US3488912A - Packaging machine and method - Google Patents

Packaging machine and method Download PDF

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Publication number
US3488912A
US3488912A US679092A US3488912DA US3488912A US 3488912 A US3488912 A US 3488912A US 679092 A US679092 A US 679092A US 3488912D A US3488912D A US 3488912DA US 3488912 A US3488912 A US 3488912A
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United States
Prior art keywords
film
package
seal
pusher
air
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Expired - Lifetime
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US679092A
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English (en)
Inventor
Donald K Christian
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WR Grace and Co
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WR Grace and Co
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Publication date
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
    • B65B9/026—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs the webs forming a curtain

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and apparatus for packaging articles in heat scalable and shrinkable film.
  • the invention relates to a packaging method and apparatus in which two rolls of heat scalable and shrinkable thermoplastic film are used to continuously and automatically wrap articles such as boxes of candy, record albums, hosiery, etc.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation of a side elevation in section of an apparatus embodying the present invention
  • FIGURE 2 is a schematic representation of the view seen along section line 22 of FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 3 is a front view in elevation of the apparatus in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 4 is a rear view in elevation of the apparatus in FIGURE 1;
  • FIGURE 5 is a section taken along lines 5-5 of FIG- URE 2 showing the air nozzle and seal bars in detail;
  • FIGURE 6 is a schematic representation of the steps in the method of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation as some of the parts are placed in the position shown merely for the ease of illustration.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic representation as some of the parts are placed in the position shown merely for the ease of illustration.
  • FIGURE 1 two spaced apart rolls of heat sealable film 23 and 25 can be seen.
  • the continuous sheets of film being drawn from these rolls are designated 43 and 44 and they are joined intermediate the two rolls at seal 45.
  • a package P" is shown on platform 11 in position to be advanced toward the film seal 45 by pusher 9.
  • Pusher 9 is actuated by air cylinder 10.
  • a stream of air is directed against the film being fed by driven pinch rollers 24 and 26 in direct ratio to the forward motion of the package.
  • the next step in the packaging and sealing sequence can best be understood by referring to FIGURE 6.
  • FIGURE 6 five sequential steps are shown which are labeled a, b, c and d.
  • FIGURE 6a shows package P" in the same position as in FIGURE 1. Air is now being blown from nozzle 12 and is indicated by the arrow coming therefrom.
  • pusher 9 has engaged the package and has pushed it forward toward the film seal 45 as simultaneously additional lengths of film 43 and 44 are fed from the roll so that the force of air can cause the sealed together film to bellow out in front of the package.
  • the pusher 9 is nearing the end of its stroke as additional film is being fed so that the air stream can keep the seal advanced ahead of the package.
  • seal bars as shown are merely illustrative since the portions of the bars which would seal the sides of the package have been deleted. Also, both seal bars can be made to move, or the bottom one can remain stationary and the top one move. It is understood that the package P" is, for the purpose of this illustration, rectangular in shape and the package is advancing with its front side forward and the pusher 9 engages the back of the package.
  • FIGURE 6d the pusher 9 has withdrawn and the guide rolls 14 and 15 have brought the two pieces of film 43 and 44 together. Seal bars 16 and 17 have closed and heat is applied through seal bar 17 so that the film is severed and sealed. Films which are particularly suitable for this operation are biaxially oriented, cross-linked thermoplastic film such as can be made from polyethylene or polypropylene. After the package has been scaled on its two sides and sealed and severed on its back side it is carried away by exit conveyor 18. The sealing and severing operation leaves a seal between film sheets 43 and 44 so that the sequence may be repeated for the next package. It should be noted that in none of the steps just described did the package bear directly against the film in the sealed area.
  • the film was fed simultaneously in direct ratio to the packages advancement; and, the force of the air stream kept the film seal in front of the package while also cooling the seal.
  • the package does not at any time forcibly strike the film to pull film from the alls and the problem of a torn or defective seal is elimiated.
  • FIGURE 6d The package as wrapped in FIGURE 6d is ready for se. However, if maximum attractiveness and protection desired then a heat shrinkable film such as one menioned above will usually be used so that the package fter leaving exit conveyor 18 will continue on to a heat- 1g tunnel where hot air is blown against the package ausing the film to shrink tightly thereagainst. If the packge is to be heat shrunk then prior to the final sealing peration a small hole will be punched in either film sheet -3 or 44. This will allow air to escape as the film is shrunk Lown around the package.
