US3483668A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 16, 1969 H. FROST ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1966 ENVENTORS fic-r ri Fran BY Quid/er 1 11 21124 Mani @I'6J6& Mafia-d J: E /77:2.

ATTORNEY Dec. 16, 1969 Filed June 30, 1966 H. FROST ET L PACKAGING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 00,54 Jmm AETORNEY Dec. 16, 1969 FROST ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed June 30, 1966 F/GE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY United States atent C 3,483,668 PAKAGING MACHINE Herbert Frost and Guenter Pietsch, Dresden, and

Karl Grosse, Freital, Germany, assignors to VElB Verpaclrungsnnd Schokoladenmaschinen Dresden,

Dresden, Germany Filed June 30, 1966, Ser. No. 561,852 Int. Cl. B65b 5/06, 35/40, 43/26 US. Cl. 53167 23 Claims ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to packaging machines in general, and more particularly to improvements in packaging machines which are especially suited for introducing, enclosing and sealing or confining biscuits, cookies, crackers, wafers and other types of brittle baked products in bags or similar envelopes.

In many presently known packaging machines, a rotary Wheelor drum-shaped conveyor is provided with radially extending pockets travelling past a plurality of angularly spaced stations which accommodate devices serving to introduce empty collapsed envelopes into successive pockets, to expand or open the envelopes, to introduce stacks of goods into successively expanded envelopes, to seal the thus filled envelopes and to receive the sealed envelopes. A serious drawback of such conventional packaging machines is that the goods admitted into the envelopes are subjected to the action of centrifugal force and are likely to become displaced to thus interfere with the sealing operation and/or to adversely affect the appearance of the ultimate products. For example, if a single cookie or wafer is caused to move out of line and into the open end of the envelope, it might be crushed by the devices which seal the open end. Of course, the thus dislodged article will prevent the formation of an airtight seal and will necessitate ejection of the pack from the line of satisfactory packs. Attempts to prevent such displacement of goods during travel in an arcuate path include the provision of grippers which engage the envelopes from the outside to hold their contents in requisite position during travel toward and past the sealing station. However, such gripping devices are likely to break, chip or crush the goods and/or to bring about excessive de formation of envelopes. Small particles of baked goods are likely to enter the open ends of envelopes to prevent proper sealing action. It is well known that many types of edible goods must be confined in sealed envelopes and that even negligible leakage is likely to result in spoilage of the contents of a plastic envelope. Also, small particles of goods stored in the envelopes are likely to escape during travel to the sealing station to contaminate the area where the packaging machine is installed and to cause serious disturbances in the operation of such machine. Finally, all presently known packaging machines for stacked bakery products or the like occupy too much room and comprise too many complicated components.

Accordingly, it is an important object of our invention to provide a relatively simple, compact and reliable machine which is particularly suited for introducing britice tle bakery products or other types of sensitive goods into plastic or like envelopes, to maintain such goods in requisite position, and to seal the thus filled envelopes in rapid sequence and with a minimum of damage to the contents of successively treated envelopes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine Whose operation is such that any fragments of solid matter which happen to enter the open end of an envelope during filling and during subsequent advance to the sealing station are automatically returned into the interior of the envelope and cannot affect the sealing operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a packaging machine wherein the contents of filled envelopes need not be gripped during delivery to the sealing station and wherein the contents of filled envelopes are subjected to the action of centrifugal force only when such force cannot bring about uncontrolled displacement of the contents and/or escape of fragments or chips from the interior of envelopes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel device which may be used in the improved packaging machine to change the position of filled envelopes in a zone between the filling and sealing stations.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a machine which may be utilized for packaging of dilferent types of goods in relatively large or relatively small envelopes and which can be readily converted for processing of different types of goods and/ or for use with differently configurated or dimensioned envelopes.

