crease and to fold the end portion of the bag about the crease and flat against the adjacent portion of the bag with the stripe of adhesive therebetween;

the device for folding the end portion of each bag about the crease including a first folding disk rotated 17 at relatively high speed in a plane perpendicular to the plane between said runs of the main conveyor means and laterally located immediately outside of the line along which each bag is creased to act on creased; and

auxiliary conveyor means receiving the successive bags from said main conveyor means at said other end of the frame and transporting each bag upwardly and 18 folded portion against the adjacent portion of each bag. 8. In a machine for folding and securing ends of paper bags: the combination of the end portion of the bag and fold thie same a; main COIEVBYOI gieans tcgntinuciusly mggrligi I211 Suzi:- angles to the remainder of the bag, an asecon o sion 0 space apar ags a ong a i ing disk located after said first foldingfdilslk, confontalnplante with ecriid p?ltlO l'cllS oftflhe .bags pro ecting sidered in said direction of movement 0 t e main atera y a one s1 e o sai pa conveyor runs, and being rotated at relatively high upper and lower creasing rolls disposed at said one speed in a plane substantially parallel to said plane side of the pathl and hmlllllltgt I211 nip sulta stantizglyoirn between the main colnvgyor Iriuns t; furthter gold the said hoziztgntalugczeigiseivseo gags paessprtg guignlg Se211:id 1; ip end ortion o eac a t roug niney e rees ions 0 i e s theret iy to lie against said adjacent portion 0? the said upper roll having a circumferential groove and bag; and said lower roll having a circumferential rib fitting 1n auxiliary conveyor means receiving the sucgessiye bag; said grolove to glrleziiste tie Clllefioltlgjlglt 1;): begrgh bag from said main conveyor means at sai ot er en a ong a me par e o e en ge of the frame and transporting each bag upwardly means located after sa d creasingrolls at said one s de and then horizontally QbOVC SHId main conveyor of the path and being operative to apbply 1:1 stripe means for discharge at a location near said one end off adhesive t3 thei lllildfil'slfdihOfl etach ag et-ween of the frame, said auxiliary conveyor means cont e crease an en e ge o e a er; n E i f ii i ii F i bag ti ioiiiiiiii iif i fifiih ilg ifi viii talifi i li urin trans or o e a er :rom sai main conveyor means to ensure that the adhesive sets and inwardly about the crease to lie against the adjacent lf fi i ti i it bag again 35322??? 1it m iiitiiiid fiiiini iifiiifi i iii t e a 'acent ortion o e a er. 7. A maithine f dr folding and securing ends of paper folding disk rotated at high speed in a vertical plane bags comprising and being vertically located in said vertical plane so a horizontally elongated frame; that the lower portion of said disk extends below main conveyor means extending throughout said frame said horizontakplane, said first disk being laterally and having parallel operative runs pressed together 0 located immediately outside the line along which at a horizontal plane and being continuously driven each bag is creased, anda second folding disk 10- to move simultaneously in the direction from one gatedfafterfsaid first fgldllgthdlSl coniidereddin the end to the other end of said frame; irec ion 0 movemen o e ags y sai main infeed conveyor means iiiltroducing sgccessive:1 spfattzleld 1 i ng g;e1e(11n? 2332 111? 11113 522212? 5,3315% nit t o e 0' fiiiii i e f h r 1333:32 1} s a i d 3153 05511531 means 35 mzdiately below said horizontal plane and having to said other end of the frame with an end of each its periphery extending inwardly beyond said line hag projecting laterally beyond said runs of the main along whlch'each bag is flfeased- I conveyor means at one side of the latter; '9. In a machme for folding and securing ends of at least one series of devices arranged successively at 40 P p bags: the comhlhatloh 0f said one side of said runs of the main conveyor COIIVGYO; mg???) contilnuou y t l l Y gl'l etisl ll of means and operative on the projecting end portions Space ap ags a ong a pa 111 a on zonp ane of the successive bags to crease each bag along a wit nd P IH IiS 0f the bags projecting laterally line parallel to the end of the latter, to apply to the at one l f salfi p underside of the bag a stripe of adhesive parallel m atedl at said one fsidelhof the pith 51nd Opera;- to the crease and to fold the end portion of the bag tlVe to p? Y a 8 P 0 a eslve 6X eh P fi i b if 3i if d ridi ii iie iaiiir viiil iie eiii (3 th? 32? against e ad acent portion 0 t e ag wit e 11 e stripe of adhesive therebetween; hesive stripe being spaced from the leading and trailsaid device for folding the end portion of each bag edgeshf the f and d f h h d including a first folding disk rotated at h gh speed in means localed at 0116 6 0 6 Pat after sai a vertical plane and vertically located in said vermeans for pp y adheslve the endportwn tical plane so that the lower portion of said disk bag f fl l yb a t l y filgalllst extends below said horizontal plane between the li l t hp g z 0f 1&5; Wit Iti et sftril e ofdad]; main conveyor runs, said first disk being laterally 55 552; at fiigh sg d gg a se rtial 'glanz k h ich is igii g 2:22: 3 2:3 i f z gfi g igf located laterally inward with respect to the stripe of g g adhesive applied to each bag, said first disk being czitedfifier Sald first foldmg disk consliiered.m the vertically located in said vertical plane so that its dlrecuon of moiement of h bags. by sald mam f lower portion projects downwardly below said horiveyor means, said second disk being rotated at high zontal plane of the conveyor path, and a Second Speed m f substantially honzontal Flam 1mme d1ate1y folding disk located after said first disk considered in below sald horlzonta} beFWeen the l f the direction of movement of the bags, said second Veyor runs and h h Its P P Y extehdlhg disk being rotated at high speed in a substantially Wafdly beyond 531d 11116 along Whlch each g is horizontal plane immediately below said horizontal plane of the conveyor path and having its periphery extending inwardly toward said path beyond said vertical plane of rotation of the first disk.

