US3466851A

US3466851A - Sleeve loading apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3466851A
Application number: US571577A
Authority: US
Inventors: Keith S Carmichael
Original assignee: EI Du Pont de Nemours and Co
Current assignee: EIDP Inc
Priority date: 1966-08-10
Filing date: 1966-08-10
Publication date: 1969-09-16
Anticipated expiration: 1986-09-16

Description

Sept. 1969 K. s. CARMICHAEL SLEEVE LOADING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 10. 1966 I N V EN TOR. Kev-1w 5. MIN/0117.52.

United States Patent US. Cl. 53-390 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for packaging articles in thermoplastic tubing comprising lower and upper cantilevered forming members the lower member being in flush configuration with a flat working area and vertically movable.

Disclosure A particularly convenient method of packaging a plurality of articles comprises placing the articles in heat shrinkable thermoplastic tubing and subsequently passing the tubing through a heat shrinking tunnel in order to shrink the tubing around the articles and form a partially enclosed package. While machines are available to accomplish the above described operation, their expense and limited mobility prohibit their use when only low production rates (i.e., -10 pkgs./ min.) are employed. Yet, even at low production ra es, considerable economy can be realized by the use of a machine that accomplishes some of the otherwise manual packaging steps. Obviously, such a machine should be low in cost, portable so as to be useful in a variety of plant locations, and readily adaptable in accommodating various sized articles.

Thus, according to the present invention, there is provided an inexpensive, portable, and readily adaptable packaging apparatus which comprises a frame, a flat working area on the frame, a lower cantilevered forming member positioned within, and forming a flush configuration with, the fiat working area, and means for vertically moving the lower cantilevered forming member above and back within the flat working area. Additionally, the apparatus comprises a structural support positioned above the flat working area which supports an upper cantilevered forming member, the cantilevered portion of this upper cantilevered forming member being in substantial vertical alignment wi'h and parallel to the cantilevered portion of the lower cantilevered forming member.

Referring to the attached drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus of this invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of a portion of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view along line 33 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 when the upper and lower cantilevered forming members are in a raised position.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail view of the connection between a structural support member and a vertical supporting extension.

With particular reference to the figures, the apparatus of this invention comprises a frame having legs 12 and a fiat working area 14. A lower cantilevered forming member comprised of a plate 16 and a cantilevered portion 18, joined to the plate by means of dowel pins 17, is positioned wihin the flat working area 14 and forms a flush configuration therewith. A structural support 20 is positioned above the flat working area 14 and, as illustrated in FIGURE 5, screws into the blocks 21. In turn, the blocks 21 receive one end of each of the vertical supporting extensions 22. The ends of these extensions are firmly secured in the blocks by means of the set screws 23,

Patented Sept. 16, 1969 and the blocks and extensions are positioned within the structural guiding members 24. The structural support 20 serves to support an upper cantilevered forming member comprised of a cantilevered portion 28 and a sleeved end 30. The sleeved end 30 slides through the structural support 20 and the member is held firmly in position by the set screws 32. As shown, the cantilevered portion 18 of the lower cantilevered forming member is in substantial vertical alignment (i.e., displaced vertically with substantially the same width) with, and parallel to, the cantilevered portion 28 of the upper cantilevered forming member.

The apparatus of the present invention includes means for vertically moving the lower cantilevered forming member and can, as illustrated, also include means for moving the upper cantilevered forming member as well. The means 34- serve to move the sructural support 20 to the fixed stops 26, and, correspondingly, the upper cantilevered forming member moves vertically up and down in such a manner that the cantilevered portion moves toward or away from the fiat working area 14. The means 34 can be in the configura ion shown or a single cylinder can be employed to actuate a yoke which supports the vertical supporting extensions 22. Similarly, the means 36 serve to move the lower cantilevered forming member above or back within the fiat working area 14.

The particular means for vertically moving the lower canilevered forming member and, if desired, the upper member also, is not critical. If very low cost is a determining factor, the means can comprise hand or pedal operated spring-loaded mechanical devices such as a sliding block linkage connected to a toggle joint or a suitable lever arrangement. However, the preferred means are either pneumatic or hydraulic double-acting cylinders. In particular, where the plant is equipped with a compressed air sysem, the use of pneumatic cylinders is especially desirable. Such use permits greater portability and operabi'ity since the required operating energy is derived from the plants compressed air system and independent from electrical control devices and energy sources. When double-acting pneumaic cylinders are used they are conveniently controlled by means of four-Way valves that can be hand or foot actuated.

Double-acting hydraulic cylinders can also be used. However. their use requires, in addition to the double acting cylinders, other apparatus such as an oil reservoir, an expansion tank, an oil pump, a relief valve, closed loop piping, and electrical control circuitry. As with the pneumatic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinders can be controlled by four-way valves which can be hand, foot, or electrically actuated.