Still another object of our invention is to provide the packaging machine with stacking or arraying and transferring devices which may be utilized to assemble baked products or other types of goods in stacks of desired size or shape and to introduce such stacks into envelopes for travel with the envelopes to the sealing station.

Briefly stated, one feature of our invention resides in the provision of a packaging machine, particularly for confining brittle bakery products and similar goods in sealable envelopes. The packaging machine comprises conveyor means for advancing open-ended envelopes seriatim along a substantially straight path so that the open ends of the envelopes face sideways, a source of goods, a feed for transferring predetermined quantities of such goods, from the source into successive envelopes on the conveyor means, and erecting means located downstream of the feed adjacent to the path of the thus filled envelopes and arranged to turn successive envelopes about a substantially horizontal axis so that the open end of each of the thus turned envelopes faces upwardly.

The erecting means preferably comprises a platform which is movable about the aforementioned axis between a horizontal and a vertical position and is located below the closed end of that filled envelope which is advanced to the erecting station. The erecting means further comprises a clamping unit which engages the open ends of filled envelopes during turning so that each envelope is supported by the platform and is simultaneously clamped at its open end. Any crumbs or other particulate matter which happens to be located in the open end of a filled envelope will automatically descend during turning to accumulate at the bottom of the envelope. The thus turned or erected envelopes are then advanced to a sealing or closing station to have their open ends sealed or closed in a manner well known from the art of conventional packaging machines.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved packaging machine itself. however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood upon perusal of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a packaging machine which embodies our invention;

FIG. 2 is a section substantially as seen in the direction of arrows from the line IIII of FIG. 1, with the structure at the closing station omitted; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section as seen in the direction of arrows from the line III-III of FIG. 1 and illustrates in greater detail the construction of the erecting means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first to FIG. 1, there is shown a machine which is utilized for packaging of stacked bakery products, for example, for packaging of cookies, wafers or biscuits 15 in envelopes or bags 3 having open top ends 3a and square bottom ends 31). The machine comprises an endless transporting conveyor 2, here shown as a chain conveyor whose upper stringer is located in a horizontal or nearly horizontal plane. The conveyor 2 is provided with equidistant U-shaped receptacles or pockets 1 each having two upstanding transversely extending side walls or flanges 1a, 1b. The distance between the flanges 1a, 1b of each pocket 1 is adjustable (see the double-headed arrow in a manner not shown in the drawings so that such pockets can accommodate larger or smaller bags 3.

The conveyor 2 serves to advance the bags 3 in such a way that their open top ends 3a face sideways, i.e., to one side of the elongated path defined by the upper stringer of the conveyor. This one side is the side below the conveyor, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the pockets 1 advance the bags 3 seriatim past a plurality of aligned stations. The first station A is a bag feeding station and is adjacent to a source of flattened or collapsed empty bags 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the source is constituted by a magazine 5 which is adjacent to one side of the conveyor 2. The station A accommodates a feed including an arm 5a which serves to transfer collapsed empty bags 3 seriatim from the magazine 5 into the adjoining pockets 1 of the conveyor 2. The latter is operated intermittently so that an empty pocket 1 registers with the magazine 5 during each interval between two successive advances of the conveyor. The arm 5a may be provided with a suction head or with suitable grippers (not shown) to hold collapsed bags during delivery into the pockets 1.

The station A is followed by a labelling station B which may accommodate a suitable imprinting or labelling device serving to provide each collapsed bag 3 with printed matter representing the trademark and the name of the manufacturer, instructions to use the contents of filled bags, or other information. Such imprinting or labelling device is not shown in the drawings because its construction forms no part of the present invention.

