US3700387A

US3700387A - Vacuum bagging machine

Info

Publication number: US3700387A
Application number: US137412A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lowell B Moore; Raymond J Keating; Warren Underwood
Original assignee: Kartridg Pak Co
Current assignee: Kartridg Pak Co
Priority date: 1971-04-26
Filing date: 1971-04-26
Publication date: 1972-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 1989-10-24
Also published as: DE2215965A1

Abstract

A semi-automatic machine adapted to vacuumize and close bags of flexible material for packaging products such as, for example, cuts of fresh meat, which may vary in size and shape, the machine including an intermittently advancing belt conveyor on which successive filled bags are supported and a series of vacuum heads mounted on a chain conveyor for travel in a parallel path along one side of the belt conveyor, which heads carry vacuum nozzles each with associated means for gathering and clamping the mouth of a bag on the nozzle after which it is vacuumized and advanced to a mechanism for applying to the gathered portion of the bag mouth a metal clip upon the vacuum nozzle being withdrawn therefrom.

Description

Moore et al.

[54] VACUUM BAGGING MACHINE [4 Oct. 24, 1972 Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee [72] Inventors 2221 g:;: g:? Z; g: Attorney-Greist, Lockwood, Greenawalt & Dewey Iowa; Warren Underwood, Minneapolis, Minn. [57] ABSTRACT [73] Assignee; The Kamidg pak Co" Davenport, A semi-automatic machine adapted to vacuumize and Iowa close bags of flexible material for packaging products such as, for example, cuts of fresh meat, which may [22] Filed: Apfil 1971 vary in size and shape, the machine including an inter- [21] App]. 137 412 mittently advancing belt conveyor on which successive filled bags are supported and a series of vacuum heads mounted on a chain conveyor for travel in a parallel [52] US. Cl. ..53/77, 53/79, 53/112 B path along one side of the belt conveyor, which heads [51] Int. Cl. ..B65 31/06 carry vacuum nozzles each with associated means for Fleld 0f B, gathering and clamping t e mouth of a bag on he nozzle after which it is vacuumized and advanced to a [5-6] References mechanism for applying to the gathered portion of the UNITED STATES PATENTS bag mouth a metal clip upon the vacuum nozzle being withdrawn therefrom. 3,094,825 6/1963 Bracey et al. ..53/1 12 B 3,628,302 12/ 1971 Roberts ..53/1 12 B 32 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures K) I00 54 I VACUUM BAGGING MACHINE This invention relates to packaging and is particularly concerned with improvements in a machine for use in packaging products where it is desired to load the product in a bag of impervious film or sheet material, vacuumize the bag so as to remove the air therein, and seal the bag by application of a closure clip to a gathered neck portion at the mouth of the bag.

There are a number of products, for example, cuts of fresh meat, which it is desirable to package in a bag of impervious material with the air being withdrawn from the bag by vacuum prior to closing the mouth of the bag with a sealing element, generally in the form of a metal clip. Cuts of fresh meat, particularly, vary in size and contour and bags of varying dimensions are employed, generally of transparent plastic film, so that the product fits snugly within the bag and the latter, when vacuumized and heat shrunk, conforms to the shape of the product without excessive wrinkling so as to provide a relatively neat appearance. Most often, packaging of this type product has involved considerable hand labor, the usual procedure being to place the product in an appropriate size bag and vacuumize the package with a hand nozzle, kneadingthe bag to squeeze out the air while vacuum is being drawn, and gathering the material at the mouth to form a neck portion on which a closure clip is then applied. Some efforts have been made to provide machinery for performing these operations so as to eliminate some or all of the hand labornormally required. Machines which have been designed for this purpose have not been very successful for a number of reasons, generally because they do not enable the bags to be loaded, vacuumized and closed with little operator attention or skill and with a production rate substantially exceeding that which is possible with hand operations. It is a general object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a vacuum bagging apparatus which enables various size bags to be run at random, which requires little attention or skill on the part of the operator and which results in a more uniform package and a production rate substantially higher than possible with hand operations.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide an apparatus for vacuum bagging of products such as, for example, cuts of fresh meat, poultry, or the like, wherein the products may be placed in bags of plastic film material which are of varying size and run at random through the machine, with the mouth of each bag being placed on a traveling vacuum nozzle and with the assembly being advanced at a rate allowing adequate time for evacuating the air from the bag, collapsing the bag neck and applying a sealing clip.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus for vacuum packaging of cuts of fresh meat or the like which vary in size and contour and which may be placed in different size bags for running at random through the machine with the machine having a traveling belt conveyor for supporting the filled bags and an associated conveyor traveling in a path alongside of the supporting conveyor on which vacuum heads are mounted with nozzles over which the mouth of a bag is placed and clamped, the assemblies being supported on the belt conveyor while a vacuum is applied and each assembly is advanced to a closure applying station.

,have been placed wherein the machine comprises a traveling belt conveyor of substantial width for supporting successive product and bag assemblies with the. mouth of each bag placed over a vacuum nozzle carried on an associated traveling conveyor and with the assemblies being vacuumized while they are advanced to a clip applying station where a metal clip is preformed and applied to the gathered neck of the bag after the vacuum nozzle is withdrawn therefrom so as to seal the product in the bag.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a closing and sealing machine for flexible film bags, a horizontally disposed conveyor on which filled bags of varying length may be carried in random succession without adjustment, a plurality of vacuum nozzles arranged along one sideof the conveyor which have associated means for rapidly attaching thereto the mouths of the bags, with the bag bodies being supported on the horizontally disposed conveyor, the nozzles being supported so as to advance with the conveyor through a multiplicity of vacuum applying stations while vacuum is applied for a sufficient time to evacuate the bagsby gradual migration of air along film wrinkles and the nozzles being connected to separate vacuum sources at the successive stations so as to prevent starving of the nozzles due to failure of the vacuum at a station.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the vacuum bagging machine which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a vacuum bagging machine which incorporates therein the principal features of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the machine shown in FIG. 1, the view being taken at the entrance end thereof and portions being broken away;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the exit or discharge end of the machine;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view showing the back or rear side of the machine;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the machine with portions broken away or omitted;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