10. In a machine for folding and securing the ends then horizontally above said main conveyor means for discharge at a location near said one end of the frame, said auxiliary conveyor means continuously pressing the folded portion of each bag during transport of the latter from said main conveyor means to ensure that the adhesive sets and tightly secures said of paper bags as the latter are conveyed continuously in spaced apart relation with end portions of the bags projecting laterally at one side of their path of movement; a device located adjacent said path for applying a stripe of adhesive extending parallel and adjacent to the projecting end edge of each conveyed bag,

comprising a disk rotatable about an axis directed transversely with respect to said path and located so that the periphery of said disk is spaced a small distance from said path, means for applying adhesive to the periphery of said disk, deflecting means engageable with each bag to deflect the projecting end portion of the latter into adhesive receiving contact with said periphery of the disk at a location on the bag spaced a small distance from the leading edge thereof and to thereafter maintain the projecting end portion of the bag in deflected condition during its passage by said disk, said disk having a notch in said periphery thereof, and means rotating said disk in synchronism with the movement of the bags to register said notch of the disk with the trailing edge of each bag so that the ends of the adhesive stripe applied to each bag are spaced from the leading and trailing edges.

11. In a machine for folding ends of paper bags as each bag passes said first disk, said peripheral portion of the latter folds the projecting end portion of the bag to a position at right angles to said plane of the path, a second disk located after said first disk, considered in the direction of movement of the bags, in a plane which is substantially parallel to, and immediately adjacent said plane of the path so as to intersect the end portions of the bags folded by said first disk, said second disk having its peripheral portion projecting inwardly toward said path beyond said plane of the first disk, and means rotating said first disk at a peripheral speed substantially greater than the speed of movement of the bags so that, as each bag passes said second disk, the end portion of the bag folded by said first disk is further folded by said second disk to lie flat against the adjacent portion of the bag.