  • a heat shrinkable film such as one menioned above will usually be used so that the package fter leaving exit conveyor 18 will continue on to a heat- 1g tunnel where hot air is blown against the package ausing the film to shrink tightly thereagainst. If the packge is to be heat shrunk then prior to the final sealing peration a small hole will be punched in either film sheet -3 or 44. This will allow air to escape as the
  • FIGURE 1 a preferred apparatus which can best be understood by eferring to FIGURES 1 and 2.
  • FIGURE 2 is shown vith some parts omitted so that the function of the apparatus may be more easily appreciated. All the parts of he apparatus are carried by metal frame 1 which is hown in both FIGURES 1 and 2. This frame provides he main means of support and also carries control panel 16.
  • Infeed conveyor 2 delivers packages into position to be vrapped.
  • the packages may be delivered to infeed coneyor 2 by another belt or a roller track.
  • Infeed conveyor 5 is preferably intermittently operated or it can be coninuously operated.
  • the belt for infeed conveyor 2 is 'oraminous in construction so as to permit a vacuum to be lrawn therethrough. Vacuum drawn through port 51 acts hold packages more securely against belt 2 so that in he quick starts in intermittent belt operation the belt will tot slip beneath the package.
  • a package being conveyed )n infeed conveyor 2 will first pass across vacuum sensor iand then strike stop switch 3.
  • the belt continues to opertte; and when a second package crosses vacuum sensor i, pneumatic cylinder 6 is actuated so that first pusher will push the package from position P, as shown in FIG- JRE 1, across upper platform 8 to position P.
  • the sur- Face of platform 8 is smooth to permit easy travel of the Jackages thereon and guide members 7 keep the packages )roperly aligned.
  • the body of nozzle 12 also acts at a guide 7. After a package has been moved to position P, a recond package pushed by the first pusher 5 will push the Jackage onto second platform 11 into position P".
  • Plat- .orm 11 is smooth so as to permit easy sliding of packages- :hereon.
  • Second pusher 9 can be seen in the space between irst platform 8 and second platform 11.
  • the second )usher is actuated by pneumatic cylinder 10. While only me pneumatic cylinder is shown in FIGURE 1, a series )f four is preferably employed and these supply the main iriving force for the apparatus.
  • the pneumatic cylinder 10 also drives chain 27.
  • the movement of chain 27 is controlled by limit ;witch 38 so that when the chain is moved a predeternined distance an electrical signal is sent to an air valve which reverses the motion of pneumatic cylinder 10.
  • :hain 27 operates reciprocally.
  • Sprocket 28 which is driven by chain 27 also drives chain 29 which in turn is :onnected to the sprocket on rear main drive shaft 30.
  • Chain 29 and hence drive shaft 30 also operate recipro- :ally with the motion of cylinder 10.
  • Chain 31 is driven by the sprocket on rear main drive shaft 30 and in turn drives the sprocket on clutch 32.
  • Chain 31 also moves reciprocally under the influence of cylinder 10; but, because of the clutch 32, chain 36 moves intermittently in only one direction.
  • Chain 36 supplies the motive power for axle 37 which operates exit conveyor 18.
  • exit conveyor 18 also operates intermittently.
  • Clutch 32 also supplies one-way intermittent motion to chain 33, which drives the second clutch 34.
  • Second clutch 34 drives chain 35 which in turn operates film 4 feed pinch rolls 24 and 26. Clutches 32 and 34 are engaged as second pusher 9 moves forward. Thus, the sheets of film 43 and 44 are supplied as package P" moves towards seal 45.
  • air nozzle 12 can be seen supplied by air hose 13.
  • air hose 13 As pusher 9 comes forward and advances the package toward the film seal 45 air is blown against the film.
  • film is fed from rolls 23 and 25 and the exit conveyor 18 is set in motion.
  • the exit conveyor belt is also made of foraminous material and a vacuum is drawn through the belt by vacuum ports 39 which are shown in FIGURE 2. The vacuum aids in advancing the film seal 45 in front of the package.
  • FIGURE 5 is a section taken along line 55 of FIGURE 2.
  • a resilient surface 42 is provided on lower seal bar 16 so that when the seal bars are closed heating wire 41 can press firmly against the film. While the bars are closed a timed electrical impulse is sent to heating wire 41 which is resistance heated, thus providing the heat to seal and sever the film.
  • FIGURE 5 a cross section of nozzle 12 is shown.
  • pneumatic cylinder 20 withdraws seal bar 17 and pusher 9 moves forward thus setting conveyor 18 in motion to carry the just sealed package to inclined roller track 19 where the package can be delivered either to another conveyor belt or to a roller track to carry it to a heat tunnel if heat shrinking is desired.
  • Deflate hole punch assembly 22 shown in FIG- URE 1, provides such a hole.
  • the punch is heated above the melting point of the film 43 and the cooperating member of the assembly having a recess therein for receiving the tip of the punch drives the film against the punch in each wrapping cycle.
  • the operation of the punch is more fully described in my copending application entitled Deflation Hole Punch and Method.
  • rollers 21 Immediately below the deflation hole punch 22 are guide rollers 21 through which film 43 passes. These rollers are driven by an air motor that co-acts with the film feed drive chain 35 and clutch 34 to keep the film taut.
  • FIGURE 3 is a front view of the preferred apparatus showing the end view of the four pneumatic cylinders 10 which supply the main driving force for the apparatus. It is understood that some other driving means such as electrical motors could easily be substituted for these pneumatic cylinders.
  • the end view of the sprocket on chain 27 can also be seen in FIGURE 3 and this chain drives the front drive shaft 28 which is located behind the sprocket.