While, for clarity, the drawings schematically indicate separate vertical moving means for the upper and lower cantilevered forming members, his to be understood that it is frequently convenient to use a single means to move both members. Quite obviously this has advantages from the standpoint of reduced capital expenditure.

However, as will be explained, the present apparatus can conveniently be used with moving means only associated with the lower cantilevered forming member. When such is the case, the upper cantilevered forming member is set at a fixed position above the fiat working area.

Referring again to the figures, the operation of the present apparatus can be understood. The

means

34 and 36 are actuated causing the upper and lower cantilevered forming members to move vertically toward each other and stop when close together. This position is illustrated in FIGURE 4 though it is to be understood that the two forming members need not come into actual contact. In general, the distance between them will be that which, for a particular operator, is most convenient for the subsequent operations. While the forming members are in this position the extreme end portion of the sleeve of packaging material 38 is placed, generally by hand, around the cantilevered portions of the upper and lower cautilevered forming members.

Subsequently, the vertical moving means are actuated in the opposite direction which raises the upper cantilevered forming member and depresses the lower cantilevered forming member into the positions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 3. As shown, the lower cantilevered forming member is flush with the flat working area. In this position, the entrance to the packaging material 38 is in taut rectangular configuration and the articles 40 can be easily slid into the packaging material since they are on the same plane as the lower section of the opened packaging material and the lower edge of the sleeve is in a clamped position.

After the articles have been positioned within the packaging material, the vertical moving means 32 and 34 are again actuated such that the upper and lower cantilevered members move toward each other an amount sufficient to release the packaging material. The packaged articles are then customarily conveyed to a heat shrinking tunnel where the formation of the package is completed by tightly shrinking the packaging material around the body of the group of articles and partially around the ends of the grouping. As is apparent, the above described packaging operation can be accomplished in a continuous fashion by slipping the sleeve of a subsequent piece of packaging material over the members while they are in the position used for the previous releasing step.

When an apparatus is used having the upper cantilevered forming member in a fixed position, the above described operations for opening and filling a sleeve are basically the same except that the upper member does not move. However, the lower member in such an apparatus will have to vertically travel a greater distance to contact the upper member.

An additional advantage of the apparatus of the present invention is that it can be adapted to accommodate various widths of packaging material. Thus, the cantilevered portion 18 of lower cantilevered forming member can be a removable plate extension which can be replaced by other plates having various lengths in the transverse direction, i.e., that direction which is perpendicular to the direction of article movement into the opened sleeve. When such a removable plate is used it must be capable of being linked to the plate to form a unitary structure. As illustrated, linking by means of dowel pins is generally suitable. Additionally, totally replaceable lower forming members of varying widths can be employed in lieu of the plate and removable extensions.

Similarly, the width of the upper cantilevered forming member can be easily changed by merely sliding a member of a different width over the structural support 20. In order to accomplish this, the set screws 23 are loosened and the blocks 21 and support 20 are slid out of the guiding members 24. Subsequently, an end of the support 20 is unscrewed from the corresponding block, and

4 the desired substitution of forming members is accomplished. Additionally and particularly when the support 20 is fixedly attached in one position to the guiding members 24, the upper cantilevered forming member can be a simple plate attached at one end to the structural support by means of bolts or screws.

What is claimed is:

1. A packaging apparatus for packaging articles in thermoplastic tubing material comprising a frame, a flat working area on said frame for supporting articles to be packaged, a lower cantilevered forming member positioned within, and forming a flush configuration with, said flat working area, means for vertically moving said lower cantilevered forming member above and back within said fiat working area so that While in said flush configuration the forming member holds a lower edge of the tubing material in a clamped position, a structural support positioned above said fiat working area and supporting an upper cantilevered forming member, the cantilevered portion of said upper cantilevered forming member being in substantial vertical alignment with, and parallel to, the cantilevered portion of said lower cantilevered forming member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for vertically moving the lower cantilevered forming member is a pneumatic cylinder.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for vertically moving the lower cantilevered forming member is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the width of the cantilevered portions of the upper and lower cantilevered forming members can be variably adjusted.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 containing, in addition, means for vertically moving the upper cantilevered forming member toward and away from the fiat working area.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for vertically moving the lower and upper cantilevered forming members are pneumatic cylinders.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means for vertically moving the lower and upper cantilevered forming members are hydraulic cylinders.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the width of the cantilevered portions of the upper and lower cantilevered forming members can be variably adjusted.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,393,102 1/1946 Gribner 53258 3,060,657 10/1962 Calder et al 53261 X 3,252,267 5/1966 Myles et a1. 53257 3,270,484 9/1966 Sorensen 53258 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 53257