.FIG. 7 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 2, with portions broken away or omitted;

FIG. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1, to an enlarged scale and with portions of the head structure broken away;

FIG. 9 is a view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line l0--10 of FIG. 7, to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on the line 1l-l1 ofFlG. 4;

FIG. 12 is an electrical diagram showing the arrangement for controlling the operation of the machine; and

FIGS. 13, 14, and 15 are diagrammatic views illustrating the operations performed on the bag at the successive operative stations.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated a vacuum bagging machine which is designed particularly for vacuumizing a plastic bag in which there has been placed a cut of fresh meat, a cleaned fowl or a similar product. The machine is adapted to withdraw air from the bag, gather the mouth of the bag and seal the same by applying a metal clip to the closed mouth.

carried on an endless chain conveyor 16 mounted for travel in a path at the rear side of the horizontal top run of the supporting conveyor 12. The chain 16 is advanced intermittently and the movement is synchronized with that of the conveyor 12. The heads 14 are advanced intermittently and positioned successively at four stations which are numbered consecutively on FIG. 1. Station No. 1 is the loading station and station No. 4 is the clip applying station where a clip preforming and applying apparatus 18 is mounted, the intermediate stations No. 2 and No. 3 are bag evacuating stations.

The work supporting conveyor 12 comprises an endless belt 20 (FIGS. 5 and 6) of substantial width which is supported for travel of the top run in a generally horizontal plane, with the entrance end or loading end being at the right in FIGS. 1 and 5. The belt 20 is carried, at the loading end, on an idler pulley or roll 21 extending transversely of the machine and rotatably supported on shaft 22 which is mounted on

upright frame members

23 and 24, the former being at the front of the machine and the latter being intermediate the front and back of the main support frame 10. At the opposite, or discharge end, of the machine the belt 20 is supported on a drive pulley 25 rotatably mounted on a cross shaft 26 which is carried on the

frame members

23 and 24. The top run of the belt 20 which forms a generally horizontal table-like surface for supporting the packages or filled bags runs over an elongate supporting plate 27 (FIG. 5) which is fixed between the

frame members

23 and 24. A guard plate 28 extends between the

frame members

23 and 24 at the entrance end of the conveyor 12 while there is a dead plate 30 at the discharge end. A sprocket 31 is mounted on the end of the pulley 25 and connected by a drive chain 32 with a sprocket 33 forming a part of a single revolution clutch assembly 34. The clutch 34 is on the end of a main drive shaft 35 which is supported in suitable bearings on a sub-frame 36 below the belt 20. The main drive shaft 35 carries a sprocket 37 which is connected by a drive chain 38 with an output sprocket 40' on a drive motor 41 mounted in a suitable manner on the longitudinally extending bottom frame member 42. A slip clutch is provided on the drive motor shaft for safety.

The bag vacuumizing and closing heads 14 are carried on an endless chain 16 (FIGS. 2, 7 and 8) which is supported on an elongate sub-frame 44 extending along the rear portion of the main frame 10. The head supporting frame 44 is in a plane extending upwardly and outwardly along the rear side of the package supporting conveyor 12. The chain 16, which is a plural link or line-type, is mounted at the entrance end of the machine on sprockets 45 carried on an idler shaft 46 which is journaled in the side members of the subframe 44. At the discharge end of the machine the chain 16 is mounted on like sprockets 47 on a driven shaft 48. The shaft 48 is connected in driven relation by the coupling 50 with the main drive shaft 35 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) so that it is driven in synchronism with the conveyor belt 20. The head assemblies 14 are spaced along the length of the chain 16 and the chain is driven intermittently to position the heads 14 successively at loading station 1, the vacuumizing stations 2 and 3 and the clip applying station 4 along the length of the top run of the packagesupporting belt 20.

Each vacuumizing head assembly 14 comprises a A base or platen member 52 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which is connected to the chain 16 and carried in a plane which angles upwardly and outwardly relative to the horizontal plane in which belt 12 operates. The base portion of the platen 52 has an upwardly extending portion 53 on which a manifold 54 is mounted. The manifold 54 is in the general form of a cylindrical section having one end closed to provide a back wall 55 and the opposite end open at 56 to receive an end portion of a bell nozzle 57. The bell nozzle 57 has a flanged inner end portion 58 which is seated in the recessed open end 56 and an internal bore 58 and retained therein by a snap action detent (not shown). The outer surface at the free end is tapered as shown at 60. A tube section 61 having an outside diameter less than the diameter of the bore 58 is mounted at one end in a screw threaded opening 62 in the back wall 55 of the manifold 54, with the other end extending axially in the bore 58 of the bell nozzle 57, and receives in sliding relation therein a tubular probe member 63 with a sealing ring 54 in the housing forming tube 61 near the rear end thereof. The slidably mounted probe tube 63 carries at its free end a tubular section of smaller diameter forming a proboscis 65 which has its internal bore aligned with the internal bore of the probe tube 63 and which is provided with a series of radial holes or passageways 66 extending in spaced relation some distance from the open free end thereof. The free end of the housing tube 61 extends a short distance beyond the free end of the bell nozzle 57 providing an end area 59 for clamping the gathered portion of a bag mouth thereon. At the rear end the probe tube 63 carries top and

bottom cam followers

70 and 71. A guide member 72 is secured to the manifold back wall 55 and has a guide slot 73 in which the top cam follower 70 is operative to maintain axial alignment of the probe assembly as it is reciprocated in the tube 61. The open rear end of the probe tube 63 is connected at 74 with a vacuum conduit 75 which will be hereinafter referred to. At the forward end of the head assembly 14 a pair of

closure arms

76 and 77 are provided for clamping the gathered mouth of a bag when it is placed on the bell nozzle 57, at station No. 1, with the proboscis 65 extending into the bag mouth. The

closure arms

76 and 77 carry clamping

pads

80 and 81 of rubber or similar pad forming material which are cut away at 82 and 83 to accommodate the end 59 of the tube 61 when the

arms

76 and 77 are in closed position.