  • the locations of lower and upper film rolls 23 and 25 are shown along with an end view of first pusher and its actuating cylinder 6.
  • Infeed conveyor vacuum lines 50 are also shown.
  • FIGURE 4 shows the rear view of the preferred apparatus with the control panel 46 located at the top.
  • the exit conveyor 18 and the inclined roller track 19' are shown, and the vacuum lines 48 for the exit conveyor vacuum can be seen.
  • Motor 47 supplies the vacuum for these lines 48.
  • Vacuum motor 49 supplies the vacuum under the foraminous infeed conveyor belt 2.
  • Rear main drive shaft 30 is located just behind these vacuum motors.
  • Clutch 32 which imparts one-way intermittent motion to both the film feed and the exit conveyor, is also shown.
  • Upper seal bar 17 and seal bar guides 52 are also shown in FIGURE 4.
  • the infeed conveyor 2 will carry a package P over air sensor 4 and then to electrical stop switch 3.
  • the vacuum which is being drawn through the air sensor is closed off thus signaling switch 3 to actuate the. air valve which starts air cylinder 6 in motion to drive first pusher 5.
  • a limit switch is tripped which actuates air cylinder and sets second pusher 9 in motion and also moves drive chain 27.
  • the clutch 34 on the film feed drive chain 35 is engaged so that film will be fed.
  • the second pusher 9 moves forward film is fed and air is simultaneously blown against the film seal 45.
  • Vacuum 39 behind the film is constant.
  • Forward motion of second pusher 9 operates the exit conveyor belt 18.
  • the forward motion of the second pusher 9 is stopped by limit switch 38 and as the pusher 9 returns the infeed conveyor belt is driven for the next cycle, and pneumatic cylinder 20 is actuated to close seal bar 17.
  • a safety limit switch is provided on upper seal bar 17 to determine that pusher 9 is clear of the seal area.
  • all four pneumatic cylinders 10 push the second pusher forward while two are used to draw the pusher 9 back clear of the seal bar 17.
  • the dwell time is electrically timed and a timed electrical impulse goes to resistance wire 41 to seal and sever the the film.
  • lower seal bar 16 can be made movable, if desired.
  • the first pusher 9 is again triggered if the switch 3 and sensor 4 have been energized to move two more packages at position P.
  • the exit conveyor moves as the second pusher 9 moves forward thus taking a package that would be at position P' out of the seal bar area and making way for the package which is then at position P".
  • Second pusher 9 begins its stroke when the first pusher 5 completes its stroke.
  • second pusher 9 will be in a retracted position under upper platform 8 when the package falls into position P" on second platform 11.
  • FIGURE 1 Not shown in FIGURE 1 is the drive mechanism for the infeed conveyor 2.
  • This drive is a chain and clutch arrangement as used in the other above described drives.
  • the clutch is engaged during the return stroke of second pusher 9 so that additional packages will be delivered to position P for the next wrapping cycle.
  • the method and apparatus described herein can be used with any heat sealable material and is not limited to a heat shrinkable material.
  • paper could be used in place of film 43 and 44 and a pressure type adhesive could be applied by bars 16 and 17 in conjunction with a pop-up knife edge to cut the paper.
  • the seal bars can be altered to accommodate packages of varying shape and sizes.
  • the apparatus can be made to operate with either a single package feed or a double package feed. The apparatus can easily be changed to a single feed by eliminating the center prong in the seal bars, removing the center package guide 2, and placing nozzle 12 below the surface of second platform 11. Similarly, a triple or quadruple feed could be made by adding additional prongs to the seal bars and by adding the appropriate exit conveyors and air nozzles.
  • the rolls of film do not necessarily have to be placed one above the other but could be side by side. In other words, the apparatus could be altered to operate in an arrangement that would resemble the present configuration on its side. In addition, the rolls of film could be replaced by other sources of film such as a magazine of folded film.
  • films from polyvinyl chloride, rubber hydrochloride, polyvinylidene chloride and many others can be employed in this invention. Filmlike materials generally would be suitable.
  • the film seal 45 does not have to be advanced in front of the package by air blown from the same side of the film as is the package.
  • a vacuum could be used to draw the film 45 in front of the package.
  • any suitable gas may be blown against the film and it may be either heated or cooled as desired.
  • a method of packaging articles in film-like material comprising the steps of:
  • step (b) (2) is accomplished while drawing a vacuum on the side of the film opposite from the side from which said article is moving to aid in advancing said film-like material.
  • the method of claim 4 including the step of providing a deflate hole in the thermoplastic film.
  • Apparatus for packaging articles in heat sealable film comprising:
  • thermoplastic film comprising:
  • At least one pneumatically operated cylinder adapted for powered reciprocating motion
  • seal bars having film guide rollers associated therewith, said seal bars being adapted to seal film covering the lowerportion of an article to film covering the upper portion of said article around the unsealed perimeter of said article;
  • heated punch means for punching a deflate hole in the film wrapped about each of said articles; and (m) an inclined roller track for receiving articles discharged from said exit conveyor.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
US679092A 1967-10-30 1967-10-30 Packaging machine and method Expired - Lifetime US3488912A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US67909267A 1967-10-30 1967-10-30