References Cited the latter are conveyed continuously, in spaced apart UNITED TATES PATENTS relation, in a planar path with end portions of the bags S projecting laterally at one side of said path; 112981586 3/1919 sldebotjlam the combination of a first disk disposed in a plane 2,074,886 3/1937 Bergstem 9327 which is perpendicular to the plane of said path and 2,566,021 8/1951 Fergnani 198165 parallel to the direction of movement of the bags 2,841,270 7/ 1958 La Bombafdo in said path, said plane of the first disk being spaced 2,857,826 10/1958 Brady et a1. 93-58.1 inwardly from the projecting end edges of the con- 3,018,701 1/1962 Keely 9336 veyed bags, said first disk having its peripheral por- 3,116,920 1/1966' Geer et a1 93-52 tion projecting across said plane of the path of the 3 240,185 3 /1966 Goepner 113*267 conveyed bags, means rotating said first disk at a 3 254 575 19 Skow 93 1 peripheral speed substantially greater than the speed of movement of the bags in said path so that, as BERNARD STICKNEY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A MACHINE FOR FOLDING AND SECURING ENDS OF PAPER BAGS COMPRISING A HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED FRAME; MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS EXTENDING THROUGHOUT SAID FRAME AND HAVING OPERATIVE HORIZONTAL RUNS OF SUBSTANTIAL LENGTH WHICH ARE CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN TO MOVE IN THE DIRECTION FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER END OF SAID FRAME; INFEED MEANS INTRODUCING SUCCESSIVE, UNIFORMLY SPACED APART BAGS BETWEEN SAID RUNS AT SAID ONE END OF THE FRAME FOR TRANSPORT BY SAID CONVEYOR MEANS TO SAID OTHER END OF THE FRAME WITH AN END OF EACH BAG PROJECTING LATERALLY BEYOND SAID MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS AT ONE SIDE OF THE LATTER; AT LEAST ONE SERIES OF DEVICES ARRANGED SUCCESSIVELY AT SAID ONE SIDE OF SAID RUNS OF THE MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS AND OPERATIVE ON THE PROJECTING END PORTIONS OF THE SUCCESSIVE BAGS TO CREASE EACH BAG ALONG A LINE PARALLEL TO THE END OF THE LATTER, TO APPLY A STRIPE OF ADHESIVE PARALLEL TO THE CREASE AND TO FOLD THE END PORTION OF THE BAG ABOUT THE CREASE AND FLAT AGAINST THE ADJACENT PORTION OF THE BAG WITH THE STRIPE OF ADHESIVE THEREBETWEEN; SAID DEVICE FOR APPLYING A STRIPE OF ADHESIVE TO EACH BAG INCLUDING A ROTATABLE DISK MOUNTED IN A VERTICAL PLANE WITH THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISK BEING SPACED A SMALL DISTANCE FROM THE PLANE BETWEEN SAID RUNS OF THE MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS, MEANS FOR APPLYING ADHESIVE TO THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DISK, A DEFLECTING MEMBER MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID DISK AND ACTING ON EACH BAG TO DEFLECT THE LATTER INTO ADHESIVE RECEIVING CONTACT WITH SAID PERIPHERY OF THE DISK AT A LOCATION ON THE BAG SPACED FROM THE LEADING EDGE OF THE BAG, SAID DISK HAVING A NOTCH IN SAID PERIPHERY THEREOF, AND MEANS ROTATING SAID DISK IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE TRANSPORT OF THE BAGS BY SAID MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS TO REGISTER SAID NOTCH IN THE PERIPHERY OF THE DISK WITH THE TRAILING EDGE PORTION OF EACH BAG TRANSPORTED PAST THE DISK, SO THAT THE STRIP OF ADHESIVE APPLIED TO EACH BAG HAS ITS ENDS SPACED FROM THE LEADING AND TRAILING EDGES OF THE BAG; AND AUXILIARY CONVEYOR MEANS RECEIVING THE SUCCESIVE BAGS FROM SAID MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS AT SAID OTHER END OF THE FRAME AND TRANSPORTING EACH BAG UPWARDLY AND THEN HORIZONTALLY ABOVE SAID MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS FOR DISCHARGE AT A LOCATION NEAR SAID ONE END OF THE FRAME, SAID AUXILIARY CONVEYOR MEANS CONTINUOUSLY PRESSING THE FOLDED PORTION OF EACH BAG DURING TRANSPORT OF THE LATTER FROM SAID MAIN CONVEYOR MEANS TO ENSURE THAT THE ADHESIVE SETS AND TIGHTLY SECURES THE FOLDED PORTION OF EACH BAG AGAINST THE ADJACENT PORTION OF THE LATTER.

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