Angular extension rods

84 and 85 extend forwardly of the

closure arms

76 and 77 with the

outer legs

86 and 87 in a vertical plane near the end 67 of the proboscis 65, the

extensions

86 and 87 being spaced on each side of y the latter. The two

closure arms

76 and 77 are mounted on

parallel shafts

90 and 91 which are journaled in the platen member 52 and which carry

internegaging gear sections

92 and 93 so that rotation of the shaft 91, which constitutes a drive shaft, in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 9, will separate the bag clamping pads 80 and 8l, as indicated at station No. 1 in FIG. 1, while rotation in the opposite direction will close the same to the position shown in FIG. 9. The drive shaft 91 carries an operating arm 94 at the forward end with a cam follower 95 on its free-end for turning the

arms

76 and 77 to a closed position during travel of the head from station No. 1 to station No. 4. A torsion spring 96 mounted on the shaft 90 urges the

arms

76 and 77 toward an open position. The one arm 77 has a tail portion 97, the free end of which rests on an adjusting bolt 98 extending from the operating arm 94 to facilitate adjustment of the position of the

arms

76 and 77.

The manifold 54 on the head 14 has a top extension 100 with an opening 101 which permits connection of the manifold 54 with a high volume vacuum hose 102 (FIGS. 4 and 11) at loading station 1 when the mouth of the bag is initially positioned on the bell nozzle 57 so as to gather the bag mouth around the nozzle in position for clamping by the

pads

80 and 81 on the

closure arms

76 and 77. The vacuum hose or conduit 102 extends from a manifold 103 on a vacuum pump 104 which is driven by the motor 105, the motor, vacuum pump and manifold assembly being mounted; on a bracket 106. The vacuum hose or conduit 102 carries at its other end a manifold 107 which is mounted on the end of a piston 108 extending from an operating air cylinder 110 which is mounted by means of bracket 111 on the framing 112. The manifold 107 has on its open face a seal ring 1 13 which is adapted, in extended position, to seal against the opening 101 i of the manifold 54 on the head assembly 14 when the piston 108 is extended as conveyor completes index preceding loading at station 1.

Each of the platens 52 is held in a straight line path along the top and bottom runs of the chain 16 by cam rollers 114 (FIGS. 7 and 8) engaging in guide rails 115 extending along the rear of the frame 44 while rollers 116 on the bottom of the platens 52 ride on parallel guide rails 117 also supported on frame 44. Curved portions of the guide rails extend around the ends where the

sprockets

45 and 47 carry the supporting chains.

Each of the head assemblies 14 has the proboscis carrying reciprocating probe member 63 connected at its rear end with a vacuum manifold assembly 120 (FIGS. 4 and 7) by a length of conduit, which is indicated at 75 in FIG. 8. The end of the conduit which is connected to the tube 63 travels with the head 14. The other end of the conduit is connected through an apertured plate 121 with the rotating portion of the vacuum manifold assembly 120. The plate 121 and the rotating manifold member are carried on :a cross shaft 122 journaled in the subframe 44 and driven by a sprocket 123 and chain 124 connecting with'a sprocket 125 on a driven cross shaft 126. The cross shaft 126 is aiso jourt naled in the subframe 44. The shaft 126 is driven by t means of a sprocket 130 thereon and a drive chain 131 running from sprocket 132 on the main drive shaft 48 at the exit end of the machine. The vacuum manifold assembly 120'is connected by suitable conduits with vacuum pump and

motor assemblies

135 and 136 mounted at the entrance of the machine on the lower support frame 42. The manifold 120 is operated to apply high vacuum at

stations

2, 3 and 4.

The

closure arms

76 and 77 are open to enable the operator to position the bag mouth on the bell nozzle 57 of the head 14 when the head 14 is indexed to station 1. The operator places the bag mouth on the bell nozzle 57 while the head is stationary. The bag mouth is.

first sucked onto the bell nozzle 57 by operation of the high volume, low vacuum suction mechanism shown in FIG. 11. The operator then actuates switch 138 by bumping the actuator bar 38 (FIG. 2) to initiate a cycle of operation. The conveyor 12 then starts advancing toward station 2, after. the manifold 107 has been retracted, and the

closure arms

76 and 77 are closed by operation of a triangular cam plate 140 in FIG. 10. The cam plate 140 is pivoted at 141 on. the guide rail 142 or an adjacent frame member with the follower engaging edge 143 of the plate 140 in the path of the cam followers 95 when the

arms

76 and 77 are in an open position. The cam plate 140 is pivotally connected at 144 to the end of piston rod 145 which extends from an operating cylinder 146, the latter being pivoted at 147 on a mounting bracket 148 extending from a cross member on the subframe 44. The upward pivoting of the plate 140 closes the

arms

76 and 77 and guides the cam followers 95 into the guideway 150 in the guide rail 142 which extends to a point beyond station 4 where the cam follower 95 leaves the track forming guideway 150 and the torsion spring 96 snaps open the

arms

76 and 77 to release the excess bag material or the waste which is cut from the end of the bag mouth at the clip applying station 4.

The reciprocating movement of the proboscis carrying tube 63 is controlled by the cam follower 71 which engages cam member 152 at station 1 to extend the proboscis 65 to the position shown in FIG. 8. Cam member 153 is provided at station 4 to retract the proboscis 65 from the mouth of the bag so as to permit the application of the clip by the clip applying mechanism 18. The clip applying mechanism 18 includes a trinuning knife (not shown) which trims off the excess material extending beyond the clipped section of the gathered bag mouth, leaving a remnant or waste portion of the bag which is removed as the head 14 is indexed to the next position beneath station 4.