At the third station C, empty bags 3 accommodated in the pockets 1 are opened or expanded by an opening device 7 of known design. This opening device may comprise two arms one of which is movable toward and away from the other arm along a vertical spindle 7a and whose free ends are provided with suction heads or the like to engage the two panels which form the open end 3a. The thus expanded bags are then ready to receive stacks of biscuits or other bakery products which are supplied by a second feed shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The station C further accommodates a source of biscuits 15, for example, a stationary table or support 12 which can be loaded by hand. The second feed comprises a feed conveyor 11 having two spaced endless chains 13 connected by transversely extending equidistant rungs 14. The adjoining rungs 14 define between themselves compartments 14a each of which can receive a requisite number of biscuits 15. For example, and as shown in FIG. 2, each such compartment 14a can accommodate a stack of eighteen flat biscuits which are located in vertical planes. The distance between the chains 13 of the feed conveyor 11 and between successive rungs 1 is preferably selected in such a way that each compartment 1411 can accommodate stacks containing different numbers of biscuits or stacks of differently dimensioned biscuts. This enables the packaging machine to process different types of goods.

The feed at the station C further comprises a transfer member or pusher 6 which advances stacks of biscuits 15 into expanded bags 3. This pusher shifts biscuits from a stationary intermediate table or support 16 which is located between the table 12 and the conveyor 2. As shown in FIG. 2, the rungs 14 advance stacks of biscuits 15 onto the table 16 and thereupon descend below the front edge of the table 12,. In the illustrated embodiment, the table 15 can accommodate two stacks of biscuits 15 and the pusher 6 can transfer such biscuits into successive bags 3. In other words, each filled bag 3 will contain two stacks of biscuits and each such stack will contain a plurality of individual biscuits each located in a plane parallel with the flanges 1a, 1b. It is to be understood, however, that the apparatus of our invention is equally useful for packaging of individual goods or products, for example, cakes. loaves of bread or the like, i.e., that each bag 3 can receive a single item.

The pusher 6 is afiixed to a horizontal shaft 17a which is parallel with the rungs 14 and connects the upper ends of two links 17 disposed at the opposite sides of the conveyor 11. The shaft 17a is rotatable with reference to the links 17 and is rigidly connected with links 20, the latter being pivotally secured to elongated links 21 which are parallel with the links 17, The lower ends of the links 21 are pivotally connected with short links 19 which are parallel with the links 20 and are rockable about the common pivot 18 for the links 17. The links 19 have followers (not shown) one of which tracks a suitable cam 19a serving to hold the pusher 6 against tilting. The links 17 are rockable back and forth by a suitable mechanism (not shown) and the cam 19a is driven to move the links 1941 independently of the links 17 so that the pusher 6 remains in a substantially horizontal plane but shares all movements of the links 17 about the pivot 18.

When the links 17 are caused to move in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, the pusher 6 moves toward the table 16 and simultaneously rises to thereupon descend whereby its front face 6a pushes the two stacks of biscuits 15 into the bag 3 whose open end 3a was expanded by the opening device 7.

The station C is followed by a station D which may accommodate an inspecting or straightening device (not shown) and is located upstream of a folding station E. The station E accommodates a folding device 8 which is used to partially close or flatten the open ends 3a of filled bags 3 and to thus facilitate the manipulation of such filled bags at the next following station P which is an erecting or turning station and accommodates a novel erecting device 9 whose construction is best shown in FIG. 3. The exact construction of the folding device 8 at the station E forms no part of our present invention. For example, such folding device may comprise two platens 8a which move toward each other when the conveyor 2 comes to a halt to thereby flatten the open end 3a of that filled bag 3' which happens to be located at the station E.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the erecting device 9 comprises a platform 22 which is provided on the shorter arm of a substantially U-shaped carrier or lever 24. The lever 24 is turnable about a horizontal shaft 23 which is carried by a fixed bracket 23a. In the starting or receiving position of FIG. 3, the platform 22 is in registry with and is adjacent to the right-hand side of that pocket 1 which is located at the station F. It will be seen that the pocket 1 is shorter than a filled bag 3 so that the closed bottom portion 3b of the bag overlies a part of the platform 22 when the conveyor 2 comes to a halt. The platform 22 serves to prop the bags during turning about the axis of the shaft 23.