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US3488912A true US3488912A (en) 1970-01-13

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US679092A Expired - Lifetime US3488912A (en) 1967-10-30 1967-10-30 Packaging machine and method

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US (1) US3488912A (de)
JP (1) JPS492158B1 (de)
DE (1) DE1804904A1 (de)
FR (1) FR1590297A (de)
GB (1) GB1197369A (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3643397A (en) * 1969-05-28 1972-02-22 Steiner American Corp Packaging machine and method and article produced thereby
US3990215A (en) * 1974-11-14 1976-11-09 Elsner Engineering Works, Inc. Roll wrapping or banding machine
US4075815A (en) * 1976-04-30 1978-02-28 Franklin Electric Subsidiaries, Inc. Automatic package wrapping machine
US20060075865A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2006-04-13 Floding Daniel L Film cutter
US20060075861A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2006-04-13 Flooding Daniel L Film cutter

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4033089A (en) * 1976-07-21 1977-07-05 Henry Lowell Byland Package wrapping method and apparatus

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2747346A (en) * 1951-03-13 1956-05-29 Robert A Johnston Company Method of forming packages
US3355857A (en) * 1965-01-21 1967-12-05 Continental Baking Co Method and apparatus for packaging articles

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2747346A (en) * 1951-03-13 1956-05-29 Robert A Johnston Company Method of forming packages
US3355857A (en) * 1965-01-21 1967-12-05 Continental Baking Co Method and apparatus for packaging articles

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3643397A (en) * 1969-05-28 1972-02-22 Steiner American Corp Packaging machine and method and article produced thereby
US3990215A (en) * 1974-11-14 1976-11-09 Elsner Engineering Works, Inc. Roll wrapping or banding machine
US4075815A (en) * 1976-04-30 1978-02-28 Franklin Electric Subsidiaries, Inc. Automatic package wrapping machine
US20060075865A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2006-04-13 Floding Daniel L Film cutter
US20060075861A1 (en) * 2004-10-07 2006-04-13 Flooding Daniel L Film cutter
US7849770B2 (en) 2004-10-07 2010-12-14 Douglas Machine, Inc. Film cutter

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS492158B1 (de) 1974-01-18
FR1590297A (de) 1970-04-13
GB1197369A (en) 1970-07-01
DE1804904A1 (de) 1969-05-14

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