The clip applying mechanism 18 (FIGS. 1, 3 and 5) is mounted on a pivot bracket 155 at the discharge end of the machine so that it maybe swung on a vertical axis away from station 4 to an inoperative position when desired. The preferred mechanism 18 is of the type illustrated in US Pat. No. 3,524,242, granted Aug. 18, 1970, to David J. Odean and Roy E. Wells which is operative to apply a preformed U-shaped wire clip and simultaneously preform the next clip which is to be applied at the next descent of a vertically disposed clip applying ram driven by the cylinder 156. A reel of wire for forming the clips is enclosed in the housing 157.

The end portion of the bag material which constitutes waste W (FIG. 15) is cut from the end of the gathered bag mouth at station 4 and is held on the head 14 by the closure arms .76 and 77. As the head 14 leaves station 4 and turns about the sprockets 47 the cam follower 95 leaves the guide track 150 and the torsion spring 96 snaps open the

closure arms

76 and 77 which leaves the waste material W loose on the head as it reaches the open side or mouth 158 of a motordriven suction fan 160 (FIGS. 4 and positioned beneath the lower run or path of the heads 14 and immediately below station 4, which sucks the waste W into a discharge conduit 16]. A curved guide plate 162 guides the waste as the head 14 moves around the end of the chain run and the

closure arms

76 and 77 are opened so as to release the waste.

The electrical control system for the machine which is illustrated in FIG. 12 provides for manual operation or initiation of each cycle through 'the single cycle clutch 34 (FIG. 5) or for continuous automatic operation with the clutch 34 actuated by a time delay relay. In operating the machine with each cycle initiated by the operator, selector switch 170 is set at ALL MO- TORS position and 171 is set at MANUAL position. The START switch 172 is depressed which starts all the

motors

41, 105, 135, 136 and 160 running and energizes solenoid 173 which actuates cylinder 110 to connect the high volume vacuum hose 102 with the head 14 which is at loading station 1. This is the starting position for both single cycle and automatic operation.

The operator places a bag mouth over the bell nozzle 57 and the high volume vacuum draws the bag material about the same as shown in FIG. 13 with some air being removed from the bag. The operator then depresses the bump bar 38 (FIG. 2) which closes the associated switch 138 energizing relay 174 which, with a station limit switch 175, (FIGS. 5 and 12) forms a holding circuit around the bump switch 138 which is held until the head 14 begins to advance. Closing switch 138 also energizes closure solenoid 176 controlling the cylinder 146 (FIG. and the cam plate 140 is operated to close the

closure arms

76, 77 which results in operation of closure switch 177. Cylinder 146 works against opposing pressure closing the arms with controlled force. If the path of the closure arms is obstructed, by the operators hands, for example, the arms will not close completely, closure switch 177 will not close and the machine will not index. This is a safety feature. Closing switch 177 energizes a time delay relay 178 which, after a slight delay, energizes the conveyor advance solenoid 179 and through operation of the single revolution clutch 34 allows the machine to index one station and advance each head 14 at stations 1 to 4 to the next station. As the machine indexes the cam operated motion switch 180 (FIGS. 5 and 12) is operated by the motion cam on the drive shaft 35 deenergizing the closure solenoid 176 which returns the closure cam 140 to its starting position. When the head leaving station 1 reaches station 2 the station limit switch 175 is again closed re-energizing solenoid 173. The machine is again in starting position at this point. The operations can be repeated to fill all four stations. As the conveyor advances a filled bag from station 3 to station 4 the probe assembly is retracted by cam 152 withdrawing the proboscis 65 from the bag mouth. The bag sense limit switch 188 is momentarily closed which setsup a holding circuit. With a bagged product in station 4 actuation of switch 138 results in the operation described up to the time when the conveyors advance. The holding circuit cuts power to the conveyor advance solenoid 179 so that the conveyor will not advance at this point. Relay 174 (FIG. 12) energizes solenoid 182 which closes the gate 183 (FIG. 1) of the clip applying mechanism 18 on the bag at station 4 and mechanically actuates the clipper ram cylinder 156 so that the ram descends and applies a clip. When the pressure in the ram cylinder reaches a predetermined set amount it operates a pressure switch 184 (FIG. 12), energizing relay 185. This results in three simultaneous operations. Solenoid 186 is operated to actuate the cutoff knife at station 4 which trims the waste beyond the clip, the latter having been applied by the descent of the. clipper ram. The solenoid 182 which lifts the clipper gate 183 is ,de-energized. The holding circuit set up by the bag sensing switch 188 is broken which allows the conveyors to index. When the clipper gate is opened, the clipper ram cylinder 156 is deactuated, the pressure drops, the pressure switch 184 opens the relay 185 is de-energized. The machine is then in starting position.

The bag sensing switch 188 serves as a no-bag no-clip device since the absence of a bag on the head moving from station 3 to station 4 results in failure of the clipper 18 to operate.

For automatic operation, the selector switch 171 is set at AUTOMATIC instead of MANUAL and the START switch 172 is depressed. The machine will pause for a given period as set on the time delay relay 186 and then continue the same as if switch 138 were actuated. The cycle will automatically repeat itself until stop switch 187 is opened, or selector switch 172 is turned to MANUAL, or

closure arms

76, 77 do not close, due to some obstruction, causing closure switch 177 to remain open.

The operation of the head is illustrated in FIGS. l3, l4 and 15. At loading station 1, the bag mouth is manually telescoped over the bell nozzle 57 and drawn or sucked onto the nozzle by the high volume vacuum through manifold 107 and conduit 102, with some air being withdrawn from the bag. The head 14 is advanced to station 2 with the

closure arms

76 and 77 closed to clamp the gathered bag material on the end 59 of the tube 61. The closure arms close when the bump switch 138 is activated and before indexing. At station 2, as shown in FIG. 14, the manifold 120 operates to apply high vacuum through the conduit to withdraw air from the clamped bag through the proboscis 65. The operation at station 3 is the same except that the manifold has indexed to a second high vacuum source. At station 4, the manifold 120 has indexed to a third high vacuum source. As shown in FIG.