The lever 24 is rockable back and forth through angles of degrees by means of a mechanism (not shown) whose operation is synchronized with the operation of the drive for the conveyor 2. It will be seen that the shaft 23 is parallel with the direction of movement of the pockets 1 on the upper stringer of the conveyor 2, i.e., that the lever 24 is rockable in a vertical plane which is normal to the plane of the upper stringer.

The free end of the longer arm of the lever 24 carries a pin 2.7 for a clamping or retaining member which is permanently biased by a helical expansion spring 28 on the lever 24. The spring 28 forms part of a control unit and tends to rock the clamping member 25 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. When the lever 24 turns in the direction indicated by an arrow 24a, the clamping member 25 travels along the concave face 26a of a fixed clamping or retaining member 26 and cooperates therewith to clamp the folded end 3a of the filled bag 3'. The center of curvature of the clamping face 264: is located on the axis of the shaft 23.

The free end of the clamping member 25 carries a permanent magnet 29 which can be attracted by the adjoining portion of the lever 24 when caused to move sufficiently close to the lever 24. The magnet 29 then maintains the spring 28 is compressed condition and holds the clamping member 25 away from contact with the face 26a of the fixed clamping member 26. The free end portion of the longer arm of the carrier or lever 24 can be said to constitute a second magnet which cooperates with the magnet 29 to hold the clamping member 25 away from the clamping face 26a when the platform 22 moves from the vertical position of FIG. 2 back to the horizontal position of FIG. 2.

The control unit for moving the magnet 29 toward and away from the adjoining portion of the lever 24 further comprises two fixed earns 30, 31 which are respectively adjacent to the upper and lower ends of the fixed clamping member 26, and a roller follower 32 which is adjacent to the magnet 29 and is mounted on the clamping member 25. The follower 32 is adjacent to one side of the clamping member 25 and engages in inclined cam face 302. of the upper cam when the lever 24 has been moved to its second position in which the platform 22 is located in a vertical plane, see FIG. 2. The cam face 30a causes the follower 32 to rock the clamping member 25 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3, so that the magnet 29 approaches the adjoining portion of the lever 24 and maintains the spring 28 in compressed condition. When the lever 24 thereupon returns to the position of FIG. 3, the follower 32 engages the face 31a of the lower cam 31 and moves the magnet 29 away from the lever 24 so that the energy stored by the spring 28 suflices to overcome the magnetic force and the clamping member 25 moves toward the face 26a to clamp the folded or flattened end 3a ofthe adjoining filled bag 3 against the clamping member 26.

The platform 22 cooperates with the clamping members 25, 26 to transfer a filled bag 3' onto a stationary support or table 33 which is adjacent to the shaft 23 and supports the closed bottom end 3b of a filled bag. As shown in FIG. 1, the machine comprises a reciprocable pusher 33a which can transfer erected bags 3' from the table 33 onto a further conveyor 10 serving to deliver such bags sen'atirn to a sealing device 19a at a sealing station G. The sealing device 10a may comprise heated welding jaws which engage the panels of the flattened end 3a to fuse the material of such panels and to form an airtight seal. Such seals can be made whenever the bags 3 consist of weldable synthetic plastic material.

The operation of our packaging machine is as follows:

The topmost collapsed empty bag 3 in the magazine 5 is engaged by the arm 5a and is transferred into the adjoining empty pocket 1 while the conveyor 2 is idle. The conveyor is then advanced by a step to move the empty bag 3 to the labelling station B where the bag is provided with one or more symbols, inscriptions or the like. The thus labelled bag 3 then advances to the station C and its open end 3a is expanded by the device 7 so that the bag is ready to receive two stacks of biscuits 15. The biscuits 15 are fed by hand so that each compartment 14a which approaches the forward end of the table 12 accommodates a requisite number of properly arrayed biscuits. Of course, we may also resort to a suitable stacking machine. The conveyor 11 is operated intermittently so that each indexing movement of this conveyor results in transfer of a stack onto the table 16. Alternatively, the stack accommodated in the foremost compartment 14a above the table 12 can be transferred by the pusher 6. As explained hereinabove, the pusher 6 performs a composite movement which includes a movement with the links 17 and a movement controlled by the cam 19a. The drive for the links 17 and the configuration of the cam are selected in such a way that the pusher 6 transfers two stacks of biscuits 15 into an expanded bag 3 whenever the conveyor 2 comes to a halt. The pusher 6 then returns to its starting position and is ready to perform the next working stroke in order to transfer stacks onto the table 16 and/ or to transfer stacks from the table 16 into the next-following expanded bag 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the pusher 6 performs alternating strokes of two different lengths, namely, a shorter first stroke to transfer a single stack of biscuits 15 fom the table 12 onto the table 16 and a longer stroke to transfer a second stack onto the table 16 and to immediately transfer the two stacks from the table 16 into the adjoining expanded bag 3.

The conveyor 2 then advances by a step and moves the filled bag 3' to the station D. From the station D, the filled bag 3 moves to the station E wherein its open end 3a is flattened by the platens 8a of the folding device 8 in order to facilitate engagement of the thus flattened end by the clamping members 25, 26 at the station F. The bottom part 3b of the filled bag 3 overlies the platform 22 and its flattened end 3a automatically enters the gap between the clamping member 25 and the face 26a of the clamping member 26. If desired, the fixed clamping member 26 may be provided with an inlet portion which diverges in a direction toward the station E and serves to efiect gradual flexing of the flattened end 3a to the position shown in FIG. 3. During such flexing of the flattened end 3a, the magnet 29 is attracted by the adjoining portion of the lever 24 so that the spring 28 is compressed and cannot urge the clamping member 25 against the face 26a. However, the magnetic attraction is overcome by the bias of the spring 28 as soon as the lever 24 reassumes the position shown in FIG. 3 but after the flattened and flexed portion 3a enters the gap between the clampmembers 25, 26. The clamping member 25 then bears against the flattened portion 3a and cooperates with the platform 22 to erect the filled bag 3 in response to rocking of the lever 24 to the position of FIG. 2.

When the lever 24 approaches the position shown in FIG. 3, the follower 32 engages the face 30a of the upper cam 30 and moves the magnet 29 nearer to the lever 24 so that the spring 28 undergoes compression and the magnet 29 retains the clamping member 25 in inoperative position, namely, at a given distance from the fixed clamping member 26 to allow for unimpeded deposition of the erected bag 3 on the table 33. The latter can support the erected bag 3 in the position shown in FIG. 3. Such bag is then engaged by the pusher 33a (see FIG. 1) and is moved onto the receiving end of the conveyor 10 which advances the bag to the station G and into the range of sealing instrumentalities forming part of the sealing device 10a.

As soon as the freshly erected bag 3' comes to rest on the table 33, the lever 24 begins to move back toward the position shown in FIG. 3 while the magnet 29 keeps the clamping member 25 away from the face 26a of the clamping member 26. During such return movement of the lever 24, the conveyor 2 advances by a step to move the flattened end 311' of the next-following filled bag 3' into engagement with the cam face 26a. Such movement of the conveyor 2 is completed before the follower 32 engages the face 31a of the lower cam 31. Engagement between the cam 31 and follower 32 results in movement of the magnet 29 away from the lever 24 whereby the spring 28 expands and moves the clamping member 25 against the adjoining side of the flattened end 3a. The erecting operation is then repeated in the just described manner.

It is clear that the control unit including the magnet 29, the cams 30, 31, the spring 28 and the follower 32 may be replaced by other control units which are capable of urging the clamping member 25 against the flattened end 3a only While the lever 24 moves from the position of FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 2 and which do not interfere with introduction of successive filled bags 3 into the station F. For example, such clamping units may include a set of limit switches which operate electromagnets or like motion transmitting components.

The construction shown in FIG. 3 has been found to be very satisfactory in actual use because the Clamping member 25 need not be mechanically locked during movement of the lever 24 back to the starting position of FIG. 3. If desired, the erecting device 9 may be modified by using a carrier or lever which rotates about the shaft 23 and which can support up to four platforms 22 and an equal number of clamping members.

A very important advantage of our packaging machine is that the erecting device 9 at the station F causes fragments, chips and similar particles of goods to descend into the bottom zones 3b of filled bags 3' so that such particles cannot interfere with the sealing operation at the station G. Furthermore, and since the stations A to F are aligned along one side of the conveyor 2, the packaging machine occupies very little room and all of its components are readily accessible for inspection, maintenance and/ or replacement. The erecting device 9 can be readily installed at the discharge end of the conveyor 2 and it manipulates the envelopes 3' in such a way that movement of envelopes from a horizontal position to upright position does not necessitate gripping of the contents of envelopes.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features which fairl; constitute essential characteristics of the generic and specific aspects of our contribution to the art and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In a packaging machine, particularly for conveying brittle baked products and similar goods into sealable envelopes, in combination, conveyor means for advancing open ended empty envelopes seriatim along a substantially straight path so that the open ends of said envelopes face to one side of said path; stationary means for supporting goods to be packed adjacent to said path at said one side thereof; a feed for transferring predetermined quantities of such goods from said support means through the open ends of and into successive envelopes on said conveyor means; means for flattening the open ends of successive envelopes after transfer into the same said pre determined quantities of goods; and erecting means for turning the thus-filled envelopes seriatim about a substantially horizontal axis, said erecting means comprising clamping means for clamping the flattened end of the respective envelope and for holding the end in clamped condition until it faces upwardly, said flattening means and said erecting means being located adjacent to said path downstream of said feed with said erecting means following in direction of the movement of the conveyor means said flattening means so that while said feed transfers goods one of said envelopes, said flattening means may flatten the open end of another already-filled envelope while said erecting means may erect at the same time a further filled envelope the open end of which has been flattened.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising means supporting empty envelopes adjacent to said path and located upstream of said feed, and a second feed for delivering empty envelopes seriatim from the respective source to said conveyor means.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 2, wherein said last named support means contains a supply of collapsed envelopes and further comprising opening means for expanding successive envelopes on said conveyor means prior to introduction of goods into such envelopes.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said erecting means further comprises means for simultaneously propping the envelopes in regions distant from such flattened ends.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 3, wherein said support means, said opening means, said feeds and said erecting means are disposed at a plurality of stations forming a row along one side of said path.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 5, further comprising sealing means disposed downstream of said erecting means for sealing the open ends of successively turned envelopes.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of equidistant receptacles each arranged to accommodate an envelope in reclining position so that the open end of each envelope extends beyond one side and the closed other end of each envelope extends beyond the other side of the respective receptacle.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 7, wherein said axis is substantially parallel to said path and said erecting means comprises a platform rockable about said axis between a horizontal and a vertical position, said platform being located at a level below the closed end of that receptacle which is adjacent to said erecting means, and further comprising a support adjacent to said axis to receive envelopes from said platform when the latter as sumes said vertical position.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8, wherein said clamping means grip the open ends of envelopes during movement of said platform from horizontal to vertical position.

10. A structure as set forth in claim 9, wherein said erecting means further comprises a carrier rockable about said axis and having a first arm supporting said platform and a second arm, said clamping means comprising a fixed clamping member having a concave clamping face whose center of curvature is located on said axis and a second clamping member provided on said other arm and arranged to press the open end of an envelope against said clamping face during movement of said platform from horizontal to vertical position.