. 15, the probe or nozzle assembly is retracted so that the proboscis 65 is withdrawn from the bag mouth resulting in the gathered bag mouth section taking the form of a rope, the clip C is applied by the punch P and the waste is trimmed off by knife K. This frees the closed package for removal at the discharge end of the top run of the package support conveyor 12 and as the head 14 ad vances the

clamp arms

76 and 77 open and release the waste W for removal by the suction fan through the conduit 161.

The provision of a relatively wide belt for supporting the filled bags and the arrangement of the vacuumized heads for travel at the side of the supporting belt enables the handling of bags having considerable variation in length and girth without any machine adjustment. The use of a multiplicity of heads and work stations enables the timing of the loading, vacuumizing and sealing to be adjusted so as to obtain maximum effectiveness with respect to the separate operations while achieving a higher rate of production than has been heretofore possible with available equipment.

We claim:

l. A package closing and sealing machine comprising an elongate support frame, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame with an upper run thereof supported for travel in a generally horizontal plane and forming a traveling table for supporting and advancing filled bags positioned thereon with the mouth ends extending at a side of said upper run, a head supporting endless conveyor mounted on said support frame for travel in a path extending along the side of said package supporting conveyor, a plurality of head assemblies mounted on said head supporting conveyor, means for driving said conveyors intermittently and in synchronism so as to advance said head assemblies intermittently to successive stations spaced along said conveyors, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum applying nozzle assembly over an end of which the mouth portion of a bag is adapted to be positioned, means at a loading station for drawing the bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly so as to gather thesame about the nozzle assembly, means on each of said head assemblies for clamping the gathered bag material onto the nozzle assembly so as to close the mouth of the bag about a high vacuum portion of said nozzle assembly, means for applying a. high vacuum through said nozzle assembly to evacuate the body of the bag as it is advanced to successive stations, means for retracting said high vacuum portion of said nozzle assembly so as to allow a gathered portion of the mouth of the evacuated bag to contract and form a neck for receiving a metal clip at a clip applying station, and means at said clip applying station for applying a wire clip to said neck forming portion to seal the vacuumized bag and complete the package.

2. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said filled bag supporting conveyor comprises a traveling belt of substantial width disposed along the front of said support frame.

3. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said conveyors comprises a motor driven main drive shaft, a single revolution clutch connecting said motor and said main drive shaft and manually operated switch means for actuating s'aid clutch. y 5

4. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for drawing the bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly at said loading station comprises a reciprocably mounted means for separably connecting a vacuum line to said nozzle assembly when each successive head assembly is positioned at said loading station.

5. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein each said head assembly has a vacuum port and said reciprocably mounted means at said loading station comprises a manifold which conassembly mounted in said manifold member and extending in the bore of said bell nozzle.

7. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said head assemblies comprises a hollow vacuum manifold member with a bell nozzle mounted in an open end. thereof and with a vacuum port for connecting to a vacuum line, an elongate tubular vacuum nozzle assembly mounted at one end in a wall of said manifold member which is disposed opposite said open end, said tubular nozzle assembly having a tube extending in fixed relation in the bore of said bell nozzle and having an end portion projecting outside of said bell nozzle and closure arms mounted on said head assembly which are adapted to be moved to a closed position on said projecting end portion to clamp a bag mouth thereon when the bag mouth is telescoped over the free end of said bell nozzle.

8.'A packageclosing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure arms are pivotally mounted and cam meansis provided which is operative to swing said arms to a closed position prior to advance from theloading station to the next succeeding station.

9. A package closing and sealing machine comprising an elongate support frame, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame with an upper run thereof disposed for travel in a generally horizontal plane and forming a traveling table for supporting filled bags thereon with the mouth ends extending at a side of said upper run, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame for travel in a path extending along the side of said package supporting conveyor and having a plurality of vacuum head assemblies mounted in spaced relation thereon, means for driving said conveyor intermittently and in synchronism so as to enable said head assemblies to be advanced intermittently to successive stations spaced along said conveyors, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum applying nozzle assembly on which the mouth portion of a bag is adapted to be positioned, means at one of said stations, which constitutes a loading station, for drawingthe bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly, means on each said head assembly for clamping the gathered bag material onto the nozzle assembly so as to close the mouth of the bag about a portion of said nozzle assembly, means connected to said nozzle assembly portion for applying a high vacuum to evacuate the body of the bag as it is advanced to successive stations, means for retracting said nozzle assembly portion so as to allow a gathered portion of the bag; mouth to contract and form a neck for receiving a closing and sealing clip at a clip applying station, and means at said clip applying station for applying and clinching a clip on said neck forming portion so as to seal the vacuumized bag and complete the package.

10. A bag closing and sealing machine comprising an elongate support frame, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame with an upper run thereof arranged to travel in a generally horizontal plane and forming a table for supporting filled bags thereon with the mouth ends extending at a side of said upper run, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame for travel in a path extending along one side of said package supporting conveyor and having a plurality of vacuum head assemblies mounted in spaced relation thereon, means for driving said conveyors in the same direction and in synchronism so as to enable said head assemblies to be advanced to successive work stations spaced along said conveyors, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum applying nozzle assembly which is adapted to receive the mouth portion of a bag, means at one of said stations, which constitutes a loading station, for drawing the bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly, means on each said head assembly for clamping the gathered bag material onto the end portion of the nozzle assembly so as to close the mouth of the bag about said end portion of said nozzle assembly, means connected to said nozzle assembly for applying a high vacuum to evacuate the body of the bag as it is advanced to successive work stations, means for withdrawing said nozzle assembly end portion from the bag mouth so as to allow a gathered portion of the bag mouth to close on itself and form a neck for receiving a wire closing and sealing clip at a clip applying station, and means at said clip applying station for securing a clip on said neck forming portion so as to seal the vacuumized bag and complete the package.

11. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim wherein said conveyor for supporting the filled bags comprises an endless belt member mounted on spaced end supporting pulleys with an upper run thereof traveling in a generally horizontal plane and said means for driving said conveyors comprises a power drivenshaft with a connection to said end support pulleys which includes a single revolution clutch operative to advance the head assemblies intermittently from station to station.

12. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein means is provided at said clip applying station for withdrawing said nozzle end portion from the bag mouth as the head approaches said clip applying station so as to enable the gathered portion of the bag mouth to collapse and wherein means is provided at said clip applying station for severing the collapsed material at a point beyond the point where the sealing clip is secured in the direction of the mouth end of the bag.

13. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim l2 and means adjacent said clip applying station for releasing the bag mouth clamping means so as to free the waste material which is severed'from the bag end for removal from the head and suction means for removing said waste material.

14. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for drawing the bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly comprises vacuum means with a manifold movably mounted adjacent the loading station for temporary connection with a head assembly when said head assembly is positioned at said loading station.

15. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for applying a high vacuum to evacuate the body of the bag comprises a manifold having a rotatable member, a conduit connecting said manifold and each of said head assemblies and conduit means extending from said manifold to a vacuum source.

16. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein saidmanifold and said vacuum source are arranged to apply successive separate high vacuum sources to each said head assembly as said head assemblies advance to succeeding work stations from said loading station.

17. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said vacuum head assemblies each comprise a platen with means for attaching the same to said endless conveyor, a generally cylindrical manifold mounted on said platen having an open forward end facing in the direction of said table forming conveyor run with the opposite end closed by a back wall and having a top opening for separable connection with a vacuum line when positioned at said loading station, a hollow exterior nozzle member mounted at the forward end of said manifold, an elongate tube member having one end mounted in an opening in the back wall of said manifold and extending through said manifold with portions spaced from the inside wall of said exterior nozzle member so as to form a passageway therebetween and with its free end projecting beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle member, a cylindrical vacuum nozzle member slidably mounted in said housing with a connection to a vacuum line at its rear end and with the free end thereof open so as to apply a vacuum to a bag when the mouth thereof is clamped on the free end of said housing. 1

18. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said vacuum head assemblies each comprise a platen having means for attachment to said endless conveyor, a generally cylindrical manifold mounted on said platen with an open forward end facing in the direction of said table forming run and the opposite end closed by a back wall, said manifold having an opening for connection with a vacuum line when positioned at said loading station, a hollow exterior nozzle member seated in the forward end of said manifold, an elongate hollow tube forming a housing mounted at one end in an opening in said back wall and extending in said manifold with a free end projecting beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle member, an elongate nozzle assembly mounted in said housing, and clamp means operative to close on a bag mouth when the latter is telescoped over the end of said exterior nozzle member so as to clamp the bag mouth on the free end of said housing.

19. A bag closing and sealing machine as set-forth in claim 18 wherein said nozzle assembly is reciprocably mounted in said housing and means is provided adjacent said loading station for projecting the free end of said elongate nozzle assembly into a bag when the bag mouth is telescoped over said exterior nozzle member and wherein means is provided adjacent said clip applying station for withdrawing the free end of said elongate nozzle assembly from said bag.

20. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said vacuum head assemblies each comprise a platen having means for attachment to said endless conveyor, a generally cylindrical manifold mounted onsaid platen having an open forward end facing in the direction of said table forming conveyor run with the opposite end closed by an apertured back wall and having a top opening for separable connection with a vacuum line at said loading station, a hollow exterior nozzle member at the forward end of said manifold, an elongate tubular member forming a housing having one end mounted in an aperture in the back wall of said manifold and extending through said manifold with its exterior surface spaced from the inside wall of said exterior nozzle member and with its free end projecting beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle member, a cylindrical vacuum nozzle member slidably mounted in said housing with a connection to a vacuum line at its rear end and with openings at the free end thereof so as to apply a vacuum to a bag when the mouth thereof is clamped on the free end of said housing.

21. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim wherein means is provided for sensing the presence of a bag as each vacuum head approaches the clip applying station and means for preventing operation of said means for securing a clip on said bag neck forming portion which is operative in response to the operation of said sensing means.

22. A vacuum head for evacuating and closing bags in a vacuum bagging operation which comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body member forming a' vacuum manifold with a forward end open and a back wall closing the opposite end, said manifold having a peripheral opening adapted for connection with a vacuum line, a hollow exterior nozzle forming member mounted in the open end of said manifold, an elongate tube mounted at one end in an aperture in the back wall of said manifold and extending into said exterior nozzle member, a cylindrical nozzle member slidably mounted in said tube and having a connection with a vacuum line, said cylindrical nozzle member having a free end with openings therein and being of a length to enable the free end thereof to extend a distance beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle so as to project into a bag when the mouth of the bag is telescoped onto said exterior nozzle and said cylindrical nozzle member is extended in said tube.

23. A vacuum head as set forth in claim 22 wherein said elongate tube has its free end extending a predetermined distance beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle member, and closure arms mounted on said head which are movable to a closed position where they clamp the bag mouth on the extended end of said elongate tube so as to close the bag mouth for evacuation through said cylindrical nozzle member.

24. A vacuum head as set forth in claim 23 wherein said closure arms are pivotally mounted on said head and connected by gear segments for movement between an open and a closed position and cam means for operating said clamp arms.

25. A vacuum head as set forth in claim 23 wherein said cylindrical nozzle member has a free end portion which is perforated to form a proboscis for insertion into a bag which has its mouth telescoped over a free end portion of said exterior nozzle forming member.

26 A bag closing and sealing machine comprising a horizontally disposed conveyor for supporting thereon without adjustment and in random succession bags varying in length and width, meansfor supporting a plurality of vacuum nozzles along one side of said horizontally disposed conveyor for travel therewith, means associated with said vacuum nozzle for rapidly clamping mouth portions of the bags thereon so as to enable fast loading, means for advancing said horizontally disposed conveyor and said nozzles through a plurality of work stations, said nozzles having vacuum means connected thereto and being constructed and operated to allow evacuation of the bags by gradual migration of air along the film wrinkles, and clip applying means operative at a final work station for applying closing and sealing clips to collapsed neck portions of bags of varying width without adjustment.

27. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 26 wherein said vacuum nozzles are connected to separate vacuum sources at a plurality of successive work stations so as to insure evacuation of the associated bag when the vacuum source at a work station is ineffective.

28. A vacuum head for evacuating and closing bags in a vacuum bagging operation which comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body member, a cylindrical nozzle member slidably, mounted in said cylindrical body member and having a connection with a vacuum line, said cylindrical nozzle member having a free end with openings therein and being of a length to enable the free end thereof to extend a distance beyond the free end of said cylindrical body member so as to project into a bag when the mouth of the bag is telescoped onto said cylindrical body member and said cylindrical nozzle member is extended, and closure arms hingedly mounted at the free end of said cylindrical body member which are movable to a closed position where they clamp the bag mouth on the end of said cylindrical body member so as to close the bag mouth for evacuation through said cylindrical nozzle member.

29. A vacuum head as set forth in claim 28 wherein said closure arms are pivotally mounted on said head and connected by gear segments for movement between an open and a closed position and means for turning said gear segments to operate said clamp arms.

30. A vacuum head as set forth in claim 28 wherein said cylindrical nozzle member has a free end portion which is perforated to form a proboscis for insertion into a bag which has its mouth telescoped over a free end portion of said cylindrical body member.

31. A bag closing and sealing machine comprising a horizontally disposed conveyor for supporting thereon in random succession bags varying :in length and width, means for supporting a plurality of vacuum nozzles for travel along one side of said horizontally disposed conveyor, each of said nozzles including an exterior tubular member and an interior tubular member which is slidable in said exterior tubular member and which has a perforated end portion forming a proboscis for insertion into a bag when the mouth thereof is telescoped over a free end portion of said exterior tubular member, means associated with said vacuum nozzles for clamping mouth portions of the bags thereon which comprises a pair of co-operating clamp arm members mounted for movement into clamping engagement with said bag mouth when telescoped on said exterior tubular member, means for advancing said horizontally ing and sealing clip.

32. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 31 wherein said clamp arm members have opposed recessed faces which close on said bag mouth and resilient pad members mounted in the recesses in said opposed faces.

Claims

1. A package closing and sealing machine comprising an elongate support frame, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame with an upper run thereof supported for travel in a generally horizontal plane and forming a traveling table for supporting and advancing filled bags positioned thereon with the mouth ends extending at a side of said upper run, a head supporting endless conveyor mounted on said support frame for travel in a path extending along the side of said package supporting conveyor, a plurality of head assemblies mounted on said head supporting conveyor, means for driving said conveyors intermittently and in synchronism so as to advance said head assemblies intermittently to successive stations spaced along said conveyors, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum applying nozzle assembly over an end of which the mouth portion of a bag is adapted to be positioned, means at a loading station for drawing the bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly so as to gather the same about the nozzle assembly, means on each of said head assemblies for clamping the gathered bag material onto the nozzle assembly so as to close the mouth of the bag about a high vacuum portion of said nozzle assembly, means for applying a high vacuum through said nozzle assembly to evacuate the body of the bag as it is advanced to successive stations, means for retracting said high vacuum portion of said nozzle assembly so as to allow a gathered portion of the mouth of the evacuated bag to contract and form a neck for receiving a metal clip at a clip applying station, and means at said clip applying station for applying a wire clip to said neck forming portion to seal the vacuumized bag and complete the package.

3. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for driving said conveyors comprises a motor driven main drive shaft, a single revolution clutch connecting said motor and said main drive shaft and manually operated switch means for actuating said clutch.

5. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein each said head assembly has a vacuum port and said reciprocably mounted means at said loading station comprises a manifold which connects with said vacuum port in one position thereof and which has a flexible conduit connecting with a motor operated vacuum pump.

6. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said head assemblies comprises a bell nozzle with a bag supporting outer surface and a passage forming bore connecting with a low vacuum maniFold member and a high vacuum nozzle assembly mounted in said manifold member and extending in the bore of said bell nozzle.

7. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said head assemblies comprises a hollow vacuum manifold member with a bell nozzle mounted in an open end thereof and with a vacuum port for connecting to a vacuum line, an elongate tubular vacuum nozzle assembly mounted at one end in a wall of said manifold member which is disposed opposite said open end, said tubular nozzle assembly having a tube extending in fixed relation in the bore of said bell nozzle and having an end portion projecting outside of said bell nozzle and closure arms mounted on said head assembly which are adapted to be moved to a closed position on said projecting end portion to clamp a bag mouth thereon when the bag mouth is telescoped over the free end of said bell nozzle.

8. A package closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 7 wherein said closure arms are pivotally mounted and cam means is provided which is operative to swing said arms to a closed position prior to advance from the loading station to the next succeeding station.

9. A package closing and sealing machine comprising an elongate support frame, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame with an upper run thereof disposed for travel in a generally horizontal plane and forming a traveling table for supporting filled bags thereon with the mouth ends extending at a side of said upper run, an endless conveyor mounted on said support frame for travel in a path extending along the side of said package supporting conveyor and having a plurality of vacuum head assemblies mounted in spaced relation thereon, means for driving said conveyor intermittently and in synchronism so as to enable said head assemblies to be advanced intermittently to successive stations spaced along said conveyors, each of said head assemblies having a vacuum applying nozzle assembly on which the mouth portion of a bag is adapted to be positioned, means at one of said stations, which constitutes a loading station, for drawing the bag mouth material down onto the nozzle assembly, means on each said head assembly for clamping the gathered bag material onto the nozzle assembly so as to close the mouth of the bag about a portion of said nozzle assembly, means connected to said nozzle assembly portion for applying a high vacuum to evacuate the body of the bag as it is advanced to successive stations, means for retracting said nozzle assembly portion so as to allow a gathered portion of the bag mouth to contract and form a neck for receiving a closing and sealing clip at a clip applying station, and means at said clip applying station for applying and clinching a clip on said neck forming portion so as to seal the vacuumized bag and complete the package.

11. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said conveyor for supporting the filled bags comprises an endless belt member mounted on spaced end supporting pulleys with an upper run thereof traveling in a generally horizontal plane and said means for driving said conveyors comprises a power driven shaft with a connection to said end support pulleys which includes a single revolution clutch operative to advance the head assemblies intermittently from station to station.

13. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 12 and means adjacent said clip applying station for releasing the bag mouth clamping means so as to free the waste material which is severed from the bag end for removal from the head and suction means for removing said waste material.

16. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein said manifold and said vacuum source are arranged to apply successive separate high vacuum sources to each said head assembly as said head assemblies advance to succeeding work stations from said loading station.

17. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said vacuum head assemblies each comprise a platen with means for attaching the same to said endless conveyor, a generally cylindrical manifold mounted on said platen having an open forward end facing in the direction of said table forming conveyor run with the opposite end closed by a back wall and having a top opening for separable connection with a vacuum line when positioned at said loading station, a hollow exterior nozzle member mounted at the forward end of said manifold, an elongate tube member having one end mounted in an opening in the back wall of said manifold and extending through said manifold with portions spaced from the inside wall of said exterior nozzle member so as to form a passageway therebetween and with its free end projecting beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle member, a cylindrical vacuum nozzle member slidably mounted in said housing with a connection to a vacuum line at its rear end and with the free end thereof open so as to apply a vacuum to a bag when the mouth thereof is clamped on the free end of said housing.

19. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein said nozzle assembly is reciprocably mounted in said housing and means is provided adjacent said loading station for projecting the free end of said elongate nozzle assembly into a bag when the bag mouth is telescoped over said exterior nozzle member and wherein means is provided adjacent said clip applying station for withdrawing the free end of said elongate nozzle assembly from said bag.

20. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein said vacuum head assemblies each comprise a platen having means for attachment to said endless conveyor, a generally cylindrical manifold mounted on said platen having an open forward end facing in the direction of said table forming conveyor run with the opposite end closed by an apertured back wall and having a top opening for separable connection with a vacuum line at said loading station, a hollow exterior nozzle member at the forward end of said manifold, an elongate tubular member forming a housing having one end mounted in an aperture in the back wall of said manifold and extending through said manifold with its exterior surface spaced from the inside wall of said exterior nozzle member and with its free end projecting beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle member, a cylindrical vacuum nozzle member slidably mounted in said housing with a connection to a vacuum line at its rear end and with openings at the free end thereof so as to apply a vacuum to a bag when the mouth thereof is clamped on the free end of said housing.

21. A bag closing and sealing machine as set forth in claim 10 wherein means is provided for sensing the presence of a bag as each vacuum head approaches the clip applying station and means for preventing operation of said means for securing a clip on said bag neck forming portion which is operative in response to the operation of said sensing means.

22. A vacuum head for evacuating and closing bags in a vacuum bagging operation which comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body member forming a vacuum manifold with a forward end open and a back wall closing the opposite end, said manifold having a peripheral opening adapted for connection with a vacuum line, a hollow exterior nozzle forming member mounted in the open end of said manifold, an elongate tube mounted at one end in an aperture in the back wall of said manifold and extending into said exterior nozzle member, a cylindrical nozzle member slidably mounted in said tube and having a connection with a vacuum line, said cylindrical nozzle member having a free end with openings therein and being of a length to enable the free end thereof to extend a distance beyond the free end of said exterior nozzle so as to project into a bag when the mouth of the bag is telescoped onto said exterior nozzle and said cylindrical nozzle member is extended in said tube.

26. A bag closing and sealing machine comprising a horizontally disposed conveyor for supporting thereon without adjustment and in random succession bags varying in length and width, means for supporting a plurality of vacuum nozzles along one side of said horizontally disposed conveyor for travel therewith, means associated with said vacuum nozzle for rapidly clamping mouth portions of the bags thereon so as to enable fast loading, means for advancing said horizontally disposed conveyor and said nozzles through a plurality of work stations, said nozzles having vacuum means connected thereto and being constructed and operated to allow evacuation of the bags by gradual migration of air along the film wrinkles, and clip applying means operative at a final work station for applying closing and sealing clips to collapsed neck portions of bags of varying width without adjustment.

28. A vacuum head for evacuating and closing bags in a vacuum bagging operation which comprises a generally cylindrical hollow body member, a cylindrical nozzle member slidably mounted in said cylindrical body member and having a connection with a vacuum line, said cylindrical nozzle member having a free end with openings therein and being of a length to enable the free end thereof to extend a distance beyond the free end of said cylindrical body member so as to project into a bag when the mouth of the bag is telescoped onto said cylindrical body member and said cylindrical nozzle member is extended, and closure arms hingedly mounted at the free end of said cylindrical body member which are movable to a closed position where they clamp the bag mouth on the end of said cylindrical body member so as to close the bag mouth for evacuation through said cylindrical nozzle member.

31. A bag closing and sealing machine comprising a horizontally disposed conveyor for supporting thereon in random succession bags varying in length and width, means for supporting a plurality of vacuum nozzles for travel along one side of said horizontally disposed conveyor, each of said nozzles including an exterior tubular member and an interior tubular member which is slidable in said exterior tubular member and which has a perforated end portion forming a proboscis for insertion into a bag when the mouth thereof is telescoped over a free end portion of said exterior tubular member, means associated with said vacuum nozzles for clamping mouth portions of the bags thereon which comprises a pair of co-operating clamp arm members mounted for movement into clamping engagement with said bag mouth wheN telescoped on said exterior tubular member, means for advancing said horizontally disposed conveyor and said nozzles through a plurality of work stations, said nozzles each having vacuum means connected thereto and being constructed and operated to cause evacuation of the bag through said proboscis, and said proboscis being retractible to permit collapse of the bag mouth for application of a closing and sealing clip.