11. A structure as set forth in claim 10, wherein said second clamping member is movable with reference to the other arm of said carrier and said erecting means further comprises resilient means for biasing said second clamping member toward said clamping face.

12. A structure as set forth in claim 11, wherein said erecting means further comprises control means for maintaining said second clamping member away from said clamping face while said platform moves from vertical to horizontal position, said control means comprising a pair of magnets respectively provided on said second clamping member and on said carrier and arranged to hold said second clamping member against the bias of said resilient means in response to displacement of said second clamping member in a direction away from said clamping face, first fixed cam means for moving said second clamping member away from said clamping face when the platform approaches said vertical position, and second fixed cam means for moving said second clamping member toward said clamping face when the platform approaches said horizontal position.

13. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said feed comprises a feed conveyor defining a row of compartments advancing above said stationary support means so that goods placed into such compartments are caused to move toward the open ends of successive envelopes on said conveyor means, and transfer means for delivering goods from said compartments into such envelopes.

14. A structure as set forth in claim 13, further comprising an intermediate support disposed between said first mentioned support and said conveyor means and arranged to receive goods removed from said first named support prior to transfer of such gOOds into successive envelopes.

15. A structure as set forth in claim 14, wherein said stationary support means and said support are each a stationary table and said feed conveyor comprises transversely extending rungs arranged to travel above said stationary support means and to descend between said tables.

16. A structure as set forth in claim 15, wherein said feed conveyor further comprises a pair of spaced parallel endless chains and said rungs extend between and have end portions secured to said chains, each of said compartments being bounded by a pair of adjoining rungs and by portions of chains between such rungs.

17. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of equidistant receptacles and intermittently driven endless chain means supporting said receptacles and arranged to move the receptacles through distances of identical length.

18. A structure as set forth in claim 17, wherein each of said receptacles resembles a U-shaped pocket having two parallel flanges extending transversely of said path, said conveyor means comprising an elongated horizontal stringer whose receptacles travel along said straight path.

19. A structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein each predetermined quantity contains at least one stack of identical goods.

2%. A structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said empty envelopes are advanced by said conveyor means in collapsed position, and including opening means for expanding successive envelopes on said conveyor means prior to introduction of goods into such envelopes.

21. A structure as set forth in claim 20, wherein said conveyor means comprises a plurality of equidistant receptacles each arranged to accommodate an envelope in reclining position so that the open end of each envelope extends beyond one side and the closed other end of each envelope extends beyond the other side of the respective receptacle.

22. In a packaging machine, particularly for conveying brittle baked products and similar goods into sealable envelopes, conveyor means for advancing open-ended empty envelopes in collapsed condition seriatim along a substantially straight path so that the open ends of the envelopes in collapsed condition face to one side of said path; stationary means for supporting goods to be packed adjacent to said path at said one side thereof; means for expanding the collapsed open ends of said envelopes from said collapsed condition thereof into an expanded open condition adapted to receive predetermined quantities of said goods to be packed; a feed for transferring predetermined quantities of such goods from said support means through said expanded open ends of and into successive envelopes on said conveyor means; erecting means for simultaneously holding each of said filled envelopes at one end thereof and turning the thus filled envelopes seriatim about a substantially horizontal axis so that said open end of each of the thus turned envelopes faces upwardly; and means for mounting said erecting means adjacent to said path at a station downstream of said feed so that While said feed transfers goods into one of said envelopes, said erecting means may erect at the same time another already filled envelope which has been transported by said conveyor means to said station downstream of said feed.

23. A structure as set forth in claim 22, further comprising sealing means disposed downstream of said erecting means for sealing the open ends of successively turned envelopes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,762,274 9/1956 Kerr 53186 X 3,153,309 10/1964 Euwe 53-186 3,269,091 8/1966 Martin 53--252 3,323,283 6/1967 Johnson et a1 53-186- FOREIGN PATENTS 1,417,187 10/1965 France.

D THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

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